Bimekizumab shows early efficacy in psoriatic arthritis

Topline phase 3 study results found bimekizumab superior to placebo in improving signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, UCB announced in a press release.

The randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-inferior active reference arm, parallel group, phase 3 BE OPTIMAL trial compared bimekizumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, to placebo in 852 psoriatic disease patients.

Patients included in the study were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug naïve, had active disease for at least 6 months before screening and had a baseline tender joint count of at least 3 of 68 and swollen joint count of at least 3 of 66.

Significantly more patients in the treatment arm achieved 50% or greater improvement from baseline at week 16, as measured by the American College of Rheumatology 50, compared with those treated with placebo.

Secondary endpoints, including physical function, skin clearance and joint radiographic progression, were also significantly improved in a greater number of bimekizumab-treated patients.

“Psoriatic arthritis causes painful debilitating joint and skin inflammation, which impacts mobility and quality of life for patients,” Emmanuel Caeymaex, executive vice president of immunology and U.S. solutions at UCB, said. “Our aim is to support more patients in achieving control of their symptoms and we set high treatment goals in BE OPTIMAL. The clinically meaningful improvements seen in both joint and skin symptoms strengthen our belief that bimekizumab can address the unmet needs of patients with psoriatic arthritis.”

Full results of the BE OPTIMAL study will be presented and published in the near future.