Efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in axial spondyloarthritis: results of two parallel phase 3 randomised controlled trials. Issue 4 (17th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van der Heijde, Désirée; Deodhar, Atul; Baraliakos, Xenofon; Brown, Matthew A; Dobashi, Hiroaki; Dougados, Maxime; Elewaut, Dirk; Ellis, Alicia M; Fleurinck, Carmen; Gaffney, Karl; Gensler, Lianne S; Haroon, Nigil; Magrey, Marina; Maksymowych, Walter P; Marten, Alexander; Massow, Ute; Oortgiesen, Marga; Poddubnyy, Denis; Rudwaleit, Martin; Shepherd-Smith, Julie; Tomita, Tetsuya; Van den Bosch, Filip; Vaux, Thomas; Xu, Huji
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 82:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: 515
• Page End: 526
• Publication Date: 2023-01-17
• Subjects: Biological Therapy -- Inflammation -- Spondylitis, Ankylosing -- Cytokines -- Autoimmune Diseases; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-223595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a complex disease with diverse manifestations, for which new treatment options are warranted. BE MOBILE 1 (non-radiographic (nr)-axSpA) and BE MOBILE 2 (radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA)) are double-blind, phase 3 trials designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of bimekizumab, a novel dual interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, across the axSpA spectrum. Methods: In parallel 52-week trials, patients with active disease were randomised 1:1 (nr-axSpA) or 2:1 (r-axSpA) to bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks:placebo. From week 16, all patients received bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks. Primary (Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society ≥40% improvement (ASAS40)) and secondary endpoints were assessed at week 16. Here, efficacy and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) are reported up to week 24. Results: 254 patients with nr-axSpA and 332 with r-axSpA were randomised. At week 16, primary (ASAS40, nr-axSpA: 47.7% bimekizumab vs 21.4% placebo; r-axSpA: 44.8% vs 22.5%; p<0.001) and all ranked secondary endpoints were met in both trials. ASAS40 responses were similar across TNFi-naïve and TNFi-inadequate responder patients. Improvements were observed in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) states and objective measures of inflammation, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and MRI of the sacroiliac joints and spine. Most frequent TEAEs with bimekizumab (>3%) included nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, diarrhoea, headache and oral candidiasis. More fungal infections (all localised) were observed with bimekizumab vs placebo; no major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or active tuberculosis were reported. Incidence of uveitis and adjudicated inflammatory bowel disease was low. Conclusions: Dual inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17F with bimekizumab resulted in significant and rapid improvements in efficacy outcomes vs placebo and was well tolerated in patients with nr-axSpA and r-axSpA.