“Biological drugs have revolutionized the therapeutic and clinical history of nasal polyposis. Previously we had only surgery as a therapeutic target, today we have the possibility of using biological drugs in those patients who fail the surgical procedure and who present a severe and uncontrolled form of nasal polyposis subtype T2”. Thus Elena Cantone, professor of Otolaryngology and director of Speech and Language Therapy School at the University of Naples Federico II, on the occasion of the 110th Congress of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology – Sio, scheduled in the spaces of the Fair of Bergamo from 22 to 25 May, whose theme is “The Future in Listening”.
“We have seen how the effector cell is the eosinophil and how it is governed by interleukin 5 – explains Cantone – In this context, mepolizumab is a target therapy which, by blocking interleukin 5, blocks all the harmful effects that are responsible for the symptomatic manifestations of nasal polyposis. It is therefore a drug that has a high safety profile, but above all it complies with the guidance documents that have produced the guidelines for the management of this pathology and related drugs”.
“The effectiveness and safety of mepolizumab has been demonstrated by clinical trials but, in addition to them, several real life documents have been published in the last year – adds Cantone – We therefore know that clinical practice gives much more positive responses than to the trials, which were already very encouraging. Recently, the very first Italian studies have also been published, which demonstrate how mepolizumab is effective on all symptoms, not only for very high eosinophil levels but also starting from 150 eosinophils”.
“Mepolizumab works by blocking interleukin 5 and lowering the level of eosinophils, making them stable over time – explains the expert – This clinically translates into an improvement in the clinic and in less use of both salvage surgery and systemic steroids and is a huge advantage for the patients’ quality of life.”
“The ease of handling of the drug is also guaranteed by administration every four weeks, so the patient is able to manage the use of this drug, which is an injectable drug, at home. This protocol allows you to keep the levels of eosinophils stable which, as we have seen, are responsible for most of the symptomatic aspects of the disease,” she concludes.
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