Is bichizumab currently on the market in the country?

On July 19, 2024, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially approved the domestic marketing of Bimekizumab for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis. This marks the official entry of this internationally advanced dual IL-17A/F inhibitor into the Chinese market. Just two months later, in September, bicizumab was approved for the treatment of radiologically negative axial spondyloarthritis, rapidly expanding its indications and becoming an important member of the new generation of targeted drugs in the domestic rare rheumatoid field.

The drug was developed by the Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB and cooperated with the domestic biopharmaceutical company BioRay to further accelerate the localization and clinical promotion of the product. The brand name is Bimzelx (trade name: BIMZELX). It is worth noting that bicizumab was first approved in Europe for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, and was subsequently expanded to a variety of inflammatory diseases, becoming one of the preferred drugs recommended by international guidelines. Its rapid approval in China reflects the regulatory authorities’ high priority on the need for precise treatment of inflammatory diseases. At present, Beijile has entered the purchasing list of some large tertiary hospitals and is expected to be included in future medical insurance negotiations.

Due to its low injection frequency, relatively controllable side effects, and quick onset of effect, it is particularly suitable for patients with recurring arthritis that is difficult to alleviate through traditional treatments. In addition, compared with traditional IL-17A monoclonal antibody drugs, bichizumab can inhibit inflammatory pathways more broadly and may show better performance in terms of depth of disease control and persistence of remission.

The current domestic market is gradually accepting this new treatment model, which also means that the competitive landscape of biological agents in the field of rheumatism and immunity will usher in a new reshuffle. For Chinese patients, the launch of Beijel not only provides a new treatment option, but also indicates that domestic immune-targeted therapy has entered a more precise stage.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/bimekizumab.html