UCB Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Study Evaluating Bimekizumab

Global biopharmaceutical company, UCB, has announced, in a Nov. 19, 2021 press release, positive top-line interim analysis results from the Phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of BIMZELX (bimekizumab) as a treatment for active psoriatic arthritis in adults.

The primary endpoint of the study was met, meaning that significantly more patients who had been treated with bimekizumab achieved 50% or greater improvement in signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis from baseline when compared with placebo. Additionally, the study met all ranked secondary endpoints for the interim analysis, which included significant improvements at week 16 versus placebo, skin clearance, and joint radiographic progression.

“Psoriatic arthritis causes painful debilitating joint and skin inflammation, which impacts mobility and quality of life for patients. At UCB, our aim is to support more patients in achieving control of their symptoms and we set high treatment goals in BE OPTIMAL [Phase III study],” said Emmanuel Caeymaex, executive vice-president, Immunology Solutions and head of US, UCB, in the press release. “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.”

“[The] encouraging findings from the BE OPTIMAL study show the potential of bimekizumab to improve a range of signs and symptoms in people with active psoriatic arthritis, and suggest that targeting IL-17F, in addition to IL-17A, may be a promising therapeutic approach for this disease,” added Professor Iain McInnes, vice principal and head of College, University of Glasgow, Scotland, in the press release.

Source: UCB