Bimekizumab Phase 3 Psoriasis Study Meets All Endpoints, Achieving Significantly Greater Efficacy Versus Placebo and Ustekinumab

Brussels, Belgium – 17 October 2019, 7.00 AM CET – Regulated Information - Inside Information - UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive results from BE VIVID, the first of three Phase 3 studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab, an IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, in the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Results showed that after 16 weeks of treatment, bimekizumab met the co-primary endpoints of at least a 90 percent improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90) and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) score of clear or almost clear (IGA 0/1).¹

Among key secondary endpoints, bimekizumab was also found to be superior to ustekinumab in reaching PASI 90 and IGA 0/1 and superior to placebo in total skin clearance (PASI 100 or IGA 0) at Week 16.i The initial assessment indicates that the safety profile of bimekizumab was consistent with the earlier BE ABLE Phase 2 studies.²

The safety and efficacy of bimekizumab has not been established and it is not approved by any regulatory authority worldwide. The full BE VIVID results will be presented in due course.

“These encouraging first results provide strong evidence that bimekizumab has the potential to raise the bar for achieving skin clearance rates for patients. Achieving clear skin is of critical importance in positively impacting the lives of psoriasis patients. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in the extensive clinical development of bimekizumab,” said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., Lead Study Investigator, Waldman Professor of Dermatology and Chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.

“Psoriasis affects all aspects of a patient’s life. We believe that bimekizumab has the potential to be a meaningful new treatment option for people living with psoriasis,” said Iris Loew-Friedrich, Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, UCB. “Today’s positive BE VIVID results are just the start. We look forward to sharing further findings from the bimekizumab clinical development program in the coming months.”

The safety and efficacy of bimekizumab is also being evaluated in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). 

About BE VIVID
BE VIVID is a randomized, 52-week, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. BE VIVID enrolled 570 participants with chronic plaque psoriasis for at least six months prior to screening and with an affected body surface area of at least 10 percent and PASI of at least 12. 

The co-primary endpoints of the study were PASI 90 response (defined as a patient who achieves 90 percent improvement from baseline in the PASI score) at Week 16, and IGA response (defined as clear or almost clear with at least a 2-category improvement relative to baseline) at Week 16. For additional details on the study, visit BE VIVID on clinicaltrials.gov.

About Bimekizumab
Bimekizumab is an investigational humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that potently and selectively neutralizes IL-17A and IL-17F, two key cytokines driving inflammatory processes.³ IL-17A and IL-17F have similar pro-inflammatory functions and independently synergize with other inflammatory mediators to drive chronic inflammation and damage across multiple tissues.^4,5  

About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease with primary involvement of the skin. The skin condition affects men and women of all ages and ethnicities. Psoriasis signs and symptoms can vary but may include red patches of skin covered with silvery scales, dry, cracked skin that may bleed and thickened, pitted or ridged nails.⁶

Psoriasis affects nearly 3 percent of the population, or about 125 million people worldwide.vi Unmet needs remain in the treatment of psoriasis. A population-based survey identified that approximately 30 percent of psoriasis patients reported that their primary goals of therapy, including keeping symptoms under control, reducing itching, and decreasing flaking were not met with their current treatment.⁶ Failure to achieve or retain complete and lasting skin clearance negatively impacts disease progression and quality of life.^8,9 

For further information, UCB:

Corporate Communications
Laurent Schots 
Media Relations, UCB  
T+32.2.559.92.64  Laurent.schots@ucb.com 

Investor Relations
Antje Witte          
Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.94.14 antje.witte@ucb.com

Isabelle Ghellynck,
 Investor Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.9588, isabelle.ghellynck@ucb.com 

Brand Communications
Andrea Levin Christopher,
Immunology Communications, UCB
T +1.404.483.7329, andrea.christopher@ucb.com

About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 7,500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €4.6 billion in 2018. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news

Forward looking statements 
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There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.

Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.
 

References:

1. UCB Data on File October 2019
2. Papp K, Merola J, Gottlieb A, et al. Dual neutralization of both interleukin 17A and interleukin 17F with bimekizumab in patients with          psoriasis: Results from BE ABLE 1, a 12-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Aug;79(2):277-286.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.03.037. Epub 2018 Mar 30.
3. Glatt S, Helmer E, Haier B, et al. First-in-human randomized study of bimekizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody and selective dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, in mild psoriasis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(5):991-1001.
4. Toy D, Kugler D, Wolfson M, et al. Cutting edge: interleukin 17 signals through a heteromeric receptor complex. J Immunol Baltim Md 1950. 2006;177(1):36-39. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.177.1.36
5. Wright JF, Bennett F, Li B, et al. The human IL-17F/IL-17A heterodimeric cytokine signals through the IL-17RA/IL-17RC receptor complex. J Immunol Baltim Md 1950. 2008;181(4):2799-2805. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.181.4.2799
6. International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Available at: https://ifpa-pso.com/our-cause//. Last accessed: 22 February 2018.
7. Lebwohl, M. G., Kavanaugh, A., Armstrong, A. W., & Van Voorhees, A. S. (2015). US Perspectives in the Management of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Patient and Physician Results from the Population-Based Multinational Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (MAPP) Survey. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 17(1), 87-97.
8. Zachariae H, Zachariae R, Blomqvist K, et al. Quality of life and prevalence of arthritis reported by 5,795 members of the Nordic Psoriasis Associations. Data from the Nordic Quality of Life Study. Acta Derm Venereol 2002;82:108113.
9. Moon HS, Mizara A, McBride SR. Psoriasis and psycho-dermatology. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2013;3:117-130.