Bimekizumab Results Continue to Impress for PsO, HS

Dual inhibition with bimekizumab (BIMZELX, UCB) in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis demonstrated high efficacy and sustained clinical benefits, according to new long-term data from phase 3 trials and their open-label extensions.

Among patients with psoriasis only at baseline, who were at risk of progression to psoriatic arthritis, 68.7% to 71.6% achieved complete skin clearance (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] 100) at 3 years, which was generally consistent with the overall treated group, who achieved 72%. Similar results were seen in all patients with psoriasis, including those with psoriatic arthritis at baseline. Among the 153 US/Canadian patients who completed an open-label extension period to 5 years, 67.7% achieved PASI 100, while 84.9% achieved PASI 90. In this subgroup over the 5-year period, bimekizumab was generally well tolerated with no unexpected safety findings.

Additionally, 2-year data from the BE HEARD^ trials for bimekizumab in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis supurativa (HS) continued to demonstrate sustained disease control and durable relief from key HS symptoms, including the potential to help prevent long-term structural damage caused by draining tunnels.

Practical Dermatology sat down with Saakshi Khattri, MD, FACR, FAAD, at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, to discuss the data.

WAS THE NEW PSORIASIS DATA WHAT YOU EXPECTED AND WERE HOPING FOR?

It was fairly consistent with what we saw in the clinical trials and what we see in real life. You're looking at really high PASI 90 responses that stayed somewhat stable at about 85% at Year 5. You're looking at a PASI 100 response in about 67% of patients. These are numbers that we've gotten spoiled now seeing; patients like to have clear skin.

AS THE DATA PILES UP, HOW MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE DOES IT MAKE PATIENTS USING THESE DRUGS?

That's a very good point because psoriasis is not a sprint; it's a marathon. Patients don't want to see their disease come back if the drug is working because there's an element of psychological impact if they have a flare, a recurrence, or a loss of efficacy. So, to have high levels of durability that last over a long period of time is reassuring for both the patient and clinician.

WHAT DO THESE LONG-TERM PSORIASIS RESULTS SAY TO YOU IN TERMS OF THE PROMISE FOR HS AND PERHAPS OTHER CONDITIONS?

Psoriasis and HS are, obviously, different diseases. We've reached all clear for psoriasis. We still have a long ways to go with HS, but just to have another option is important because there are not as many biologics or systemic therapies for HS. It's a slightly different mechanism, blocking with IL17A and IL17F. We will see what happens with the HS longer-term data, but at least what we have thus far from these clinical phase 3 trials is very good in terms of an option for HS as well.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK BIMEKIZUMAB MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE FOR?

I think UCB has covered all the disease states that are in the IL17 pathway so I don't think there would be any new indications, but we may see it going to younger ages.