BE BOLD Week 16 data - Bimekizumab vs. Risankizumab in PsA Save

UCB has released the Week 16 results from BE BOLD trial that will be presented at EULAR 2026 in London on Saturday, June 6. This head-to-head trial demonstrates that at week 16, bimekizumab (BKZ) yielded superior ACR50 results compared to risankizumab (RKB) adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).  These are the preliminary, week 16, primary endpont results of a longer blinded head-to-head trial. 

BE BOLD is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, RKB-controlled, parallel-group study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BKZ in adult study participants (n=553) with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The study enrolled adults with active PsA who were either naïve to biologics or who had previous exposure to one tumor necrosis factor-inhibitor (TNFi) with an inadequate or intolerant response.

At week 16, the primary endpoint, outcomes were: 

• ACR50: 49.1% BKZ vs 38.4%  RKB
• Secondary secondary endpoints numerically favored BKZ over RKB without statistical significance (MDA: 43% vs 39.9%)
• PASI100 (complete skin clearance): 53.4% BKZ vs 46.6% RZB
• Simultaneous ACR50+PASI100: 33.5% BKZ vs 24.4% RKB; p=0.0800).
• No new safety signals were observed - All Candida infections were mild or moderate
• Serious AEs: 1.8% BKZ vs 2.9% RKB ¹

Both BKZ and RZB are FDA approved for use in psoriatic arthritis.