Hidradenitis SuppurativaPhase 2NCT05139602
A Study to Assess Disease Activity and Safety of Subcutaneous Lutikizumab (ABT-981) in Adult Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa Who Have Failed Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Therapy and Who Are Naïve to Biologic Therapy
A Phase 2 study testing Lutikizumab in people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, run by AbbVie at 54 sites in 8 countries.
Trial summary
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and often painful inflammatory skin disease which includes the forming of lumps, abscesses and scars in areas of the skin such as under the breasts, under armpits, inner thighs, groin and buttocks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- What is being tested?
- Lutikizumab
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 210 participants
- Where
- 54 sitesin 8 countries
- Study dates
- 28 Dec 2021to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- A clinical diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) for at least 1 year prior to Baseline as determined by the investigator.
- A total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count of >= 5 at Baseline
- HS lesions must be present in at least 2 distinct anatomic areas.
- Must have failed anti-TNF treatment for HS.
- To be eligible for the Sub-study, participants must be naïve to biologic therapy for treatment of HS.
Who cannot join
- History of active skin disease other than HS that could interfere with the assessment of HS, including skin infections (e.g., bacterial, fungal, or viral) requiring systemic treatment within 4 weeks of the Baseline visit.
Trial locations and contacts
54 sites in 8 countries.
54 sites in 8 countries
United States25 sites
Skin Care Research Boca Raton /ID# 240758
Boca Raton, Florida, 33486-2269
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center /ID# 240683
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215-5400
Apex Clinical Trials /ID# 248558
Brandon, Florida, 33511
CCD Research, PLLC /ID# 240728
Cromwell, Connecticut, 06416-1745
UCSF Fresno /ID# 240903
Fresno, California, 93701-2302
Burke Pharmaceutical Research /ID# 240811
Hot Springs, Arkansas, 71913-6404
Center for Clinical Studies - Houston (Binz) /ID# 240692
Houston, Texas, 77004-8097
Dawes Fretzin, LLC /ID# 240701
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46256
GSI Clinical Research, LLC /ID# 240901
Margate, Florida, 33063
Florida International Rsrch cr /ID# 240902
Miami, Florida, 33173
Schweiger Dermatology, P.C. /ID# 240900
New York, New York, 07044-2946
Mount Sinai Doctors Dermatology /ID# 241588
New York, New York, 10029-6504
Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands /ID# 249750
Omaha, Nebraska, 68144-1105
Duplicate_Skin Specialists, PC /ID# 240804
Omaha, Nebraska, 68144
Park Avenue Dermatology, PA /ID# 240807
Orange Park, Florida, 32073
Medical Dermatology Specialists /ID# 240641
Phoenix, Arizona, 85006
MediSearch Clinical Trials /ID# 240810
Saint Joseph, Missouri, 64506
Medderm Associates /ID# 240729
San Diego, California, 92103
Mayo Clinic - Scottsdale /ID# 241030
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259-5452
Washington University-School of Medicine /ID# 240797
St Louis, Missouri, 63110
Montefiore Medical Center /ID# 240853
The Bronx, New York, 10467
Clinical Trials Research Institute /ID# 240642
Thousand Oaks, California, 91320-2130
Revival Research Institute, LLC /ID# 241020
Troy, Michigan, 48084-3536
Essential Medical Research, LLC /ID# 241807
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74137-2842
Duplicate_TruDerm Dermatology of Wellington /ID# 240780
Wellington, Florida, 33449
Canada5 sites
Beacon Dermatology Inc /ID# 240741
Calgary, Alberta, T3A 2N1
Lima's Excellence in Allergy and Dermatology Research Inc /ID# 240814
Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 3C3
Ryan Clinical Research Inc /ID# 247986
Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 5G8
Dre Angelique Gagne-Henley M.D. inc. /ID# 240739
Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, J7Z 7E2
Wiseman Dermatology Research /ID# 240738
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3M 3Z4
Germany5 sites
Havelklinik /ID# 240874
Berlin, 13595
