Bimekizumab Associated With Improved Health-Related Quality of Life in Psoriasis

Patients with psoriasis who received bimekizumab (BKZ) had greater benefits in perceived symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with those who received secukinumab (SEC), according to research presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), held from March 25 to 29, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The BE RADIANT trial evaluated HRQoL and perceived itching, skin pain, and scaling among patients who achieved target body surface area (BSA) outcomes with BKZ vs SEC.

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to BKZ 320 mg every 4 weeks or SEC 300 mg weekly to week 4 and then every 4 weeks. At week 16, patients who received BKZ continued it every 4 weeks or received BKZ every 8 weeks. BSA 0% indicated complete skin clearance, and BSA 1% or less was a target treatment response.

Study outcomes were the percentages of patients who simultaneously achieved target BSA thresholds and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 0/1 or Psoriasis Symptoms and Impacts Measure (P-SIM) 0 for the itching, skin pain, and scaling items at weeks 16 and 48. Results are from the intention-to-treat cohort at week 16 and the maintenance set (≥1 dose of treatment at week 16 or later) at week 48.

A total of 743 patients were randomly assigned (BKZ, n = 373; mean BSA, 24.8; mean DLQI, 10.8; SEC, n = 370; mean BSA, 23.8; mean DLQI, 11.3).

At week 16, a greater percentage of patients who received BKZ vs those who received SEC achieved BSA 0% (BKZ every 4 weeks, 64.3%; SEC, 51.4%) and BSA 1% or less (BKZ every 4 weeks , 76.9%; SEC, 67.8%). The responses were maintained at week 48 regardless of BKZ maintenance dose.

At week 48, a higher percentage of patients who received BKZ compared with SEC achieved both BSA 0% and DLQI 0/1 (BKZ Q4W/Q4W, 73.0%; BKZ Q4W/Q8W, 66.3%; SEC, 50.2%), and both BSA 0% and P-SIM 0 for itching (56.9%; 56.8%; 40.1%, respectively), skin pain (71.5%; 69.3%; 50.8%, respectively), and scaling (70.8%; 65.8%; 45.8%, respectively).

“The higher levels of disease control and complete skin clearance observed with BKZ vs SEC translated into greater benefits in patient-perceived symptoms and HRQoL,” concluded the investigators.

Disclosure: This study was funded by UCB Pharma. Some of the study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

Reference

Augustin M, Gooderham M, Gottlieb AB, 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. Presented at: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2022 Annual Meeting; March 25-29, 2022. Poster 31069.