Treatment with bimekizumab (BKZ) was associated with better outcomes in patients with plaque psoriasis compared with secukinumab (SEC), according to results from the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. These data are being presented at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

“Higher levels of disease control and complete skin clearance observed with BKZ vs SEC translated into greater benefits in patient-perceived symptoms and [health-related quality of life] HRQoL,” wrote lead author Matthias Augustin MD, PhD, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, and colleagues.

In the study, 743 patients were randomized 1:1 to BKZ 320mg every 4 weeks or SEC 300mg weekly until week 4, and then every 4 weeks thereafter. At week 16, some patients in the BKZ arm were changed to BKZ every eight weeks.

Also, at week 16, about 64.3% of patients who received BKZ experienced complete skin clearance compared with 51.4% of those in the SEC group. Of those in the BKZ group, 76.9% experienced almost total skin clearance or better body skin area (BSA) of 1% or less compared with 67.8% in the SEC group.

Furthermore, the responses were maintained up to 48 weeks, regardless of whether the patients received BKZ every 4 or every 8 weeks. At 48 weeks, 73% of patients in the group that received BKZ every 4 weeks achieved both BSA 0%, and a score of 0 or 1 on the Dermatology Life Quality Index. This indicated that the disease has no effect on a patient’s life, compared with 66.3% of the patients who received BKZ every 8 weeks, and 50.2% of those who received SEC.

Of those who received BKZ every 4 weeks, 71.5% experienced both BSA at 0% and a score of 0 for skin pain on the Psoriasis Symptoms and Impacts Measure, compared with 69.3% of those who were switched to BKZ every 8 weeks, and 50.87% of those who received SEC.

Reference
Augustin M, Gooderham M, Gottlieb A, et al. Bimekizumab versus secukinumab in plaque psoriasis: reduction in body surface area affected by psoriasis translates into benefits in patient-perceived itching, skin pain, and scaling and health-related quality of life in the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. Poster presented at: AAD Annual Meeting. March 25-29, 2022; Boston, MA.