WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2023 -- Bimekizumab seems beneficial for treating palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), palmoplantar plaque psoriasis with pustules, and synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in JAMA Dermatology.

Thierry Passeron, M.D., Ph.D., from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice in France, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of bimekizumab in treating PPP and palmoplantar plaque psoriasis with pustules in a case series of 21 adults: 11 with PPP and 10 with palmoplantar plaque psoriasis with pustules, treated at seven tertiary dermatology centers in France.

The researchers found that apart from two patients who received bimekizumab as first systemic therapy, none of the other patients had responded to previous systemic treatment and/or had adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment. Seventeen patients achieved complete clearance (Investigator Global Assessment [IGA] score of 0) in one to four months. Three and one patients achieved an IGA score of 1 and 2, respectively. Three of the PPP patients also presented with acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau. For these patients, after four to six months of bimekizumab treatment, nail involvement showed 50 to 70 percent improvement. Two patients had SAPHO syndrome; complete clearance of skin lesions and improvement in joint pain were seen for both. Oral antifungal agents successfully treated four patients with candidiasis. No patients stopped bimekizumab due to adverse events.

"A prospective placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial is warranted to confirm these encouraging initial results," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including UCB, the manufacturer of bimekizumab.