UCB to Present Eight Bimekizumab Abstracts at AAD 2023 with Results from Studies in Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Brussels (Belgium), 16th March 2023 – 07:00 (CET) – UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it will present eight bimekizumab abstracts across a range of IL-17 mediated diseases^1,2  – moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) – at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, U.S., 17–21 March. The abstracts have been accepted as one late-breaking oral platform presentation and seven posters including three with oral presentations. The platform presentation will share the first detailed data from the two Phase 3 studies, BE HEARD I and BE HEARD II, evaluating the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab compared with placebo in the treatment of adults with moderate to severe HS.^3,4  

“The Phase 3 results for hidradenitis suppurativa further demonstrate UCB’s dedication to improving treatment options for patients with chronic diseases and reinforce our commitment to advancing dermatological care through cutting-edge science,” said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of U.S., UCB.

In the U.S., the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab have not been established for any indication and it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In the European Union and Great Britain, bimekizumab is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.^5,6  UCB is investigating bimekizumab in PsA and HS. The efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in PsA and HS have not been established, and it is not approved for use in these indications by any regulatory authority worldwide.

Five of the eight abstracts at AAD 2023 will share data on bimekizumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis including data evaluating bimekizumab in the treatment of nail psoriasis from the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. Two abstracts evaluating bimekizumab for the treatment of active PsA will also be presented.

            The following is a guide to the UCB-sponsored abstracts at AAD 2023:

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

• Bimekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa: 48-week efficacy and safety from BE HEARD I & II, two phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter studies. Kimball AB, Zouboulis CC, Sayed C et al. 

Saturday March 18: 13:00–13:10

Psoriasis

• Bimekizumab maintenance of response and safety in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Results from the open-label extension period (Weeks 48–144) of the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. Strober B, Puig L, Blauvelt A et al.

# 43778
Sunday March 19: 13:00–13:05

• Bimekizumab versus secukinumab for the treatment of nail psoriasis in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Results from the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. Eyerich K, Gottlieb AB, Piaserico S et al.

# 43878
Sunday March 19: 13:30–13-35

• Bimekizumab safety and tolerability in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Analysis of pooled data from up to three years of treatment in five phase 3/3b clinical trials. Gordon KB, Gooderham M, Foley P et al.

# 43758
Sunday March 19: 15:10–15:15

• Itching in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: The relationship between improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and patient-reported symptoms in the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial. Augustin M, Langley RG, Warren RB et al.

# 42664

• Bimekizumab in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Injection site reactions through two years of the BE RADIANT phase 3b trial and open-label extension with one-year comparison to secukinumab. Soung J, Rosmarin D, López Ferrer A et al.

# 43802

Psoriatic Arthritis

• Bimekizumab improved efficacy measures in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and moderate or severe psoriasis: Pooled 16-week results from phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled studies BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE. Gottlieb AB, Asahina A, Merola JF et al.

# 43024

• Bimekizumab in bDMARD-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis and skin involvement: Analysis of radiographic progression at Week 16 of BE OPTIMAL, a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, active reference study. Merola JF, Asahina A, Gisondi P et al.

# 43744

Notes to editors:

About bimekizumab

Bimekizumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that is designed to selectively inhibit both interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and interleukin 17F (IL-17F), two key cytokines driving inflammatory processes.^5,7  In the U.S., the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab have not been established for any indication and it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In August 2021, bimekizumab was first approved in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and in Great Britain, for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.^5,6 The label information may differ in other countries where approved. Please check local prescribing information. 

About BIMZELX^® ▼(bimekizumab) in the EU/EEA                                                                                         In the EU/EEA, BIMZELX^® is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.⁵

BIMZELX^® ▼ (bimekizumab) EU/EEA Important Safety Information in Psoriasis

The most frequently reported adverse reactions with bimekizumab were upper respiratory tract infections (14.5%) (most frequently nasopharyngitis) and oral candidiasis (7.3%). Common adverse reactions (≥1/100 to <1/10) were oral candidiasis, tinea infections, ear infections, herpes simplex infections, oropharyngeal candidiasis, gastroenteritis, folliculitis, headache, dermatitis and eczema, acne, injection site reactions, fatigue. Elderly may be more likely to experience certain adverse reactions such as oral candidiasis, dermatitis and eczema when using bimekizumab.

Bimekizumab is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients and in patients with clinically important active infections (e.g. active tuberculosis). 
Bimekizumab may increase the risk of infections. Treatment with bimekizumab must not be administered in patients with any clinically important active infection. Patients treated with bimekizumab should be instructed to seek medical advice if signs or symptoms suggestive of an infection occur. Prior to initiating treatment with bimekizumab, patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) infection. Bimekizumab should not be given in patients with active TB and patients receiving bimekizumab should be monitored for signs and symptoms of active TB. 

Cases of new or exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease have been reported with bimekizumab. Bimekizumab is not recommended in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. If a patient develops signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease or experiences an exacerbation of pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease, bimekizumab should be discontinued and appropriate medical management should be initiated. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions have been observed with IL-17 inhibitors. If a serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, administration of bimekizumab should be discontinued immediately and appropriate therapy initiated. 

Live vaccines should not be given in patients treated with bimekizumab.

Please consult the summary of product characteristics in relation to other side effects, full safety and prescribing information. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/bimzelx-epar-product-information_en.pdf

EU summary of product characteristics date of revision December 2022.

Last accessed: March 2023.

 ▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions 

For further information, contact UCB: 

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

Corporate Communications
Laurent Schots 
T +32.2.559.92.64 
email laurent.schots@ucb.com

Brand Communications
Eimear O’Brien
T +32.2.559.92.71
email eimear.obrien@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 approximately 8,600 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €5.5 billion in 2022. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news.

Forward looking statements 
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UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and it does not reflect any potential impact from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, unless indicated otherwise. UCB is following the worldwide developments diligently to assess the financial significance of this pandemic to UCB. UCB expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations. 
Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. 

References

1. Fletcher JK, Moran B, Petrasca A, et al. IL‐17 in inflammatory skin diseases psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa Clin Exp Immunol 2020; 201(2): 121–134.
2. Mills KHG, IL-17 and IL-17-producing cells in protection versus pathology Nature Reviews Immunology 2023; 23: 38–54 
3. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Study Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa (BE HEARD I). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04242446?term=be+heard&draw=2&rank=1. Last accessed: March 2023 
4. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Study Participants With Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa (BE HEARD II). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04242498 Last accessed: March 2023
5. BIMZELX^® (bimekizumab) EU Summary of Product Characteristics, December 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/bimzelx-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Last accessed: March  2023.
6. BIMZELX^® (bimekizumab) GB Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/12834/smpc#gref. Last accessed: March 2023.
7. 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.