NEW YORK (AP) — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi said that an experimental drug reduced symptoms of chronic sinusitis in a clinical trial.
The companies said patients who took the drug, called dupilumab, and nasal corticosteroids had smaller nasal polyps following treatment. They said the drug helped the drug also helped improve patients’ air flow and reduced symptoms like congestion and runny nose.
The two companies say they will move the drug, which is an injection intended to be given once per week, into larger clinical trials. They are also studying dupilumab as a treatment for asthma and the skin condition atopic dermatitis.
The trial was designed to study dupilumab as a treatment for moderate to severe chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. It included 60 patients who were not helped by nasal sprays.
In the study, patients were injected with drug or a placebo once per week.
Shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose $5.26 to $306.22 in morning trading. Sanofi stock added $1 to $56.71.
The two companies also collaborate on the eye drug Eylea.
