Finding A Path To Clear Skin While Living With Plaque Psoriasis
Until her early 40s, Joey was constantly on the move. “I was very active—I was a competitive swimmer,” she says. She loved going to the beach, spending time with friends, and raising her three children. But one day, “I started getting these small itchy patches on my legs,” she says. “I’d always had dry skin from the chlorine in the pool, but these patches had scales. They were very irritating.” She tried to push the issue to the back burner, but her symptoms didn’t go away.
Joey with her family.
Impossible To Ignore
Those itchy spots on Joey’s legs soon began popping up on her elbows, hands, face, neck, and genitals too. “It was never on my thighs or upper arms, but it was pretty much everywhere else,” she says. “It was kind of scary, to be honest.” She decided to see a dermatologist, but she didn’t get the clarity she was looking for: The doctor didn’t give her a conclusive diagnosis, and just offered her a selection of creams and lotions that might alleviate her symptoms. None of them worked, and the plaques kept appearing.
It wasn’t until two years after her symptoms began that she finally found a dermatologist who identified her “itchy spots” as evidence of plaque psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the skin, creating thick, scaly, itchy patches known as plaques, affecting approximately 7.5 million adults in the United States. Putting a name to her condition was huge for Joey. “Getting diagnosed was such a relief, because it explained why these things were happening in my body,” she says. “It made me realize that it wasn’t because I was doing something wrong.”
But of course, receiving her diagnosis was only step one of managing her condition. Finding a treatment that worked for her proved to be an arduous journey in and of itself.
A Challenge To Body And Mind
Living with plaque psoriasis was both a physical and mental challenge for Joey. “It impacted the way I felt about myself,” she says. “I wouldn’t leave my house; I basically gave up and did nothing to take care of myself or make me feel pretty. I felt so horrible.” She stopped swimming—an activity that had always been a foundational part of her identity—and chose clothing based solely on how well it covered her skin. “If I was invited to the beach, I wouldn’t go, or I’d go but just sit there in long sleeves and pants.” She even covered her hands with fingerless gloves to avoid getting comments.
The condition also impacted her closest relationships: “I was just so embarrassed, even around my husband.” And her desire to stay home meant she didn’t see her friends as often. “Luckily, I don’t think I lost friends because of it, but I didn’t maintain relationships at the same level they were at prior to my psoriasis,” she says.
A First Of Its Kind Treatment
It wasn’t until late 2023 that things started turning around for Joey, when her new dermatologist recommended a new medication. “He made me feel so comfortable and listened to every single one of my concerns,” she says. Working together, they decided to try BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx). “We talked about my medical history and possible side effects to make sure it was the right option for me,” she added. It had just been approved by the FDA as the first and only IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
“There are two different cytokines produced by your immune system, IL-17A and IL-17F, that are to blame for a lot of the inflammation associated with plaque psoriasis,” says Omar Noor, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City and New Jersey. “I like BIMZELX because of its potential to quickly clear skin, and the effect can be long-lasting for many patients.” Indeed, by Joey’s third dose* of BIMZELX, her psoriasis had almost completely cleared—and it’s stayed that way since. “I don’t have a single mark anywhere on my body,” she says. Dr. Noor adds that “it’s important before starting any new treatment for patients to talk to their doctors, review their full medical history together including any previous infections, and get their liver enzymes tested. Serious side effects have occurred in some BIMZELX patients, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, and it may not work for everyone so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the option that is best for you.”
* The recommended dosage of BIMZELX® is 320 mg (given as 2 subcutaneous injections of 160 mg each) at Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16, then every 8 weeks thereafter. For patients weighing ≥ 120 kg, consider a dosage of 320 mg every 4 weeks after Week 16
Clear Roads Ahead
Today, Joey is back to wearing tank tops and getting massages—something she’d never have done before because she wouldn’t have wanted someone touching her skin. This summer she went to the beach, wearing a bathing suit and playing in the sand instead of sitting on the sidelines. “I’m making up for lost time and taking care of myself again,” she says.