Klinikum Ruhr Univ Bochum /ID# 240870
Bochum, 44791
Staedtisches Klinikum Dessau /ID# 240871
Dessau, 06847
Duplicate_Universitaetsklinikum Erlangen /ID# 240872
Erlangen, Bavaria, 91054
Universitaetsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf /ID# 240873
Hamburg, 20246
Greece5 sites
401 GSNA - 401 Army General Hospital /ID# 242189
Athens, Attica, 11527
Duplicate_University General Hospital Attikon /ID# 240371
Athens, Attica, 12462
General Hospital Andreas Syggros /ID# 241104
Athens, Attica, 16121
Duplicate_Papageorgiou General Hospital Thessaloniki /ID# 240385
Stavroupoli (Thessalonikis), Thessaloniki, 55536
General Hospital of Thessaloniki Hippokrateio /ID# 240697
Thessaloniki, 54642
Japan5 sites
Fukuoka University Hospital /ID# 244390
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 814-0180
Duplicate_University Hospital Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine /ID# 244739
Kyoto, Kyoto, 602-8566
Nagoya City University Hospital /ID# 244392
Nagoya, Aichi-ken, 467-8602
Duplicate_University of the Ryukyus Hospital /ID# 244848
Nakagami-gun, Okinawa, 903-0215
Kindai University Hospital /ID# 245358
Osakasayama-shi, Osaka, 589-8511
Australia4 sites
Momentum Clinical Research /ID# 240911
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, 2010
Premier Specialist /ID# 241288
Kogarah, New South Wales, 2217
Duplicate_Paratus Clinical Research Woden /ID# 240605
Phillip, Australian Capital Territory, 2606
Veracity Clinical Research /ID# 241096
Woolloongabba, Queensland, 4102
Spain4 sites
Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau /ID# 240529
Barcelona, 08041
Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves /ID# 240429
Granada, 18014
Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon /ID# 240396
Madrid, 28007
Hospital de Manises /ID# 240440
Manises, Valencia, 46940
Puerto Rico1 site
Alma M. Cruz Santana, MD-Private practice /ID# 244514
Carolina, 00985
About this study
Official title: A Phase 2 Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Lutikizumab (ABT-981) in Adult Subjects With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa Who Have Failed Anti-TNF Therapy: Amended Protocol to Include a Lutikizumab Open-Label Sub-study in Subjects Naïve to Biologic Therapy
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and often painful inflammatory skin disease which includes the forming of lumps, abscesses and scars in areas of the skin such as under the breasts, under armpits, inner thighs, groin and buttocks. Despite the clinical benefit anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy offers to patients with HS, there remains a significant unmet medical need for patients who fail to achieve adequate benefit with anti-TNF therapy. This study will compare lutikizumab (ABT-981) versus placebo for the treatment of adult participants with moderate to severe HS who have failed anti-TNF therapy.
Lutikizumab (ABT-981) is an investigational drug being developed for the treatment of HS. In the Main Study, participants will be put in 1 of 4 groups, called treatment arms. There is a 1 in 4 chance that participants will be assigned to placebo. Around 160 adult participants with moderate to severe HS who have failed anti-TNF therapy will be enrolled in the study at approximately 50 sites worldwide. In the Sub-study, participants will be put in 1 of 2 groups, called treatment arms. Both arms will receive treatment at different dosing intervals. Around 40 adult participants with moderate to severe HS who are naïve to biologic therapy will be enrolled in the study at approximately 20 sites.
Read more
In the Main Study, participants will receive subcutaneous injections of lutikizumab (ABT-981) or placebo every week for 16 weeks. In the Sub-study, participants will receive subcutaneous injections of lutikizumab (ABT-981) every week for the first 15 weeks, then either every week or every other week for 36 weeks. There will be an optional Long Term Extension (LTE) for participants who completed Week 52 of the Sub-study and, as confirmed by the investigator, have shown a therapeutic benefit to study drug. Participants would then received lutikizumab using the same assigned dosing regimen as that from Period 2 of the Sub-study for an additional 104 weeks.
