Investigational Drug Verekitug Improves Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Phase 2 trial shows verekitug reduced nasal polyp size and need for surgery compared to placebo.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A phase 2 trial presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 2026 Annual Meeting found that the investigational drug verekitug improved sinonasal symptoms, reduced nasal polyp size, and reduced the need for nasal polyp surgery in people with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Verekitug, an investigational monoclonal antibody that targets the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) receptor, was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events.

Why it matters

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a debilitating condition that involves sinonasal inflammation and loss of smell. The TSLP signaling pathway is a key driver of the immune activation that causes this condition, so therapies targeting TSLP could fulfill an unmet need for effective treatments.

The details

The phase 2 VIBRANT trial enrolled 81 adults with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Those who received 100 mg of subcutaneous verekitug every 12 weeks for 24 weeks experienced a 2.05-point reduction in nasal polyp score compared to a 0.28-point reduction in the placebo group. Verekitug also showed significant improvements in nasal congestion, total symptom score, and sense of smell compared to placebo. The need for surgery or systemic corticosteroids was 76% lower in the verekitug group. Adverse events were similar between groups, with more high-grade events occurring in the placebo group.

  • The phase 2 VIBRANT trial was conducted over 24 weeks.

The players

Verekitug

An investigational monoclonal antibody that targets the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) receptor, previously known as UPB-101 and ASP7266.

Joseph K. Han, MD

Chief of the Division of Allergy and a professor of otolaryngology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and lead author of the study.

Martin Desrosiers, MD

Ear, nose, and throat surgeon, researcher, and clinical professor at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and president of Probionase Therapies, Inc., who was not involved in the trial but commented on the results.

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What they’re saying

“Verekitug led to significant improvements in nasal congestion score as early as week 2 [and] was well tolerated with no serious adverse events.”

— Joseph K. Han, MD, Chief of the Division of Allergy and a professor of otolaryngology at Old Dominion University (Medscape)

“What strikes me from the VIBRANT trial is it articulates two things. One is that the TSLP remains a good target because it shows that you get a powerful result, which is comparable to other market leaders with an effective safety profile, with three monthly doses. So, in theory, the medication presents advantages.”

— Martin Desrosiers, MD, Ear, nose, and throat surgeon, researcher, and clinical professor at McGill University (Medscape)

What’s next

Further research is needed to understand which patients are the ideal candidates for verekitug treatment.

The takeaway

The positive results from the VIBRANT trial suggest that targeting the TSLP receptor with verekitug could provide a new effective treatment option for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps, potentially reducing the need for surgery or systemic corticosteroids.