A PHASE III study has demonstrated that bimekizumab, a novel treatment for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), significantly reduces pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue, offering hope for patients with this debilitating condition.
The BE MOBILE studies evaluated the efficacy of bimekizumab in patients with nonradiographic and radiographic axSpA. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 160 mg of bimekizumab or a placebo every four weeks, with all participants switching to bimekizumab after 16 weeks. Outcomes were measured through patient-reported scores for spinal pain, peripheral pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue, tracked up to week 52.
By week 16, patients treated with bimekizumab reported significant improvements in nocturnal spinal pain, total spinal pain, and fatigue levels compared to those on placebo (all P ≤ 0.001). These benefits were sustained or further improved through week 52, including for patients who switched from placebo to bimekizumab. Over half of the patients achieved meaningful reductions in fatigue, as indicated by an 8-point increase in the FACIT-Fatigue scale.
“Bimekizumab provided rapid and sustained symptom relief across the full spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis, offering a promising therapeutic option,” the researchers stated.
The study highlights bimekizumab’s potential to transform the management of axSpA by addressing pain, stiffness, and fatigue, which are major challenges for patients. These findings pave the way for improved quality of life for individuals living with this chronic inflammatory condition.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Navarro-Compán V et al. Improved pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue with bimekizumab in axial spondyloarthritis: results from the Phase III BE MOBILE studies. J Rheum. 2025;52(1):23-32.