And while each person’s experience with plaque psoriasis is different, Joey hopes that everyone dealing with the chronic disease can find a community of peers living with the condition to support them along the way. “If I’d had someone I could have spoken with who could really relate to what I was experiencing, that would have been beneficial,” she says. “There are people out there dealing with exactly what you are. And if nothing else, you’ll have a friend to hold your hand or guide you.” Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of finding a doctor who will listen to your concerns and work with you to find a treatment plan that works. “Your doctor should be your teammate,” Joey says. “If you’re not happy with your treatment, you should look elsewhere.”
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx)?
BIMZELX is a medicine that affects your immune system. BIMZELX may increase your risk of having serious side effects, including:
- Suicidal thoughts and behavior have happened in some people treated with BIMZELX. Get medical help right away or call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 if you, your caregiver, or your family members notice in you any of the following symptoms:
- new or worsening depression or anxiety
- thoughts of suicide, dying, or hurting yourself
- changes in behavior or mood
- acting on dangerous impulses
- attempt to commit suicide
- Infections. BIMZELX is a medicine that may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.
- Your healthcare provider should check you for infections and tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with BIMZELX.
- If your healthcare provider feels you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with BIMZELX and during your treatment.
- Your doctor should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with BIMZELX. Do not take BIMZELX if you have an active TB infection.
Before starting BIMZELX, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- are being treated for an infection
- have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back
- have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
- think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:
- fever, sweats, or chills
- weight loss
- muscle aches
- warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body different from your psoriasis
- cough
- diarrhea or stomach pain
- shortness of breath
- burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal
- blood in your phlegm
After starting BIMZELX, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the signs of infection listed above. Do not use BIMZELX if you have any signs of infection unless you are instructed to by your healthcare provider. See “What are the possible side effects of BIMZELX?” for more information about side effects.
What is BIMZELX?
BIMZELX is a prescription medicine used to treat:
- adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills (phototherapy)
- adults with active psoriatic arthritis
- adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation
- adults with active ankylosing spondylitis
It is not known if BIMZELX is safe and effective in children.
Before using BIMZELX, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have any of the conditions or symptoms listed in the section “What is the most important information I should know about BIMZELX?”
- have a history of depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
- have liver problems
- have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). You should avoid receiving live vaccines during treatment with BIMZELX.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIMZELX can harm your unborn baby.
- If you become pregnant while taking BIMZELX, you are encouraged to enroll in the Pregnancy Registry, which is used to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider or call 1-877-311-8972 to enroll in this registry or visit http://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BIMZELX passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with BIMZELX.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of BIMZELX?
BIMZELX may cause serious side effects. See “What is important information I should know about BIMZELX?”
- Elevated liver enzyme levels. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver enzyme levels before starting treatment and during treatment with BIMZELX. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or permanently stop your treatment with BIMZELX if you develop liver problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of liver problems, including:
- pain on the right side of your stomach area
- feeling very tired
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- itching
- dark urine
- light-colored stool
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- Inflammatory bowel disease. New cases of inflammatory bowel disease or “flare-ups” have happened with BIMZELX. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), tell your healthcare provider if you have worsening disease symptoms during treatment with BIMZELX or develop new or worsening signs of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for psoriasis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, Herpes Simplex infections (cold sores in or around the mouth), small red bumps on your skin, feeling tired, fungal infections (oral thrush or infection in the mouth, throat, skin, nails, feet, or genitals), pain, redness or swelling at injection site, stomach flu (gastroenteritis), and acne.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for psoriatic arthritis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, urinary tract infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, cough, joint pain, tonsilitis, urinary tract infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, diarrhea, feeling tired, muscle aches, and an increase in liver enzyme levels.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for ankylosing spondylitis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, pain at injection site, vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, diarrhea, and rash.
These are not all of the possible side effects of BIMZELX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Use BIMZELX exactly as your doctor tells you to use it.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
US-DA-2400532
Date of preparation: October 2024
BIMZELX® is a registered trademark of the UCB Group of Companies.
©2024 UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA 30080. All rights reserved.
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