Phase 1 clinical study to assess the safety of a novel drug delivery system providing long-term topical steroid therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients who fail medical management have few treatment options other than endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). A novel biodegradable mometasone furoate drug delivery system (LYR-210) providing continuous topical steroid therapy to sinonasal mucosa over 24 weeks was developed to treat unoperated CRS patients who have failed medical management prior to ESS. LYR-210 was designed to slowly expand in the middle meatus, ensuring efficient drug delivery as mucosal swelling reduces. MethodsA prospective, multicenter, open-label study was conducted in 20 CRS subjects who were determined to be candidates for ESS. Under endoscopic guidance and topical anesthesia, LYR-210 was placed in both middle meatuses. The primary endpoint was product-related serious adverse events (SAEs) at 4 weeks. Additional assessments included plasma drug concentration, morning serum cortisol levels, intraocular pressures (IOPs), and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores. ResultsLYR-210 was successfully placed bilaterally in 20 subjects (12 without nasal polyps and 8 with polyps) in an office setting. There were no product-related SAEs through 24 weeks, at which point 86% of LYR-210 depots were still retained in the middle meatus. Serum cortisol, IOP, and plasma drug concentrations supported systemic safety at all time points tested. Subjects experienced significant reductions in their SNOT-22 scores as early as week 1, and this reduction persisted through week 24 (p < 0.01). Significant symptom improvement was achieved in the SNOT-22 rhinologic, extranasal rhinologic, ear-facial, psychological, and sleep dysfunction subdomains at 24 weeks (p < 0.05). ConclusionLYR-210 is safe and well-tolerated in ESS-naive CRS patients and leads to sustained symptom improvement in patients.