Verekitug Could Address Unmet Needs in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps: Joseph K. Han, MD

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Verekitug, a human monoclonal antibody for treating chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), has potential as a new therapy in the space addressing the unmet needs of patients with the condition.

The phase 2 clinical trial VIBRANT (NCT06164704) data assessing the safety and efficacy of verekitug were presented at the American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference in May. Verekitug was shown to improve asthma control in patients with CRSwNP, an unmet need considering current biologic therapies do not eliminate disease recurrence or adequately control symptoms for all patients, said lead study author, chief of the Division of Allergy at Old Dominion University, and patient with nasal polyps, Joseph K. Han, MD, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®.¹

“With the introduction of biologics, we've seen that it's decreased [nasal polyps], but it's not gone away,” he said. “So the question is…if these biologics are that good, then why isn't it going down to 0?”

Nearly 70% of patients with CRSwNP struggle with asthma as well and experience significant symptom burdens impacting their daily function and overall quality of life. The most common symptom, nasal congestion, interferes with patients’ sleep. But another symptom of the condition is loss of smell, which can significantly deteriorate a person’s mental health, create safety hazards, and impact their careers, Han said.

“It's also very important because when you lose your sense of smell, it's also more associated with depression,” he said. “People's quality of life—because they can't eat their food—gets diminished, so people lose weight.… [Smell] detects problems such as smoke.… For some people, smell is part of their occupation…and a lot of these patients are very distressed when they're coming to see me.”

Han emphasized that addressing the underappreciated impacts of CRSwNP on patients’ quality of life is a pivotal step in progressing the treatment landscape for this condition forward.

References

1. Upstream Bio reports positive top-line results from the phase 2 VIBRANT trial of Verekitug for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). News release. UpstreamBIO. May 18, 2026. Accessed June 18, 2026. https://investors.upstreambio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/upstream-bio-reports-positive-top-line-results-phase-2-vibrant