Bimekizumab-bkzx for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis: A Drug Review

Background: Bimekizumab is a biologic targeting interleukin (IL)-17A/17F, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in 2023. Data Sources: A PubMed search was performed using the keywords “bimekizumab,” “plaque psoriasis,” and “bimekizumab clinical trials,” from origin to August 1, 2024. We included phase I to III trials of bimekizumab for plaque psoriasis, studies published post-FDA approval, and information from the package insert. Study Selection, Data Extraction: We summarized 1 phase I, 4 phase II, and 4 phase III trials, and 3 real-world studies published post-FDA approval. Data Synthesis: Bimekizumab was effective; >85% and 70% of patients achieved PASI90 and PASI100, respectively, in phase III trials. Head-to-head, 85% of bimekizumab patients achieved PASI90 versus 50% of ustekinumab patients. The most frequent adverse event was oral candidiasis (4%-10%); serious adverse events were rare (<1%). Long-term studies confirmed sustained efficacy and consistent safety profile. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice in Comparison to Existing Drugs: Bimekizumab was more efficacious than other IL-17 inhibitors, ustekinumab, and adalimumab. Real-world data corroborate bimekizumab’s efficacy. Bimekizumab had a safety profile like other IL-17 inhibitors, with higher rates of mucocutaneous candidiasis. Conclusion: Many patients who failed other IL-17 inhibitors and switched to bimekizumab experienced clearance. The efficacy of bimekizumab in patients who failed other IL-17 blockers may be attributable to bimekizumab’s ability to block multiple IL-17 isoforms. Bimekizumab also outperformed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors. There may be patients who fail previously available drugs, for reasons including nonadherence, antidrug antibodies, or adverse effects; bimekizumab, which targets additional cytokines, may bridge that gap.