Mometasone furoate nasal spray in the treatment of nasal polyposis in Chinese patients: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Although mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) has demonstrated efficacy in nasal polyposis (NP) in Western populations, data in Asian populations is limited.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind study evaluated MFNS 200 μg twice per day (BID) vs placebo in Chinese adults with bilateral nasal polyps (graded as 1, 2, or 3 by the investigator). A 14-day placebo run-in period was followed by a 16-week treatment period with MFNS 200 μg BID vs placebo (1:1 ratio). The co-primary endpoints were change from baseline in nasal congestion/obstruction averaged over the first 4 weeks of treatment and change from baseline in the total polyp size score (sum of scores from the left and right nasal fossa) at week 16. Secondary endpoints included other sinonasal symptoms scores and safety outcomes such as monitoring laboratory measurements, vital signs, and adverse events (AEs).

Results: There were 748 patients randomized, 375 received MFNS 200 μg BID and 373 received placebo. The between-treatment difference in least squares (LS) mean change from baseline in nasal congestion/obstruction over 4 weeks of treatment was -0.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.22 to -0.06) for MFNS vs placebo (p = 0.0007). The between-treatment difference in LS mean change from baseline in total polyp size score at week 16 was -0.30 (95% CI, -0.45 to -0.15) for MFNS vs placebo (p < 0.0001). Serious AEs were rare (0.5% and 0.8% in MFNS and placebo groups, respectively) and considered not drug-related. There were significantly more AEs of epistaxis with MFNS vs placebo (p = 0.009).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that MFNS was effective and well tolerated in this population of adult, Chinese patients with NP.