BRUSSELS and ATLANTA, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UCB, a global pharmaceutical company, today announced new 24-week data from two Phase 3 studies, BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2, evaluating bimekizumab in the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).^1,2 Both studies met their primary and all ranked secondary endpoints at week 16, with statistical significance, demonstrating improvements versus placebo in the signs and symptoms of disease across the full spectrum of axSpA with consistent outcomes for patients with nr-axSpA and patients with AS.^1,2 The adverse events in both studies were consistent with those seen in previous studies.^1,2 

UCB also announced today new post-hoc analyses from the open-label extension of the Phase 2b BE AGILE study, in which bimekizumab showed maintenance of clinical responses over three years in patients with active AS.³ Data from all three studies will be presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology, EULAR 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 1-4. Bimekizumab is not approved for use in nr-axSpA or AS by any regulatory authority worldwide. The safety and efficacy of bimekizumab in nr-axSpA and AS have not been established.

"We are pleased to share the first detailed data from our Phase 3 clinical program of bimekizumab in non-radiographic axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis, which showcase the clinical potential of bimekizumab to improve patient outcomes across the full spectrum of this debilitating disease," said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of U.S., UCB. "People with axSpA often live with the condition for many years before diagnosis, with limited options available today to treat non-radiographic axSpA. We are driven to bring differentiated solutions that address unmet needs, and these results are an important step in our mission, setting the foundation for future regulatory discussions."

BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2: Phase 3 Study Results (24 weeks)^1,2 In BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2, patients treated with bimekizumab (160 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W]) achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the signs and symptoms of axSpA, as defined by the primary endpoint measure of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society 40 (ASAS40) at week 16 compared to placebo.^1,2  Response rates increased to week 24, and a rapid achievement of ASAS40 response was seen for patients switching from placebo to bimekizumab at week 16.^1,2 

• BE MOBILE 1 (nr-axSpA): At week 16, 47.7 percent (n=61/128) of bimekizumab-treated patients achieved ASAS40 versus 21.4 percent (n=27/126) with placebo (p<0.001).¹ 
• BE MOBILE 2 (AS): At week 16, 44.8 percent (n=99/221) of bimekizumab-treated patients achieved ASAS40 versus 22.5 percent (n=25/111) with placebo (p<0.001).² 

"Today's findings from the BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 studies provide clear evidence supporting the potential of bimekizumab in both nr-axSpA and AS, and highlight the meaningful clinical outcomes that can be achieved by targeting IL-17F in addition to IL-17A. Patients with nr-axSpA and AS have a similar burden of disease and a treatment that could potentially show consistent outcomes across the full spectrum of disease is encouraging," said Professor Atul Deodhar, MD, MRCP, Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University.

In both studies, at week 16, patients treated with bimekizumab achieved statistically significant improvements in all ranked secondary endpoints compared with placebo, including ASAS partial remission (ASAS-PR), disease activity as measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), physical function as measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and quality of life as measured by Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire.^1,2 

BE MOBILE 1 (nr-axSpA): 

• At week 16, 25.8 percent (n=33/128) of bimekizumab-treated patients achieved ASAS-PR versus 7.1 percent (n=9/126) of patients with placebo (p<0.001).¹ 
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in BASDAI (-3.1 bimekizumab versus -1.5 placebo, p<0.001).¹
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in BASFI (-2.5 bimekizumab versus -1.0 placebo, p<0.001).¹ 
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in ASQoL (-5.2 bimekizumab versus -2.5 placebo, p<0.001).¹

BE MOBILE 2 (AS): 

• At week 16, 24.0 percent (n=53/221) of bimekizumab-treated patients achieved ASAS-PR versus 7.2 percent (n=8/111) of patients with placebo (p<0.001).²
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in BASDAI (-2.9 bimekizumab versus -1.9 placebo, p<0.001).² 
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in BASFI (-2.2 bimekizumab versus -1.1 placebo, p<0.001).² 
• At week 16, mean change from baseline in ASQoL (-4.9 bimekizumab versus -3.2 placebo, p<0.001).²

