NEW real-world data from a large multicentre Italian study provide evidence for the long-term effectiveness and treatment persistence of bimekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The findings demonstrate high drug survival rates over a two-year period across a broad range of patient profiles.
Bimekizumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, cytokines central to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. While clinical trials have shown strong short- and medium-term efficacy, long-term real-life data have remained limited. This retrospective observational study aimed to address that gap by evaluating drug survival and predictors of treatment discontinuation in routine clinical practice.
The analysis included 826 adult patients treated with bimekizumab across multiple Italian dermatology centres between May 2022 and November 2024. The cohort was predominantly male (66.6%), with a mean age of 52.3 years. At treatment initiation, patients had substantial disease burden, with a mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 15.5.
Long-Term Treatment Persistence in Plaque Psoriasis
Over the course of follow-up, bimekizumab was associated with marked and sustained improvements in disease severity. Mean PASI scores fell to 1.4 at the last available assessment, reflecting a profound reduction in disease activity. Importantly, treatment persistence remained high, with estimated drug survival rates of 89.1% at 12 months, 85.0% at 18 months, and 82.4% at 24 months.
A total of 129 patients discontinued treatment during the study period, most commonly due to adverse events or lack of effectiveness. Survival analyses identified male sex as the only factor significantly associated with a reduced risk of treatment discontinuation. In contrast, body mass index, baseline disease severity, presence of psoriatic arthritis, and prior exposure to biologic therapies did not significantly influence drug survival.
Clinical Implications
The authors conclude that bimekizumab demonstrates durable effectiveness and high treatment persistence over two years in a real-world setting. These findings support its use across diverse patient populations and reinforce the relevance of long-term observational data in complementing evidence from randomised clinical trials.
Reference
De Luca E et al. Long-Term Effectiveness of Bimekizumab in Plaque Psoriasis: Two-Year Drug Survival from a Real-Life Multicenter Italian Study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2026;doi: 10.1093/ced/llag021.
