Skip to main content

Bimekizumab Safe, Efficacious Over Two Years for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 7, 2024.

via HealthDay

MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2024 -- For patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), bimekizumab is safe and efficacious over two years, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, held from Sept. 25 to 28 in Amsterdam.

Christos C. Zouboulis, from the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation in Dessau, Germany, and colleagues presented efficacy and safety data over two years for the pooled BE HEARD I&II (BHI&II) and BE HEARD EXT (BHEXT) trials. Overall, 556 patients were randomly assigned to bimekizumab in BHI&II at baseline, completed 48 weeks, and entered BHEXT; 446 completed 96 weeks in BHEXT.

The researchers found that ≥50 percent HS Clinical Response (HiSCR50)/75/90/100 was achieved by 79.9, 64.0, 42.3, and 30.2 percent of all bimekizumab patients, respectively, at week 48; there was improvement in responses to 85.4, 77.1, 57.6, and 44.2 percent, respectively, at week 96. The mean International HS Severity Score System (IHS4) score among bimekizumab patients was 35.6 ± 31.5 at baseline; the mean percentage change from baseline in IHS4 was −70.3 ± 39.6 and −79.8 ± 28.1 percent at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. The mean draining tunnel (DT) count was 3.8 ± 4.3 among bimekizumab patients at baseline; the mean percentage change from baseline in DTs was −57.5 ± 72.9 and −73.7 ± 45.7 percent at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. Overall, 917 of 995 patients who received one or more doses of bimekizumab experienced a treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) over two years. Serious TEAEs were reported in 122 patients, and TEAEs leading to discontinuation were reported in 109.

"These findings are particularly encouraging given the need for new treatment options that offer sustained relief for patients," Zouboulis said in a statement.

Several authors are employees of UCB Pharma, which manufactures bimekizumab and funded the BE HEARD trials.

Press Release

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Review Compares Efficacy, Safety of Treatments for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

MONDAY, July 7, 2025 -- The efficacy and safety of currently approved and pipeline medications for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are compared in a systematic...

Men With Hidradenitis Suppurativa Perceive Better Physician Communication

WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- Male patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) perceive better physician communication with respect to demonstrating respect, listening, and...

Socioeconomic Status Tied to New Diagnosis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

WEDNESDAY, May 14, 2025 -- For dermatology patients, neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (nSES) is associated with a new diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), according...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.