Datapoint: UCB Scores First FDA Nod for Potential Blockbuster Psoriasis Drug
The FDA on Oct. 18 handed UCB a long-awaited approval for its psoriasis drug Bimzelx (bimekizumab). The drug will be the first IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis on the U.S. market. And UCB intends to expand the drug’s reach as quickly as possible. “We will move forward rapidly to submit applications for additional indications in the U.S, Emmanuel Caeymaex, UCB’s U.S. head and executive vice president of immunology solutions, said in a statement. The drugmaker will target psoriatic arthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and pustular psoriasis, indications for which Bimzelx has already received overseas approval. MMIT’s Evaluate Pharma projects the drug will do $204M in global sales by the end of 2023, and will become UCB’s top seller by 2026, with an estimated $1.67B in sales.
