Charlton Health is excited to announce that we have started dispensing a very promising new treatment for psoriasis! This new treatment is called Bimzelx© and it is an interleukin -17A/17F inhibitor. Interleukin-17s are proteins that play a large role in the inflammation we see in psoriasis. The idea of interleukin-17 inhibitors is to normalize the levels of these proteins to reduce inflammation in the skin, and potentially in other parts of the body.
Charlton Health was privileged to be a part of the first Bimzelx© injection in Canada. Our team, the dermatologist, and the patient were all very excited to be a part of this moment.
There are other interleukin-17 inhibitors on the market but this one differs in the way that specifically targets interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F. Other interleukin (IL) 17 inhibitors target IL-17A only or target a wide array of IL-17 subtypes. Bimzelx© is now another biologic in our tool kit that we can utilize for people with psoriasis. If you have been on an IL-17 inhibitor in the past that did not provide adequate relief, Bimzelx© may be an option for you, after your doctor has assessed your medical history to ensure it is appropriate for you.
This medication is not typically used in those who have Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis. This is because IL-17 is protective of the gut. So, for those with psoriasis and an IBD, Bimzelx© may not be the best choice for you. However, there are many other effective biologics for both psoriasis and IBD that your physician can prescribe for you.
Below is a table of the different IL-17 inhibitors on the market in Canada and some details about them.
| Name | Specific IL-17 target | Citrate-free | Latex-free | Typical maintenance dose for psoriasis |
| Taltz© (Ixekizumab) | IL-17A | No | ✅ | After loading doses: 1 injection every 4 weeks |
| Cosentx© (Secukinumab) | IL-17A | ✅ | No, needle shield contains latex | After loading doses: 2 injections every month |
| Siliq© (Brodalumab) | Many IL-17 subtypes | ✅ | ✅ | After loading doses: 1 injection every 2 weeks |
| Bimzelx © (Bimekizumab) | IL-17A / IL-17F | ✅ | ✅ | After loading doses: 2 injections every 8 weeks |
For details about how citrate affects injections, please see our previous blog, “Health Canada Approves Three New Adalimumab Biosimilars.”
Marija Ilic is a Pharmacy Student from the University of Waterloo currently doing a rotation at Charlton Health as part of her final year of studies. Through Marija’s education, she has gained experience in both hospital and community pharmacy settings and hopes to find a specialized pharmacy role when she graduates.