Bimzelx Adverse Reactions

Summary of the safety profile: A total of 5862 patients have been treated with bimekizumab in blinded and open-label clinical studies in plaque psoriasis (PSO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA and AS) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) representing 11468.6 patient-years of exposure. Of these, over 4660 patients were exposed to bimekizumab for at least one year. Overall, the safety profile of bimekizumab is consistent across all indications.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions were upper respiratory tract infections (14.5%, 14.6%, 16.3%, 8.8% in plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and hidradenitis suppurativa respectively) and oral candidiasis (7.3%, 2.3%, 3.7%, 5.6% in PSO, PsA, axSpA and HS respectively).
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: Adverse reactions from clinical studies and post-marketing reports (Table 15) are classified by MedDRA System Organ Class and frequency, using the following convention: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See Table 15.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: Infections: In the placebo-controlled period of Phase III clinical studies in plaque psoriasis, infections were reported in 36.0% of patients treated with bimekizumab for up to 16 weeks compared with 22.5% of patients treated with placebo. Serious infections occurred in 0.3% of patients treated with bimekizumab and 0% treated with placebo.
The majority of infections consisted of non-serious mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections such as nasopharyngitis. There were higher rates of oral and oropharyngeal candidiasis in patients treated with bimekizumab consistent with the mechanism of action (7.3% and 1.2% respectively compared to 0% for placebo-treated patients). More than 98% of cases were non-serious, mild or moderate in severity, and did not require treatment discontinuation. A slightly higher incidence of oral candidiasis was reported in patients <70 kg (8.5% versus 7.0% in patients ≥70 kg).
Over the entire treatment period of Phase III studies in plaque psoriasis, infections were reported in 63.2% of patients treated with bimekizumab (120.4 per 100 patient-years). Serious infections were reported in 1.5% of patients treated with bimekizumab (1.6 per 100 patient-years) (see Precautions).
Infection rates observed in PsA and axSpA (nr-axSpA and AS) Phase III clinical studies were similar to those observed in plaque psoriasis apart from oral and oropharyngeal candidiasis rates in patients treated with bimekizumab, which were lower at 2.3% and 0% respectively in PsA and 3.7% and 0.3% respectively in axSpA compared to 0% with placebo.
Infection rates observed in HS Phase III clinical studies were similar to those observed in other indications. In the placebo-controlled period, oral and oropharyngeal candidiasis rates in patients treated with bimekizumab were 7.1% and 0% respectively compared to 0% with placebo.
Neutropenia: Neutropenia was observed with bimekizumab in Phase III clinical studies in plaque psoriasis. Over the entire treatment period of Phase III studies, neutropenia grade 3/4 were observed in 1% of patients treated with bimekizumab.
The frequency of neutropenia in PsA, axSpA (nr-axSpA and AS) and HS clinical studies was similar to that observed in plaque psoriasis studies.
Most cases were transient and did not require treatment discontinuation. No serious infections were associated with neutropenia.
Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions have been observed with IL-17 inhibitors.
Immunogenicity: Plaque psoriasis: Approximately 45% of plaque psoriasis patients treated with bimekizumab up to 56 weeks at the recommended dosing regimen (320 mg every 4 weeks up to week 16 and 320 mg every 8 weeks thereafter) developed anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients who developed anti-drug antibodies, approximately 34% (16% of all patients treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising.
Psoriatic arthritis: Approximately 31% of patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with bimekizumab at the recommended dosing regimen (160 mg every 4 weeks) up to 16 weeks had anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients with anti-drug antibodies, about 33% (10% of all patients treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising. By week 52, approximately 47% of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatment naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis in the BE OPTIMAL study treated with bimekizumab at the recommended dosing regimen (160 mg every 4 weeks) had anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients with anti-drug antibodies, about 38% (18% of all patients in the BE OPTIMAL study treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising.
Axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA and AS): Approximately 57% of patients with nr-axSpA treated with bimekizumab up to 52 weeks at the recommended dosing regimen (160 mg every 4 weeks) had anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients with anti-drug antibodies, approximately 44% (25% of all patients treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising.
Approximately 44% of patients with AS treated with bimekizumab up to 52 weeks at the recommended dosing regimen (160 mg every 4 weeks) had anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients with anti-drug antibodies, approximately 44% (20% of all patients treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: Approximately 59% of HS patients treated with bimekizumab up to 48 weeks at the recommended dosing regimen (320 mg every 2 weeks up to week 16 and 320 mg every 4 weeks thereafter) developed anti-drug antibodies. Of the patients who developed anti-drug antibodies, approximately 63% (37% of all patients treated with bimekizumab) had antibodies that were classified as neutralising.
Across indications, no clinically meaningful impact on clinical response was associated with anti-bimekizumab antibodies development and an association between immunogenicity and treatment emergent adverse events has not been clearly established.
Elderly patients (≥65 years): Exposure is limited in elderly subjects.
Elderly patients may be more likely to experience certain adverse reactions such as oral candidiasis, dermatitis and eczema when using bimekizumab.
In the placebo-controlled period of Phase III clinical studies in plaque psoriasis, oral candidiasis was observed in 18.2% of patients ≥65 years versus 6.3% in <65 years, dermatitis and eczema in 7.3% of patients ≥65 years versus 2.8% in <65 years.
In the placebo-controlled period of Phase III clinical studies in psoriatic arthritis, oral candidiasis was observed in 7.0% of patients ≥65 years versus 1.6% in <65 years, dermatitis and eczema in 1.2% of patients ≥65 years versus 2.0% in <65 years.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are advised to report any suspected adverse reactions to the Hong Kong Department of Health and UCB via ds.apac_sea@ucb.com.