Is Cosentyx an approved treatment for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa?

Cosentyx (secukinumab) is a biologic drug that blocks IL-17, a protein involved in inflammation. It is approved in the US and Europe for treating moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in adults. This approval is supported by clinical trials and is reflected in European treatment guidelines.

What the research says

European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa, updated in 2025, include secukinumab as a recommended treatment option for HS ⁹. The guidelines note that new therapeutic approaches have significantly changed HS treatment in recent years ⁹.

A 2025 Lancet review on hidradenitis suppurativa describes the disease as a chronic inflammatory condition and lists current treatments, including biologics that target IL-17, the pathway that secukinumab blocks ¹⁰. The review also mentions that the first systemic therapies approved for HS include biologics ¹⁰.

A living systematic review and network meta-analysis in JAMA Dermatology compared medical interventions for moderate to severe HS, including cytokine inhibitors like secukinumab ¹¹. This review included phase 2 and 3 trials and assessed outcomes like HiSCR-50, which measures improvement in HS symptoms ¹¹. The results support the efficacy of these treatments, though the review notes limited comparative information among approved and pipeline treatments ¹¹.

What to ask your doctor

• Is Cosentyx a good option for my specific case of moderate to severe HS?
• What does the evidence show about how well Cosentyx works for HS symptoms like nodules and abscesses?
• What are the potential side effects of Cosentyx, and how do they compare with other HS treatments?
• How long does it typically take to see improvement with Cosentyx, and what should I expect during treatment?
• Are there any other biologic options that might be more suitable for me based on my health history?