UCB Pharma’s bimekizumab improves skin clearance over Humira in plaque psoriasis
pharmafile | November 3, 2020 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development | UCB Pharma, bimekizumab, pharma
In recent Phase 3 study data presented European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress last weekend, UCB Pharma reported that its IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor bimekizumab met both its primary and secondary goals in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis when compared to AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab) in a head-to-head setting.
The data from the BE SURE study revealed that, 16 weeks following initial dosing, patients receiving bimekizumab saw an improvement of 90% on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90), as well as a score of 0 or 1 according to the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale, representing clear or almost clear skin.
“In BE SURE, we saw significantly higher skin clearance rates with bimekizumab compared with one of the most commonly used biologic treatments in psoriasis,” reported study investigator Professor Richard Warren, of the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester. “The study results also demonstrated the potential benefits of switching patients who are being treated with adalimumab to bimekizumab.”
These findings met the co-primary endpoints of the study, and were “significantly higher” than those recorded with Humira, with 86.2% with bimekizumab versus 47.2% with Humira achieving PASI90.
Response rates were maintained for up to a year in patients who received bimekizumab from baseline, while those who switched to the drug from Humira saw “rapid increases” in skin clearance rates.
Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President Immunology Solutions and Head of US at UCB Pharma, commented: “These findings from BE SURE, the third positive study in the psoriasis clinical development programme, are further evidence of bimekizumab’s superior depth of response. The results also add to the mounting evidence supporting the potential value of selective inhibition of IL-17F, in addition to IL-17A, for rapid, complete and durable skin clearance, if approved by health authorities. UCB is proud to be developing innovative solutions for psoriasis patients.”
Matt Fellows
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