There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular visits during the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects and completing questionnaires and diaries.
- Conditions
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Being tested
- Lutikizumab, Placebo
- Keywords
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Lutikizumab, ABT-981
- Medical subject headings
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
LutikizumabBiological
Also called ABT-981
Subcutaneous Injection
PlaceboDrug
Subcutaneous Injection
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose A | Experimental | Lutikizumab Dose A every week Receives: Biological: Lutikizumab |
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose B | Experimental | Lutikizumab Dose B every other week Receives: Biological: Lutikizumab |
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose C | Experimental | Lutikizumab Dose C every other week Receives: Biological: Lutikizumab |
| Main Study: Placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo every week Receives: Drug: Placebo |
| Sub-study: Group 1 | Experimental | Period 1: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. Period 2: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. Receives: Biological: Lutikizumab |
| Sub-study: Group 2 | Experimental | Period 1: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. Period 2: Lutikizumab Dose A every other week. Receives: Biological: Lutikizumab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage of Participants Achieving Hidradenitis Suppurative Clinical Response (HiSCR)
HiSCR is defined as at least a 50% reduction from Baseline in the total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count, with no increase in abscess count and no increase in draining fistula-count relative to Baseline.
Measured: Week 16
Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs)
An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation participant administered a pharmaceutical product which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment.
Measured: Up to Approximately Week 68
Secondary outcomes (1)
Percentage of Participants Achieving Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 30 among Participants with Baseline NRS >=3
NRS 30 is defined as at least a 30% reduction and at least 1-unit reduction from Baseline in worst skin pain (maximal daily pain), as assessed by the Patient's Global Assessment (PGA) of Skin Pain.
Measured: Week 16
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Dec 2021
- Study start28 Dec 2021
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Hidradenitis SuppurativaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by AbbVieThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- AbbVie
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- ABBVIE INC., Study director, AbbVie
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05139602
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- M20-262
- Other IDs
- 2020-004108-33
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Nov 2021
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: AbbVie is committed to responsible clinical trial data sharing. This includes access to anonymized, individual and trial-level data (analysis data sets), as well as other information.
Publications
Kimball AB, Sawicki KT, Ackerman L, Lima H, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Zhan T, Drogaris L, Gu Y, Lee CM, Akbari M, Williams DA, Bechara FG. Lutikizumab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa After Anti-TNF Therapy Failure: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2026 May 1;162(5):469-477. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.0155.
PubMed 41848710
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 2 Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Lutikizumab (ABT-981) in Adult Subjects With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa Who Have Failed Anti-TNF Therapy: Amended Protocol to Include a Lutikizumab Open-Label Sub-study in Subjects Naïve to Biologic Therapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05139602
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- M20-262
- Conditions
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Keywords
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Lutikizumab, ABT-981
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- AbbVieIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 28 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and often painful inflammatory skin disease which includes the forming of lumps, abscesses and scars in areas of the skin such as under the breasts, under armpits, inner thighs, groin and buttocks. Despite the clinical benefit anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy offers to patients with HS, there remains a significant unmet medical need for patients who fail to achieve adequate benefit with anti-TNF therapy. This study will compare lutikizumab (ABT-981) versus placebo for the treatment of adult participants with moderate to severe HS who have failed anti-TNF therapy.
Lutikizumab (ABT-981) is an investigational drug being developed for the treatment of HS. In the Main Study, participants will be put in 1 of 4 groups, called treatment arms. There is a 1 in 4 chance that participants will be assigned to placebo. Around 160 adult participants with moderate to severe HS who have failed anti-TNF therapy will be enrolled in the study at approximately 50 sites worldwide. In the Sub-study, participants will be put in 1 of 2 groups, called treatment arms. Both arms will receive treatment at different dosing intervals. Around 40 adult participants with moderate to severe HS who are naïve to biologic therapy will be enrolled in the study at approximately 20 sites.
