BE BOLD: Bimekizumab Shows Superiority Over IL-23 Inhibitor in Psoriatic Arthritis

Key Takeaways

• Bimekizumab demonstrated superiority over risankizumab for the ACR50 endpoint at week 16 in adults with active psoriatic arthritis, according to an announcement from its manufacturer (UCB).

• A news release said the study represents the first head-to-head trial in psoriatic arthritis showing superiority of a biologic therapy over an IL-23 inhibitor.

• Full results will be presented at a forthcoming international congress.

Bimekizumab achieved statistically significant superiority over risankizumab in reducing disease activity at Week 16 in adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to topline results from the phase 3 BE BOLD head-to-head trial announced by UCB.

The study compared bimekizumab (BIMZELX) with SKYRIZI risankizumab (SKYRIZI) in adults living with active PsA. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement response (ACR50) at week 16.

According to the company, bimekizumab met the primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant superiority over risankizumab for ACR50 response at week 16. If confirmed via data analyses, the findings would represent the first head-to-head demonstration of superiority over an IL-23 inhibitor in PsA with a licensed biologic therapy, UCB said. The BE BOLD trial also marks the first head-to-head superiority study of bimekizumab conducted specifically in PsA. The manufacturer said said full results from the BE BOLD trial will be presented at a forthcoming international congress.

“Our landmark BE BOLD study provides the first head-to-head evidence of superiority versus an IL-23 inhibitor in psoriatic arthritis,” said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President and Head of Patient Evidence at UCB, in the news release. “These topline results reinforce bimekizumab’s potential to deliver clinically meaningful improvements using the stringent ACR50 measure of disease activity, indicating more complete control of joint inflammation.”