Bimekizumab Data From ACR Conference Highlights Sustained Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis

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UCB recently unveiled new data showcasing the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab-bkzx (Bimzelx) in addressing psoriatic arthritis (PsA), alongside other conditions such as non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.¹ Data was presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2024 meeting November 14–19 in Washington, DC.

These findings stem from phase 3 clinical trials and their long-term open-label extensions, reinforcing bimekizumab's position as a significant therapeutic advancement for patients with these chronic inflammatory conditions.

The data presented highlighted bimekizumab’s durable efficacy in PsA across diverse patient populations, including those naïve to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARD) and those with inadequate responses to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR).

In the BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE trials, more than 7 in 10 patients achieving a 50% improvement in American College of Rheumatology response criteria (ACR50) at week 16 sustained this response at 2 years (79.4% in bDMARD-naïve and 75.7% in TNFi-IR patients).

Additionally, complete skin clearance (PASI100) was achieved by 70.9% of bDMARD-naïve patients and 80.6% of TNFi-IR patients over 2 years. Among patients attaining minimal disease activity at week 16, nearly 75% sustained this outcome at 2 years.

Related to patient-reported outcomes, patients maintained reductions in pain and fatigue, with almost half of patients reporting a ≥50% decrease in pain and improvements in fatigue scores.

Furthermore, long-term safety analyses pooled across 6 studies revealed a consistent safety profile for bimekizumab. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included COVID-19 (20.9%), nasopharyngitis (15.7%), and upper respiratory tract infection (13.6%).

These data validate bimekizumab as a critical addition to the therapeutic landscape for PsA and axSpA. Its efficacy across multiple domains and sustained response over 2 years address a significant unmet need, particularly for patients who have experienced treatment failures with existing options.

Dr Fabian Proft of Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin emphasized the importance of these findings,¹ stating, "Bimekizumab’s dual inhibition mechanism offers a long-term solution for managing inflammation and disease progression in patients with PsA and axSpA. The two-year data presented reinforce its potential to set new benchmarks in rheumatology care."

Reference

1. New Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) data at ACR Convergence 2024 highlights UCB’s efforts to deliver differentiated care for patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. News release. UCB. November 14, 2024. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.ucb.com/stories-media/Press-Releases/article/New-BIMZELXR-bimekizumab-bkzx-data-at-ACR-Convergence-2024-highlights-UCB-s-efforts-to-deliver-differentiated-care-for-patients-with-psoriatic-arthritis-and-axial-spondyloarthritis