Other efficacy outcomes assessed in BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 included changes in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) states and changes in inflammation in the sacroiliac joints and spine as measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).^1,2 At the start of both studies, almost all patients (>97 percent) had high or very high disease activity.^1,2 At week 24, in both studies, approximately half of the patients treated with bimekizumab from the start of each study achieved ASDAS low disease activity defined as ASDAS<2.1.^1,2 Treatment with bimekizumab also resulted in substantial reductions in inflammation in the sacroiliac joints and spine for both AS and nr-axSpA patients at week 16.^1,2

Professor Désirée van der Heijde, Professor of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands, said, "Patients with axSpA live with a range of debilitating symptoms including chronic back pain and difficulties performing everyday tasks. These interim results from the BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 studies are encouraging, showing that treatment with bimekizumab versus placebo improved signs and symptoms, reduced disease activity and inflammation, and improved physical function. We look forward to the 52-week results from these studies expected later this year."

In BE MOBILE 1, the most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) over 16 weeks with bimekizumab were nasopharyngitis (9.4 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (7.0 percent) and oral candidiasis (3.1 percent).¹  In BE MOBILE 2, the most common TEAEs over 16 weeks were nasopharyngitis (7.7 percent), headache (4.1 percent) and oral candidiasis (4.1 percent).²  Up to 16 weeks, the incidence of serious adverse events was low with bimekizumab in both studies (0 percent in BE MOBILE 1 and 1.8 percent in BE MOBILE 2).^1,2 In BE MOBILE 1, no cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were reported with patients taking bimekizumab.¹ In BE MOBILE 2, two IBD cases (0.9 percent) occurred in patients treated with bimekizumab.²

BE AGILE Phase 2b Open-Label Extension: 3 Year Study Results³ 
Post-hoc analyses of the Phase 2b BE AGILE study and its open-label extension showed that treatment with bimekizumab (160 mg Q4W) provided maintenance of clinical responses over three years (156 weeks) in patients with active AS who initially responded at week 12, irrespective of the initial dosing regimen (160 mg Q4W, [N=60] or 320 mg Q4W, [N=61]).³ At week 12, 40.3 percent of patients had achieved low disease activity (ASDAS<2.1), and 89.2 percent of these patients maintained this low level of disease activity at week 156.³  Clinical response as measured by ASAS40 response was also sustained over three years, with 47.1 percent of patients having achieved ASAS40 at week 12, 64.9 percent at week 48, and 71.9 percent at week 156.³  

About BE MOBILE 1   
BE MOBILE 1 is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, Phase 3 study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the treatment of adult patients with active nr-axSpA.¹ The study is ongoing with 24-week results presented above. For additional details on the study, visit BE MOBILE 1 on clinicaltrials.gov.⁴

About BE MOBILE 2
BE MOBILE 2 is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, Phase 3 study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the treatment of adult patients with active AS.² The study is ongoing with 24-week results presented above. For additional details on the study, visit BE MOBILE 2 on clinicaltrials.gov.⁵

About BE AGILE and the open-label extension study (BE AGILE 2)
BE AGILE was a multicenter, Phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-ranging study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).⁶ BE AGILE 2 is a multicenter, open-label extension study to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of bimekizumab in patients with active AS.  For additional details, visit BE AGILE 2 on clinicaltrials.gov.⁷

About Axial Spondyloarthritis
Non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) falls under the umbrella of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), which also includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS).⁸ AxSpA is a painful chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and the joints linking the pelvis and lower spine (sacroiliac joints).⁸ nr-axSpA is defined clinically by the absence of definitive x-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac joints.⁸ The leading symptom of axSpA is inflammatory back pain that improves with exercise, but not with rest.⁸ Fatigue and stiffness are additional key symptoms. Other common clinical features frequently include acute anterior uveitis (eye inflammation), enthesitis (inflammation of the points of insertion of tendons and ligaments into bone), peripheral arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (chronic inflammation of the digestive tract), and dactylitis (inflammation of the fingers or toes).⁸ The overall prevalence of axSpA is 0.2 percent to 1.4 percent of adults in the U.S.^9,10 Approximately half of all patients with axSpA are patients with nr-xSpA.⁸ 
Approximately two-thirds of patients with AS are men, while nr-axSpA is more common among women with the disease.¹¹ AxSpA onset usually occurs before the age of 45, often in the 20s.⁸ 10 to 40 percent of patients with nr-axSpA progress to ankylosing spondylitis over 2 to 10 years.⁸ 

