# Sustained improvements in health status and work productivity with bimekizumab in psoriatic arthritis: 2-year results from two phase 3 studies

## TL;DR

Bimekizumab treatment for psoriatic arthritis leads to lasting improvements in health and work productivity, with cost savings over two years.

## Contribution

Demonstrates sustained benefits of bimekizumab in health and productivity over two years in psoriatic arthritis patients.

## Key findings

- Improvements in health status (EQ-5D-3L) were sustained for 24.6–38.9% in patients.
- Work productivity improvements were maintained, with 44.3–51.6% achieving clinically meaningful reductions in work impairment.
- Indirect cost savings of $7,789–$12,018 were sustained in Europe over two years.

## Abstract

To assess the 2-year impact of bimekizumab on health status, work productivity and indirect cost savings in patients with active PsA.

BE OPTIMAL [NCT03895203; biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve] and BE COMPLETE [NCT03896581; tumor necrosis factor inhibitor inadequate response/intolerance (TNFi-IR)] assessed subcutaneous bimekizumab 160 mg every 4 weeks. BE OPTIMAL week 52/BE COMPLETE week 16 completers could enter BE VITAL (NCT04009499; open-label extension), where all patients received bimekizumab. Outcomes reported for placebo- and bimekizumab-randomized patients to year 2 were changes in health status (EQ-5D-3L) and work productivity [Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire—Specific Health Problem v2.0 (WPAI-SHP)], associations between disease control criteria and WPAI-SHP, and annualized indirect cost savings (estimated by multiplying 2022 average wages by improvements in overall work impairment). Missing data were imputed using multiple (continuous) or non-responder (binary) imputation.

Among 712 bDMARD-naïve and 400 TNFi-IR patients, improvements from baseline in mean EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale scores were sustained to year 2, with scores improving by 24.6–38.9%. A minimal clinically important difference in overall work impairment was achieved by 51.1–64.8% of patients at year 1, and this was largely sustained to year 2 (44.3–51.6%). The greatest work productivity improvements were observed in patients who achieved stringent disease control across both musculoskeletal and skin domains. In Europe, indirect cost savings at year 1 (US$7965–11 517) were sustained to year 2 (US$7789–12 018); trends were similar in the USA and Japan.

Bimekizumab treatment resulted in sustained improvements in health status and work productivity to year 2, with substantial potential for long-term indirect cost savings, regardless of prior TNFi experience.