Drug1st-line biologic line

Mepolizumab

Anti–IL-5 monoclonal antibody

Response rate
Significant NPS reduction
Onset
4–8 weeks
Route
SC 100mg every 4 weeks
Line
1st-line biologic
IgM effect
Reduces polyp score
Evidence level
green

Evidence summary

Neutralises IL-5, reducing eosinophil maturation and survival. SYNAPSE trial demonstrated significant reduction in polyp size and need for surgery. FDA-approved 2021 for CRSwNP. May be preferred in patients with high eosinophil counts and comorbid eosinophilic asthma.

Molecular targets

MoleculeRoleExpressionEvidence
IL-5Eosinophil survival factorElevatedestablished
EosinophilsEffector granulocytesMassively infiltrated in tissueestablished

Sources (2)

T3Han JK et al. (2021) Mepolizumab for CRSwNP (SYNAPSE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trialDOI
T5Fokkens WJ et al. (2020) EPOS/EUFOREA 2020 treatment algorithm for CRSwNPDOI