From the Guidelines
Bimzelx (bimekizumab) has a significant place in therapy for psoriatic arthritis, particularly for patients who are naive to bDMARDs or have an inadequate response to TNFi, due to its superior efficacy in achieving ACR50 response and reducing signs and symptoms of other manifestations. The evidence from the BE OPTIMAL study 1 demonstrates that bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks is superior to placebo in achieving the primary endpoint of ACR50% response at week 16, with a response rate of 44% compared to 10% for placebo. Additionally, the BE COMPLETE study 1 shows that bimekizumab is effective in patients with an inadequate response to TNFi.
Key points to consider when using bimzelx in therapy include:
- Efficacy in reducing signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, including skin disease, enthesitis, dactylitis, and radiographic damage progression 1
- Superiority to placebo in achieving ACR50 response 1
- Potential use in patients who are naive to bDMARDs or have an inadequate response to TNFi 1
- Administration via subcutaneous injection, with a dosing regimen of 160 mg every 4 weeks 1
It is essential to weigh the benefits of bimzelx against potential risks, such as increased infection risk, and to screen patients for tuberculosis and assess for infections before initiating treatment. Overall, bimzelx is a valuable treatment option for patients with psoriatic arthritis, offering a dual mechanism of action that targets both IL-17A and IL-17F cytokines.
From the Research
Bimzelx in Therapy
- Bimzelx (bimekizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, used for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The primary efficacy end point of bimekizumab is psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) 90, and investigator's global assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1 3.
- Bimekizumab has shown high levels of response, which are durable over 56 weeks, with both maintenance dosing schedules (every 4 weeks and every 8 weeks) 2, 4.
Efficacy and Safety
- Bimekizumab was well tolerated with no unexpected safety findings in clinical trials 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The most effective treatments for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis are IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors, with bimekizumab having the highest probability of achieving PASI 75, PASI 90, and PASI 100 5.
- Bimekizumab demonstrated statistical superiority over all biologics in achieving PASI 90 and PASI 100 thresholds 5.
Comparison to Other Biologics
- Bimekizumab was compared to other biologic systemic therapies for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a network meta-analysis, showing its superiority in achieving PASI 90 and PASI 100 5.
- TNF alpha inhibitors, such as infliximab and etanercept, have also been used in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, but bimekizumab has shown better efficacy in clinical trials 6.