Overview

• The SSN has authorized reimbursement of secukinumab, a fully human IL-17A monoclonal antibody, for adults with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa who have not responded to conventional systemic treatments.
• The approval was published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on June 30 following Sunshine and Sunrise trials demonstrating significant reductions in abscesses, nodules and skin pain.
• Registry data published in The Lancet reported that 46% of patients achieved at least a 50% reduction in lesions by week 16 and that 70–90% of patients experienced further improvement after one year of treatment.
• Hidradenitis suppurativa affects about 1% of the Italian population—70% of whom are women—and has historically suffered average diagnostic delays of 7–10 years and fragmented care pathways.
• Experts and patient associations are calling for faster diagnosis, formal inclusion of HS in national chronic disease plans and the development of multidisciplinary care networks to ensure timely, coordinated treatment.