Bimekizumab for the Treatment of Psoriasis

Drugs. 2021 Oct;81(15):1751-1762. doi: 10.1007/s40265-021-01612-z. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic, immune-mediated disease, with prominent skin and joint manifestations, associated with several comorbidities. In the past few decades, advances in the knowledge of psoriasis pathogenesis have driven the development of highly effective targeted biologic therapies, transforming the treatment landscape of psoriasis. Bimekizumab is a humanized antibody that selectively binds and neutralizes the biologic functions of interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F. This article reviews the current knowledge about bimekizumab in psoriasis treatment. The results obtained in the phase 3 studies (BE VIVID, BE READY, BE RADIANT, BE SURE) corroborate the high levels of efficacy of bimekizumab seen in previous studies, and show superior efficacy over adalimumab, ustekinumab, and secukinumab in direct comparative studies. In all phase 3 trials, bimekizumab was also well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to the other biologic drugs tested, except for a higher frequency of oral candidiasis. Dual inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17F is a highly effective therapeutic option for the treatment of psoriasis, both for naïve patients and for those resistant to previous biologic treatments.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Dermatologic Agents / adverse effects
  • Dermatologic Agents / pharmacology
  • Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Development
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • IL17A protein, human
  • IL17F protein, human
  • Interleukin-17
  • bimekizumab