Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects must be able to give informed consent.
• Severe hidradenitis suppurativa clinically confirmed by the investigator and defined as recurrent abscesses, with 4 or more lesions (e.g. nodules or abscesses) with sinus track and scar formation (e.g. Stage II or III disease) that has not responded to previous standard therapies such as topical or oral antibiotics, or intralesional injections of steroids.
• Age 18 or older.
• Willingness to use at least one form of effective contraception during the study period and for one month after discontinuation of etanercept if female and of child bearing capacity or if male. If the patient elects to use a hormonal form of contraception then the patient must be on the same form of hormonal contraception for 90 days prior to the start of Etanercept and must plan to continue using the same form of hormonal contraception for the duration of the study (e.g. until week 18).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of oral or topical antibiotics, isotretinoin, or intralesional steroids within 30 days prior to day 0 or at any time during the study treatment period.
• Use of systemic immunosuppressants within 90 days prior to day 0 of this study.
• Use of an investigational medication 90 days prior to day 0 of this study.
• Use of a live vaccine 90 days prior to day 0 of this study.
• Any previous use of TNF- α inhibitors.
• If using a hormonal form of contraception, the patient will be excluded if they have not used the same form of hormonal contraception for 90 days prior to the start of the etanercept (e.g. day 0) or are not willing to continue the use of the same form of hormonal contraception for the duration of the study.
• Active infection within 30 days of day 0 of the study that is moderate (discomfort sufficient to reduce or affect normal daily activity) or severe (incapacitating with inability to work or perform normal daily activities) or requires treatment with antibiotics.
• History of tuberculosis or other mycobacterial disease or positive screening visit PPD (≥ 5 mm).
• Known history of an immuno-suppressing disease (e.g. HIV)
• Clinically significant abnormality in liver function, renal function, chemistry panel or CBC (AST or ALT ≥ 2 times the laboratory's upper limit of normal, hemoglobin < 10.0 g/dL, platelet count <125,000/cm3, white blood count <3,500 cells/cm3 or > 15,000 cells/cm3, or serum creatinine ≥ 2.0 mg/dL) or severe co-morbidities defined as diabetes mellitus requiring insulin, congestive heart failure, history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >110 mmHg), severe pulmonary disease (requiring oxygen therapy), history of cancer within 5 years (other than resected basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma and in situ cervical cancer), known history of active hepatitis B or C or HIV infection, history of demyelinating diseases or lupus.
• Pregnancy or lactation
• History of alcohol or drug abuse within 12 months of screening visit