About bimekizumab
Bimekizumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that is designed to selectively inhibit both interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and interleukin 17F (IL-17F), two key cytokines driving inflammatory processes.¹¹ Bimekizumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of active axSpA with 24-week interim analysis results from the BE MOBILE 1 (nr-axSpA) and BE MOBILE 2 (AS) studies to be presented at EULAR 2022.^1,2 In addition, bimekizumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis with 24-week interim analysis from the BE OPTIMAL study and 16-week analysis from the BE COMPLETE study to be presented at EULAR 2022.^12,13 

Bimekizumab is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults, and its efficacy and safety have not been established for any indication in the U.S.

For further information, contact UCB:

Investor Relations
Antje Witte
T +32.2.559.94.14
email antje.witte@ucb.com

Corporate Communications
Ally Funk
T +1.678.365.6321
email ally.funk@ucb.com

Brand Communications
Eimear O'Brien
T +32.2.559.92.71
email eimear.obrien@ucb.com

About UCB 
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With approximately 8,600 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €5.8 billion in 2021. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news.

Forward looking statements
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UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and it does not reflect any potential impact from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, unless indicated otherwise. UCB is following the worldwide developments diligently to assess the financial significance of this pandemic to UCB. UCB expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

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References

1. Deodhar A, van der Heijde D, Gensler LS et al. Bimekizumab in patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: 24-week efficacy and safety from BE MOBILE 1, a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled study. To be presented at EULAR 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 1-4.
2. van der Heijde D, Baraliakos X, Dougados M et al. Bimekizumab in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: 24-week efficacy and safety from BE MOBILE 2, a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled study. To be presented at EULAR 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 1-4.
3. Navarro-Compán V, Rudwaleit M, de Peyrecave N et al. Maintenance of response to bimekizumab over 3 years of treatment in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: post-hoc analyses from the BE AGILE study and its open-label extension. To be presented at EULAR 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 1-4.
4. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Subjects With Active Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (BE MOBILE 1). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03928704.  Last accessed: May 2022.
5. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Subjects With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis (BE MOBILE 2). Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03928743. Last accessed: May 2022
6. van der Heijde D, Gensler L, Deodhar A, et al. Dual Neutralisation of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F With Bimekizumab in Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From a 48-week Phase IIb, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(5):595-604.
7. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Long Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimekizumab in Subjects With Ankylosing Spondylitis (BE AGILE 2). Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03355573. Last accessed: May 2022.
8. Deodhar A. Understanding Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Primer for Managed Care. Am J Manag Care. 2019;25:S319-S330.
9. Reveille J, Witter J, Weisman M. Prevalence of axial spondylarthritis in the United States: estimates from a cross-sectional survey. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64(6):905-910.
10. Hamilton L, Macgregor A, Toms A, et al. The prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis in the UK: a cross-sectional cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015;21(16):392.
11. Boonen A, Sieper J, van der Heijde D, et al. The burden of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2015;44(5):556-562.
12. 12.  Glatt S, Helmer E, Haier B, et al. First-in-human randomized study of bimekizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody and selective dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, in mild psoriasis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(5):991-1001.
13. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Test the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in the Treatment of Subjects with Active Psoriatic Arthritis (BE OPTIMAL). Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03895203?term=BE+OPTIMAL&draw=2 &rank=1 Last accessed: May 2022.
14. ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in the Treatment of Subjects with Active Psoriatic Arthritis (BE COMPLETE). Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03896581 Last accessed: May 2022.

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