A study revealed the positive impact of omalizumab as add-on therapy in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Nadine Gunder et al. aimed to assess effectiveness of omalizumab for management of severe CRSwNP.

A total of 11 adult patients suffering from CRSwNP and poor response to intranasal corticosteroids were recruited. Based on total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and body weight, participants were given 150-450 mg omalizumab every 4 weeks. The period for observation was sixteen weeks.

Examination of alterations in nasal polyp score (NPS) from baseline to week sixteen was done. Utilizing the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20) score, the influence on quality of life was done while using the Sniffin' Sticks, the influence on olfaction was assessed. Notably, 10 of 11 volunteers accomplished visit 4 (V4, 5th omalizumab injection) during observation period.

At visit 4, a profound decrease in NPS and an improvement in quality of life and olfaction were seen, as shown in Table 1:

During 16 weeks of use, only 1 patient exhibited no response to omalizumab.  Hence, the monoclonal antibody omalizumab appears to be a promising add-on therapy to treat severe CRSwNP.