Biologics
In recent years, there has been significant progress in understanding
the underlying immune mechanisms that drive CRSwNP leading to the
development of targeted biologic therapies. For CRSwNP, biologics focus
primarily on neutralising specific pro-inflammatory type-2 cytokines,
such as interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 (39, 40), or IL-5 (4, 41, 42)}, or
mediators like IgE (43), which are central in promoting the recruitment
and activation of inflammatory cells in CRSwNP. By blocking the activity
of these mediators, biologics modulate the immune response and reduce
the chronic inflammation associated with the disease (including
comorbidities) (44). Biologics have been shown to reduce the size of
nasal polyps, improve nasal obstruction, relieve symptoms, improve the
sense of smell and improve the quality of life (45-49).
Based on EPOS 2020 (1) and the EPOS/EUFOREA update on biologics 2023
(9), the EUFOREA expert panels recommend biologics in CRSwNP patients
that are uncontrolled despite appropriate medical treatment and
appropriate sinus surgery and who fulfil 3 of 5 criteria (presence of
Type 2 inflammation, regular need for SCS/contraindications to SCS,
significant impact on QOL, loss of smell and comorbid asthma). Biologics
are an effective treatment with an expected improvement in the
short-term (16th week to 24th week),
of at least one of the following symptom/scores: sense of smell, the
Nasal Congestion Score (NCS), the Nasal Polyp Score (NPS), the
Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and the Visual Analogue Scale
(VAS)(49-53). For Dupilumab long term (up to 2 years) beneficial effects
have been reported (46, 49). Beneficial effects on comorbidities may be
confirmed at any point of the treatment, based on the aforementioned
definitions and a reduction in the need for SCS and ESS can be observed
(54, 55).
Biologics have a good safety profile but are contra-indicated in
patients with hypersensitivity to the specific monoclonal antibodies or
any drug components. Specific considerations should be taken in
pregnancy since there is not yet enough data to rule out fetal harm or
other side effects (56, 57). In this regard, the best data are available
for omalizumab, where no increase in congenital anomalies has been
demonstrated to date (57, 58. {Shakuntulla, 2022 #9).Therefore, the
EUFOREA group advises to carefully counsel pregnant patients and female
patients who wish to have children and to only continue the biologic if
there are very strong reasons to do so (56-58). Two other reasons to
closely monitor patients/discontinue a biologic are hypereosinophilia
(mainly dupilumab(59-61)) and helminth infections if patients do not
respond to anti-helminth treatment (62, 63).
Overall, biologics are a safe and effective treatment option in most
severe uncontrolled CRSwNP patients, with the need to properly select
the patient given the high direct costs and the necessity of repeated
self-administration (46, 47, 49, 64)