Bimekizumab Bests Cosentyx in Achieving Complete Psoriasis Skin Clearance

First head-to-head study compares anti-IL-17 treatments, demonstrates superiority to secukinumab for complete skin clearance at both weeks 16 and 48.

UCB’s investigational IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor bimekizumab outperformed the IL-17A inhibitor Cosentyx (secukinumab) in a head-to-head Phase 3 b study of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

This is the first head-to-head study comparing anti-IL-17 treatments, and the first to demonstrate superiority to secukinumab for complete skin clearance at both weeks 16 and 48.

BE RADIANT met its primary endpoint at week 16 with statistical significance, demonstrating the superiority of bimekizumab over secukinumab for complete skin clearance, as measured by a 100 percent improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 100). The study also met all ranked secondary endpoints with statistical significance.

Bimekizumab was superior to secukinumab in achieving PASI 75 at week 4 and complete skin clearance at week 48, with both monthly (Q4 week) and bi-monthly (Q8 week) dosing. Moreover, the ongoing data assessment indicates that the safety profile of bimekizumab continues to be consistent with earlier clinical studies.

“With BE RADIANT, bimekizumab has demonstrated superiority over secukinumab for complete skin clearance in adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The results mark the latest positive data readout for bimekizumab, confirming the hypothesis that targeting IL-17F, in addition to IL-17A, suppresses inflammation to a greater extent than IL-17A inhibition alone in psoriasis,” says Professor Richard Warren, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, in a news release.

“Psoriasis places a heavy burden on patients, often causing pain, discomfort and stigma. Patients may not get the complete skin clearance that they want and may not even realize that it’s possible. Healthcare providers may also feel forced to make trade-offs between therapies that work quickly, versus those that have shown durable efficacy. The BE RADIANT results demonstrate that bimekizumab has the potential to raise the treatment bar for patients and their dermatologists. UCB is proud to lead the way in connecting science to unmet patient needs and developing bimekizumab. It is our ambition to provide a transformative experience for psoriasis patients,” adds Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President Immunology Solutions and Head of US, UCB.

Bimekizumab has a robust Phase 3 psoriasis clinical development program. Detailed findings from the BE VIVID and BE READY studies were announced in June 2020 at the American Academy of Dermatology VMX, and the BE SURE results will be presented this year. The full BE RADIANT results will be presented to the scientific community in due course.

Bimekizumab’s safety and efficacy are also currently being evaluated in Phase 3 trials for potential indications in psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa.