UCB stock weighs BIMZELX joint gains against Candida caveat

UCB said on November 9 that BIMZELX (bimekizumab-bkzx) maintained stronger joint-response rates than Skyrizi (risankizumab) through 24 weeks in the Phase 3b BE BOLD trial in active psoriatic arthritis. The Belgian drugmaker presented the full findings at the 2026 ACR Convergence in Orlando, Florida, after the results had been announced ahead of the conference.

According to UCB, 54.9% of patients receiving bimekizumab achieved an ACR50 response at Week 24, compared with 43.8% for risankizumab. ACR50 measures at least a 50% improvement in tender and swollen joint counts alongside improvements in three of five additional disease measures.

Week 16 Result Remains The Anchor

The primary endpoint was assessed at Week 16, when bimekizumab achieved ACR50 in 49.1% of patients versus 38.0% for risankizumab. The 11.1 percentage-point difference was statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.0058. The Week 24 comparison was exploratory, and UCB said subsequent ranked secondary endpoints were descriptive after sequential testing stopped at the first secondary endpoint.

Skin outcomes were more closely matched by Week 24. In the subgroup with at least 3% psoriasis-affected body surface area at baseline, complete skin clearance was reached by 59.7% of bimekizumab-treated patients and 59.1% of those receiving risankizumab. Overall treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 58.1% and 55.3% of patients, respectively.

Safety Caveat Stays In Focus

The safety profile was broadly comparable, but localized Candida infections were more frequent with bimekizumab at 2.9% versus 0.7% with risankizumab. UCB said all cases were mild or moderate, with none serious, systemic or leading to treatment discontinuation. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events affected 1.8% of the bimekizumab group and 3.3% of the risankizumab group.

UCB stock traded at 296.45 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 11:03 CET on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

The findings reinforce BIMZELX as a central commercial growth driver for UCB, which lists bimekizumab sales of 1.52 billion euros for the first half of 2026 and peak-sales guidance above 7 billion euros. The clinical advantage in joint outcomes strengthens the product's competitive positioning, while the Candida signal remains a point investors must weigh against efficacy gains.

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