A Study of Bermekimab for the Treatment of Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa

A Phase 2a/2b, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo and Active Comparator-controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-ranging Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Bermekimab (JNJ-77474462) for the Treatment of Subjects With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of bermekimab in participants with moderate to severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS).

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disease of unclear etiology that affects 1 percent (%) to 4% of the general population. JNJ-77474462 (bermekimab) is a recombinant human immunoglobulin G1 kappa (IgG1k) monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity and selectivity for human interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and is an effective blocker of IL-1 alpha biological activity. IL-1 alpha is a key mediator of sterile inflammatory responses. Skin is a significant reservoir of preformed IL-1 alpha, and it has been postulated that IL-1 alpha may play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple inflammatory skin disorders, including HS. Part 1 of this study contains 4 study periods: up to 6 weeks screening period (Period 1), 16-week placebo-controlled period (Period 2), 16-week cross over period (Period 3), and 4-week safety follow-up (Period 4). Part 2 of this study also contains 4 study periods: up to 6 weeks screening period (Period 1), 12-week placebo-controlled period (Period 2), 20-week cross over period (Period 3), and 4-week safety follow up (Period 4). Safety will be assessed by adverse events (AEs), serious adverse event (SAEs), physical examinations, vital signs, electrocardiograms, clinical safety laboratory assessments, allergic reaction, injection-site reactions, and tuberculosis evaluations. The total duration of study participation will be up to 42 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) for at least 1 year (365 days) prior to the baseline visit as determined by the investigator through participant interview and/or review of the medical history
• Have Hurley Stage II or Hurley Stage III HS as determined by the investigator at screening and baseline visits
• Have HS lesions present in at least 2 distinct anatomic areas (examples include but are not limited to left and right axilla; or left axilla and left inguinocrural fold) at screening and baseline visits
• Have a total abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) count of greater than or equal to (>=) 5 at the screening and baseline visit
• Agree not to receive a live virus or live bacterial vaccination during the study and for 90 days after the last administration of study intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has a current diagnosis or signs or symptoms of severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric, or metabolic disturbances
• Has unstable cardiovascular disease, defined as a recent clinical deterioration (that is, unstable angina, rapid atrial fibrillation) in the last 3 months or a cardiac hospitalization within the last 3 months
• Has or has had herpes zoster within the 2 months before screening
• Has a transplanted organ (with exception of a corneal transplant greater than [>] 3 months before the first administration of study intervention)
• Has known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to bermekimab or adalimumab or its excipients