Hidradenitis suppurativa causes painful, recurring bumps and abscesses, often in the armpits, groin or under the breasts—and finding a treatment that keeps working over the long haul can be a real challenge. A once-monthly injectable now has a full year of encouraging data behind it, adding to a broader shift toward less frequent biologic dosing for chronic skin conditions.
As reported by Dermatology Times, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics shared 52-week results from two large trials testing sonelokimab, an injectable treatment given once every four weeks, in adults with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. About two-thirds of patients saw a significant reduction in their symptoms by one year, and a third achieved a much higher bar of clearance. Results kept improving over time rather than leveling off.
Beyond the visible symptoms, patients reported real gains in day-to-day quality of life, with meaningful reductions in pain and a shift from severe to mild impact on their overall wellbeing.
Jorge Santos da Silva, founder and chief executive officer of MoonLake, said the year-long results reinforced the treatment's overall profile. “The final week 52 data from the VELA program confirm the strength of SLK across most, if not all, metrics that matter in HS: strong early efficacy, sustained and leading improvement over time, a consistent safety profile and great convenience in dosing,” Santos da Silva said.
Dr. Kristian Reich, founder and chief scientific officer of MoonLake, pointed to why quality-of-life data matters so much for this condition. “The sustained improvements we observed across HiSQOL, pain and broader quality-of-life measures are highly meaningful in HS, where the burden of disease extends far beyond lesion counts,” Dr. Reich said.
The company also shared early results from a study testing the treatment in teens ages 12 to 17, with similarly encouraging results and no new safety concerns in that age group.
No new safety issues came up over the full year, and nearly all patients chose to continue treatment in an extension study. MoonLake plans to submit its application to the FDA by the end of September 2026, with a possible launch as early as the second half of 2027. For people living with the pain and unpredictability of hidradenitis suppurativa, a treatment with this kind of staying power is genuinely worth watching.
