The BE OPTIMAL trial, a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in biologic-naive adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Between April 3, 2019, and Oct 25, 2021, 1163 patients were screened and 852 were randomly assigned to bimekizumab (n=431), placebo (n=281), and reference (adalimumab; n=140) groups. At week 16, significantly more patients receiving bimekizumab (189 [44%] of 431) reached ACR50 response versus placebo (28 [10%] of 281; odds ratio 7·1 [95% CI 4·6–10·9], p<0·0001; adalimumab 64 [46%] of 140).

Bimekizumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F. The study demonstrated that bimekizumab significantly improved joint and skin symptoms compared to placebo, with a safety profile consistent with previous studies. These findings suggest that bimekizumab could be an effective treatment option for patients with PsA who have not previously received biologic therapy.

Reference: Mease PJ, van der Heijde D, Landewe R, et al. Bimekizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis, naive to biologic treatment: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (BE OPTIMAL). Lancet. 2022;400(10356):1032-1045. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02302-9