Real-World Benefits of Bimekizumab for Psoriatic Arthritis, AxSpA, with Philip Mease, MD

Bimekizumab has continued to demonstrate sustained improvements in disease control and symptoms in people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and active axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) in long term follow-up data.1,2,3,4

These findings were presented in a several posters at June's European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Congress 2025 held in Barcelona, Spain.

The therapy, which was approved by the FDA for treating adults with active PsA, active non-radiographic AxSpA, and active ankylosing spondylitis in adults in September 2024, is a promising new option for rheumatologist's toolkit and continues to grow in real-world use.5

HCPLive spoke with Philip Mease, MD, director of rheumatology research at Providence Swedish Medical Center and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, who served as a primary investigator on multiple bimekizumab studies, to learn more about his real-world experience treating patients with the therapy since its approval.

In particular, he praised the safety profile he's seen so far in his patients, and shared his thoughts on how bimekizumab fits into the armamentarium for both PsA and AxSpA. The therapy, he explains, is quite versatile and has a place in both early and late treatment of the diseases.

While bimekizumab is now approved, Mease looks forward to seeing further long-term durability follow-up data, and real-world experience data that will continue to accrue with its use.

"We've used it quite a bit in practice, and appreciate having it as part of our potential armamentarium for treatment. We've seen high rates of response," Mease said. "I think if it's used early on, then we get optimal results and so, if it can be used and insurance companies allow it to be used early on, that's great, but it also looks like it's going to be a pretty strong player down the road."

Mease's disclosures include AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun and UCB.

REFERENCES

1. Gossec L, Coates L, McInnes I, et al. Bimekizumab, a dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL 17F, demonstrated long-term safety and efficacy biologic DMARD naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis: final 3-year results from the Phase 3 BE OPTIMAL study and its open label extension [abstract Presented at: EULAR Congress 2025; Barcelona, Spain; June 11-14. Poster #POS1294.

2. McInnes I, Merola J, Coates L, et al. Dual inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17F with bimekizumab demonstrated long-term safety and efficacy in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and prior inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: final 3-year results from the Phase 3 BE COMPLETE study and its open-label extension [abstract]. Presented at: EULAR Congress 2025; Barcelona, Spain; June 11-14. Poster #POS0105.

3. Baraliakos X, Deodhar A, van der Heijde D, et al. Bimekizumab demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety across the full spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis: 3-year results from two Phase 3 studies and their open-label extension [abstract]. Presented at: EULAR Congress 2025; Barcelona, Spain; June 11-14. Poster #POS0788.

4. Navarro-Compán V, Kiltz U, Mease P, et al. Sustained improvements with bimekizumab in pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, physical function and health-related quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: 3-year results from two Phase 3 studies [abstract]. Presented at: EULAR Congress 2025; Barcelona, Spain; June 11-14. Poster #POS0921.

5. UCB Announces U.S. FDA Approvals for BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx) for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis, Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis. News release. UCB. September 23, 2024.