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Metformin for the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

Rediscovery of Metformin for the Chronic Disabling Auto-inflammatory Disease Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04649502
Enrollment
62
Registered
2020-12-02
Start date
2021-01-25
Completion date
2023-08-23
Last updated
2023-10-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Brief summary

A randomized controlled trial investigating the metformin is the treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa. Metformin combined with doxycycline will be compared to the standard treatment of doxycycline monotherapy for HS severity and the effect on the pre-diabetic condition.

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCTMetformin

Metformin in combination with doxycycline

Sponsors

K.R. van Straalen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Double blind

Intervention model description

randomized controlled trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥18 years at baseline * A diagnosis of HS for at least 1 year prior to baseline * mild to moderately active disease defined by a HS Physician Global Assessment (HS-PGA) score of 2-3 and the Refined Hurley classification of mild to moderate at baseline * Indication for systemic therapy; i.e. uncontrolled disease under conventional topical therapy. * Able and willing to give written informed consent and to comply with the study requirements

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant and lactating women * Concomitant diabetes mellitus * Use of antibiotics within 14 days prior to baseline * Use of immunosuppressing/modulating therapies within 28 days prior to baseline * A known allergy to metformin or doxycycline or any of the ingredients metformin or doxycycline

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
IHS424 weeksInternational Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Insulin resistance12 and 24 weeks• Change in insulin resistance from baseline using the HOMA-IR (based on fasting glucose and insulin levels) and differences between the groups at week 12 and 24.
Lesion Count12 and 24 weeks• Change in lesion count from baseline and differences between the groups at 12 and 24 week. Difference in lesion count will be assessed between the groups at week 12 and 24.
NRS-Pain12 and 24 weeksChange in skin related pain from baseline, on a numerical rating scale, and differences between the groups at week 12 (V2) and 24 (V4)
Cost-effectiveness24 weeks• For cost-effectiveness the direct medical costs will be will be assessed using the iMTA Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMCQ), The measurement will be at baseline, at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks. Productivity losses will be collected using the iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iPCQ) includes three modules measuring productivity losses of paid work due to 1) absenteeism and 2) presenteeism and productivity losses related to 3) unpaid work. The friction cost method for valuing the production losses will be applied in accordance to the Dutch manual for costing studies. Hence, the productivity loss will be valued per worker by age and gender and, for long term absences, taking into account that productivity costs to society is confined to the period needed to replace a worker (the friction period). Cost effectiveness will be estimated using Dutch manual for costing studies in economic evaluations (publication of the Health Care Institute (ZIN).
Bio-markers24 weeks* The correlation between baseline calprotectin levels and disease severity for both groups. * The correlation between calprotectin levels and treatment response in each group at week 12 and 24.
Safety and Tolerabilityup to 24 weeks• Incidence and severity of all adverse events (according to medDRA) will be analysed throughout the study, and renal function and lactate will be assessed at every visit.
Metabolic syndrome12 and 24 weeksChange in parameters of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) from baseline and differences between the groups at week 12 and 24.
HiSCR12 and 24 weeksThe percentage of HiSCR achievers (a ≥ 50% reduction in inflammatory lesion count (abscesses + inflammatory nodules), and no increase in abscesses or draining fistulas when compared with baseline) and the difference between the groups at week 12 and 24.
HS-PGA12 and 24 weeksThe change in HS-PGA from baseline and the difference between the groups at week 12 and 24.
Flares12 and 24 weeksChange in self-reported frequency of flares from baseline and differences between the groups at week 12 and 24.
DLQI12 and 24 weeksChange in quality of life from baseline and differences between the groups, measured with the Dermatologic Life Quality Index and the EQ-5D, at week 12 and 24.
Treatment satisfactionup to 24 weeksDifference in treatment satisfaction and recommendation on a 5- and 3-point Likert scale respectively at week 12 and 24 between the groups.
Pre-diabetic disorder12 and 24 weeksChange in HbA1c from baseline and differences between the groups at week 12 and week 24.

Countries

Netherlands

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026