The investigational biologic bimekizumab outperforms the established interleukin inhibitor ustekinumab for treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to phase 3 trial results.

Bimekizumab, which inhibits both IL-17A and IL-17F, has been demonstrated in two phase 3 trials to achieve high rates of skin clearance, albeit at a cost of side effects including candidiasis and a case of inflammatory bowel disease.

“Bimekizumab might be our most effective biologic for psoriasis yet,” US dermatologists wrote in an editorial accompanying publication of the studies in the Lancet.

In the Be VIVID double-blinded trial, 567 patients (72% male, mean age 46) were randomised to bimekizumab, 320mg every four weeks, ustekinumab at standard dosing or four-weekly placebo for 52 weeks.