Bimekizumab Reduces Inflammation, Cardiovascular Risk

Bimekizumab, the first IL-17 A and F inhibitor approved for psoriasis, was found to be associated with a reduction in inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk, according to posters presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

Posters presented at the 2025 AAD Annual Meeting found bimekizumab to have benefits beyond safety and efficacy findings. | Image credit: luchschenF - stock.adobe.com

The first poster was based on a retrospective observational study that aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bimekizumab in patients with psoriasis, and its impact on inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk in routine clinical practice.¹

To do so, baseline demographic and clinical data were collected in addition to Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area (BSA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores at weeks 4 and 12, as well as adverse events, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk markers. Eligible participants were 18 years or older and had a diagnosis of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

A total of 20 patients were included; 55% were male, mean (SD) age was 52.85 (13.88) years, and mean (SD) body mass index was 29.23 (7). At week 0, mean (SD) baseline PASI was 11.33 (9.43), BSA was 12.92% (14.30), and DLQI was 12.91 (4.68).

At week 4, PASI was reduced to 2.96 (3.47), BSA to 2.35% (4.59), and DLQI to 2 (2). By weeks 12 to 16, patients had near complete remission of symptoms, a PASI of 0.55 (1.81), BSA of 0%, and DLQI of 0.

Moreover, significant reductions were observed in inflammation and cardiovascular risk markers, including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the atherogenic index C-reactive protein/high-density lipoprotein, and the monocyte/high-density lipoprotein marker at week 12 compared with baseline (P < .05).

These findings suggest that bimekizumab has inflammation and cardiovascular risk benefits that extend beyond the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

The second poster evaluated the early molecular effects of bimekizumab on gene signatures related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriatic disease.²

The study assessed 5 cardiovascular disease risk-related gene signatures identified from previous research on psoriasis and cardiovascular events. Baseline gene dysregulation was analyzed using bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from patients and healthy controls. The effects of bimekizumab on these signatures were evaluated using RNA-seq data from a phase 2a psoriasis trial (baseline and week 8) and a phase 3 psoriatic arthritis trial (baseline and week 16). Additionally, serum proteomics data from patients at baseline and week 8 were analyzed.

At baseline, blood analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the mean gene expression of the selected gene signatures and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) levels in both psoriasis (Spearman correlation coefficient [R] = 0.27-0.51) and psoriatic arthritis (R = 0.42-0.69; false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.1).

In skin, these gene signatures were nearly normalized by week 8 (93% to 100% improvement). While blood gene dysregulation was less pronounced than in skin, significant downregulation was observed by week 8 in psoriasis (median fold-change: 0.89-0.92) and by week 16 in psoriatic arthritis (0.83-0.88). Additionally, the analysis in patients with psoriasis revealed a significant reduction in IL-17–related proteins, including cardiovascular disease–associated proteins like PI3, by week 8.

These associations suggest that bimekizumab treatment led to a molecular reduction in inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk at an early time point.

References

1. Fernandez CA, Casimiro LM, Castro DM, et al. Bimekizumab beyond effectiveness and safety in psoriasis: reduction of inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk. Poster presented at: 2025 AAD Annual Meeting; March 7-11, 2025; Orlando, FL.

2. Cutcutache I, MacLeod VS, Valeo F, et al. Bimekizumab reduces systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk gene signatures in psoriatic disease. Poster presented at: 2025 AAD Annual Meeting; March 7-11, 2025; Orlando, FL.