Benralizumab, dupilumab improve sense of smell in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: Study

Delhi: Dupilumab and benralizumab both improved sense of smell in patients having chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), also, benralizumab decreased nasal blockage, show results from two studies. Both the studies were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

In the first study, Claus Bachert and the team found that benralizumab, when added to standard-of-care therapy, decreased nasal blockage, reduced nasal polyps score (NPS), and reduced difficulty with sense of smell compared to placebo in patients with CRSwNP. 

The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of benralizumab-mediated eosinophil depletion for treating CRSwNP. 

The phase 3 OSTRO study incudedd patients with severe CRSwNP who were symptomatic despite treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and who had a history of systemic corticosteroid (SCS) use and/or surgery for nasal polyps (NP). 413 Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive benralizumab 30 mg (n=207) or placebo (n=206) every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses and every 8 weeks thereafter. 

In the second study, Joaquim Mullol, Hospital Clínic – IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERES, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and the team aimed to assess the impact of dupilumab on sense of smell in severe CRSwNP.

The researchers found that Dupilumab produced rapid and sustained improvement in sense of smell, alleviating a cardinal symptom of severe CRSwNP.

In the randomized SINUS-24 and SINUS-52 studies, adults with severe CRSwNP received dupilumab 300 mg subcutaneously or matching placebo every 2 weeks for 24 or 52 weeks, respectively. Through the use of daily patient-reported loss of smell (LoS) score (0–3) and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT; 0–40), the researchers assessed smell. Data from the two studies were pooled through Week 24. Relationships between patient phenotypes and smell outcomes were also assessed.

724 patients were randomized (286 placebo, 438 dupilumab); mean CRSwNP duration was 11 years; 63% had prior sinonasal surgery. Mean baseline LoS was 2.74. 

References:

1) Bachert C, et al. J Allergy Clinical Immunol. 2021;doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2021.08.030.

2) Mullol J, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.09.037.