Sustained improvements in spinal pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, sleep, physical function and overall health-related quality of life with bimekizumab in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: 2-year results from two phase 3 studies

RMD Open. 2025 Nov 28;11(4):e006013. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2025-006013.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the long-term effect of bimekizumab, a dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, on patient-reported symptoms, function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from phase 3 studies and their open-label extension.

Methods: BE MOBILE 1 (non-radiographic-axSpA) and 2 (radiographic-axSpA) comprised 16-week double-blind placebo-controlled and 36-week maintenance periods. From week 16, all patients received subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks. At week 52, eligible patients could enrol in the open-label extension BE MOVING and continue bimekizumab treatment. Spinal pain (rated on a numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain)), morning stiffness (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) average of Q5/6), fatigue (BASDAI Q1; Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue subscale), sleep quality (Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Sleep Scale Index II), physical function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)) and HRQoL (36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS)/mental component summary (MCS); Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire) were reported to week 104.

Results: In total, 494/586 (84.3%) patients entered BE MOVING at week 52; 456 completed week 104. Patients reported substantial changes from baseline to week 104 in total spinal pain (-4.3), nocturnal spinal pain (-4.3), morning stiffness (-4.3) and fatigue (BASDAI Q1: -3.4; FACIT-Fatigue: +9.9). Over half reported total and nocturnal spinal pain scores ≤3 at week 104. Similar improvements to week 104 were shown in sleep (MOS-Sleep Scale: +10.2), physical function (BASFI: -2.9) and HRQoL (SF-36 PCS: +12.4; ASQoL: -5.6).

Conclusions: Bimekizumab treatment resulted in sustained improvements in patient-reported symptoms and their impacts across the full disease spectrum of axSpA over 2 years, underscoring its long-term potential for improving patients' daily lives.

Trial registration numbers: NCT03928704, NCT03928743, NCT04436640.

Keywords: Axial Spondyloarthritis; Fatigue; Health-Related Quality Of Life; Pain; Patient Reported Outcome Measures.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized* / therapeutic use
  • Axial Spondyloarthritis* / complications
  • Axial Spondyloarthritis* / diagnosis
  • Axial Spondyloarthritis* / drug therapy
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fatigue* / diagnosis
  • Fatigue* / drug therapy
  • Fatigue* / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement
  • Quality of Life*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • bimekizumab

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03928704
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04436640
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03928743