AT A GLANCE

Bimekizumab-bkzx (Bimzelx, UCB) demonstrated sustained skin clearance and long-term efficacy in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to five-year data presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

Among a subgroup of 153 patients from the US and Canada who completed five years of treatment, 67.7% of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) on bimekizumab achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 100+ at five years, and 84.9% achieved PASI90. These results are evident from the first year, where 75.2% achieved PASI100, and 92.8% achieved PASI90. 

Bimekizumab showed  durable and broad efficacy across multiple patient subgroups over four years, including those with cardiometabolic comorbidities and varying body weights:

• Among 420 patients weighing <90 kg at baseline, 67.4% achieved PASI100 at four years.
• Among 351 patients weighing ≥90 kg at baseline, 61.6% achieved PASI100 at four years.
• Among patients with hypertension, hyperglycemia, or elevated BMI, PASI100 response rates ranged from 56.9% to 60.7% at four years.

Data showed 68.7–71.6% of PsO patients at risk of developing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) achieved PASI100, generally consistent with the overall treated group at three years. Similar results were seen in all patients with PsO, including those with PsA at baseline.

Bimekizumab was generally well tolerated in this patient subgroup, with no unexpected safety findings over five years. In addition, there were no mortalities reported. Safety outcomes were consistent among patients receiving bimekizumab every four weeks or every eight weeks, the study showed.

 “The sustained complete skin clearance seen across five years … offers key insights into the potential Bimzelx offers in the long-term management of psoriatic disease,” says Saakshi Khattri, MD, a Dermatologist, Rheumatologist, and Internist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. “The five-year data provide meaningful insight into the durable efficacy of this treatment’s dual inhibition.”

She continues, “As a clinician, long-term data can be critical in informing treatment planning and conversations with my patients, as it can help guide our discussion around treatment expectations.  With these exciting new data, in addition to the data supporting the FDA approval of Bimzelx in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, Bimzelx has become a key option when discussing treatment with my patients.”

DRUG AT A GLANCE

Bimekizumab selectively inhibit both interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and IL-17F. It is approved for for adults with active psoriatic arthritis, adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation, adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, and adults with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Bimekizumab's  first U.S. approval was in October 2023 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

The FDA recommended dosage of bimekizumab for adult patients with active PsA, active nr-axSpA with objective signs of inflammation, and active AS is 160mg by subcutaneous injection every four weeks. For PsA patients with coexistent moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, the dosage and administration is the same as for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.