UCB recently presented positive phase 3 data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis at the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

Results demonstrated that Bimzelx achieved high rates of clinical and health-related quality-of-life responses, which were maintained in the long term.

Plaque psoriasis affects around 90% of patients with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory condition caused by dysfunction of the immune system, resulting in skin cells reproducing at a faster rate than normal.

Bimzelx is a humanised monoclonal IgG1 antibody that works to inhibit both IL-17A and IL-17F, the two cytokines that drive inflammatory processes.

Approximately nine out of ten patients treated with Bimzelx achieved at least a 90% improvement from baseline in the psoriasis area severity index (PASI), while over seven out of ten patients achieved complete skin clearance (PASI100) at week 16, who maintained their responses to year four.

Furthermore, additional data from five phase 3/3b studies demonstrated that Bimzelx showed good tolerability and a consistent safety profile, with no new safety findings identified for up to four years in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Emmanuel Caeymaex, executive vice president, immunology solutions and head of US UCB, commented: “These results, from the largest pool of phase 3 data… reinforce our belief that Bimzelx has the potential to transform the lives of people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.”

Dr Bruce Strober, clinical professor of dermatology, Yale University and Central Connecticut Dermatology, said: “This long-term data will be highly welcomed by the dermatology community since it provides important considerations for clinical practice.”

In October last year, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Bimzelx for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. In January this year, the treatment was approved by the European Commission to treat plaque psoriasis.