New & Emerging Biologic Agents in CRSwNP: Pathophysiology Insights & Patient Selection Criteria

Target Audience

This educational activity has been designed for allergists, immunologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who manage patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).

Program Overview

Until recently, the only treatment choices for patients with CRSwNP included saline irrigation for symptomatic relief, local or oral corticosteroids to keep inflammation under control, and polypectomy through endoscopic sinus surgery. Nasal polyposis is typically present in patients with the highest levels of disease severity, and endoscopic surgery to remove polyps is not the cure one might presume. Nearly 80% of patients who undergo polypectomy experience polyp recurrence within two years and >35% eventually opt for a second surgery. To address this, novel biologics have been and continue to be evaluated for their impact on CRSwNP, giving clinicians treatment options beyond steroids and surgery for their patients with CRSwNP who are struggling to breathe freely. However, these new options necessitate education on clinical trial results for biologic therapy, criteria that should be used when choosing between biologics and surgery, and patient education in regards to treatment with biologics. These topics will be addressed by expert faculty presenters during this initiative.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Review the pathophysiologic/immunogenic molecular drivers of chronic rhinosinusitis that lead to the inflammatory endotypes and relevant comorbidities frequently observed in patients with CRSwNP
• Discuss the differences between currently approved and emerging biologic treatment options for CRSwNP using data from clinical trials and other analyses
• Incorporate an individualized, patient-centric focus based on consensus criteria for patients with CRSwNP when recommending a biologic therapy or endoscopic sinus surgery