Based on the outcomes of a 56-week study published in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, bimekizumab was found to be superior to adalimumab in terms of providing symptom relief of plaque psoriasis over a period of 16 weeks. Nevertheless, its use was also associated with increased episodes of oral candidiasis and diarrhea. Richard B. Warren and colleagues examined the safety and efficacy of bimekizumab (monoclonal IgG1 antibody) with adalimumab (tumor necrosis factor inhibitor) for plaque psoriasis.

On the whole, 478 patients (mean aged 44.9 years) with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were recruited and randomized into groups of three to receive:

• Bimekizumab 320 mg subcutaneous (SC) injection every 4 weeks for a total of 56 weeks (158 patients);
• Bimekizumab 320 mg SC injection every 4 weeks for 16 weeks, then every 8 weeks for 16 to 56 weeks (161 patients); or
• Adalimumab 40 mg SC injection every 2 weeks for 24 weeks, and later, Bimekizumab 320 mg SC injection every 4 weeks up to 56 weeks (159 patients)

Initially, the mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI score) were 19.8. At week 16, PASI 90 response was observed in 86.2% of patients who received bimekizumab and 47.2% with adalimumab. The Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 (clear skin) or 1 was observed in 85.3% patients receiving bimekizumab and 57.2% patients receiving adalimumab as described in the following table:

Upper respiratory tract infections, oral candidiasis (mostly mild or moderate), diarrhea, and hypertension were the most frequent adverse events linked with bimekizumab use. Future long-term studies concerning bimekizumab’s effectiveness in plaque psoriasis treatment with other agents are needed, study authors mentioned.