In the Main Study, participants will receive subcutaneous injections of lutikizumab (ABT-981) or placebo every week for 16 weeks. In the Sub-study, participants will receive subcutaneous injections of lutikizumab (ABT-981) every week for the first 15 weeks, then either every week or every other week for 36 weeks. There will be an optional Long Term Extension (LTE) for participants who completed Week 52 of the Sub-study and, as confirmed by the investigator, have shown a therapeutic benefit to study drug. Participants would then received lutikizumab using the same assigned dosing regimen as that from Period 2 of the Sub-study for an additional 104 weeks.
There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular visits during the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects and completing questionnaires and diaries.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 6
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose A | Experimental | Biological: LutikizumabLutikizumab Dose A every week |
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose B | Experimental | Biological: LutikizumabLutikizumab Dose B every other week |
| Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose C | Experimental | Biological: LutikizumabLutikizumab Dose C every other week |
| Main Study: Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboPlacebo every week |
| Sub-study: Group 1 | Experimental | Biological: LutikizumabPeriod 1: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. Period 2: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. |
| Sub-study: Group 2 | Experimental | Biological: LutikizumabPeriod 1: Lutikizumab Dose A every week. Period 2: Lutikizumab Dose A every other week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- A clinical diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) for at least 1 year prior to Baseline as determined by the investigator.
- A total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count of >= 5 at Baseline
- HS lesions must be present in at least 2 distinct anatomic areas.
- Must have failed anti-TNF treatment for HS.
- To be eligible for the Sub-study, participants must be naïve to biologic therapy for treatment of HS.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- History of active skin disease other than HS that could interfere with the assessment of HS, including skin infections (e.g., bacterial, fungal, or viral) requiring systemic treatment within 4 weeks of the Baseline visit.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| LutikizumabAlso: ABT-981Subcutaneous Injection | Biological | Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose A, Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose B, Main Study: Lutikizumab Dose C, Sub-study: Group 1, Sub-study: Group 2 |
| PlaceboSubcutaneous Injection | Drug | Main Study: Placebo |
Primary outcome
Percentage of Participants Achieving Hidradenitis Suppurative Clinical Response (HiSCR)
Time frame: Week 16
HiSCR is defined as at least a 50% reduction from Baseline in the total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count, with no increase in abscess count and no increase in draining fistula-count relative to Baseline.
Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs)
Time frame: Up to Approximately Week 68
An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation participant administered a pharmaceutical product which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment.
1 secondary outcome
Percentage of Participants Achieving Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 30 among Participants with Baseline NRS >=3
Time frame: Week 16
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41848710Kimball AB, Sawicki KT, Ackerman L, Lima H, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Zhan T, Drogaris L, Gu Y, Lee CM, Akbari M, Williams DA, Bechara FG. Lutikizumab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa After Anti-TNF Therapy Failure: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2026 May 1;162(5):469-477. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.0155.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. AbbVie is committed to responsible clinical trial data sharing. This includes access to anonymized, individual and trial-level data (analysis data sets), as well as other information.
Related trials for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
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Early Pathophysiology of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Prediction of the Risk of Progression: a Prospective Cohort
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A Study of Zasocitinib in Adults With Hidradenitis Suppurativa
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Acceptability of MBSR for People With HS
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Rollover Study for Participants Previously Enrolled in Clinical Trials of Povorcitinib
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ORKA-002 Versus Placebo in Participants With Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
ABBVIE INC. study director
AbbVie
54 sites in 8 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Lutikizumab in people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, run by AbbVie at 54 sites in 8 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 54 sites in United States, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan and 3 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percentage of Participants Achieving Hidradenitis Suppurative Clinical Response (HiSCR) (time frame: Week 16). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05139602, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026.