Clinical trial Recruiting at 16 sites Interventional Ages 18 and up

Airiver Balloon Dilation added to endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps

Official title: A Randomized, Controlled, Blinded, Multi-Center Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Paclitaxel-Coated Sinus Balloon as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis Subjects

Run by Airiver Medical, Inc. · NCT07290140 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether adding a paclitaxel-coated balloon dilation to endoscopic sinus surgery helps adults with chronic rhinosinusitis, with or without nasal polyps, at up to 40 US sites.

More Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment300 (estimated)
SponsorAiriver Medical, Inc.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations16 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 15 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 1, 2026
Main results expectedMarch 28, 2028
Study endsMarch 1, 2031
Registry record updatedOctober 29, 2026
Trial IDNCT07290140 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18 and older with CRS with or without nasal polyps who meet radiographic and clinical criteria and are candidates for primary or revision endoscopic sinus surgery.

Probably not a fit

Patients with CRS who do not have the specified radiographic disease pattern or who do not respond to prior treatments may not benefit from the intervention.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial enrolling 300 adults with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Participants are randomly assigned to endoscopic sinus surgery alone or surgery plus paclitaxel-coated balloon dilation of affected sinuses. The trial uses a 1:1 allocation and follows patients across multiple sites to compare outcomes. Primary outcomes likely focus on sinus disease control and symptom burden, measured by standardized scores, over a defined follow-up period. The study aims to determine if adding the drug-coated balloon provides additional benefit beyond standard surgery.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve sinus health and reduce symptom burden after surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

How similar studies have gone: Previous similar approaches in related sinus interventions have shown signal of benefit in select patient groups, but this specific paclitaxel-coated balloon plus ESS strategy is novel in this indication.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female, aged ≥18 years
2. Confirmed diagnosis of CRS per the 2021 "International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis" definition.
3. Radiographic evidence of bilateral ethmoid disease on CT taken 6 months or less prior to study index procedure and at least 6 months after any prior ESS or nasal surgery, polypectomy, balloon sinus dilation, etc. as applicable
4. Radiographic evidence of bilateral frontal sinus and/or frontal sinus outflow tract disease
5. Baseline SNOT-22 score ≥ 30
6. Has failed previous medical treatment and is an appropriate candidate for primary or revision ESS of bilateral ethmoid sinuses and bilateral frontal/frontal sinus outflow tract
7. Willing and able to provide written informed consent
8. Willing and able to comply with all protocol follow up visits and assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Nasal cavity tumor (malignant or benign)
2. Antrochoanal polyps
3. Previous complete middle turbinate resection
4. Clinical evidence or suspicion of invasive fungal sinusitis (e.g., bone erosion on CT scan, necrotic sinus tissue)
5. History of prior lamina dehiscence or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in skull-based dehiscence
6. Concurrent condition requiring active chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy management
7. Subjects whose symptoms are too severe to undergo ESS (e.g., temperature \>102.5F or extra-sinus manifestations, such as orbital cellulitis; dental or facial or brain abscess; cavernous vein thrombosis; or altered mental status
8. History of complications from prior ESS or balloon dilation procedure (e.g., CSF leak or injury to the skull base or orbital injury)
9. History of primary ciliary dyskinesia
10. Oral-steroid dependent conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other conditions
11. Have evidence of significant baseline mucosal injury, ulceration, or erosion (e.g., exposed cartilage, perforation) on nasal examination
12. Acute purulent nasal infection or upper respiratory tract infection, including but not limited to acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS), acute rhinosinusitis (ARS), or COVID -19 within 2 weeks before the baseline visit.
13. Allergy or hypersensitivity to paclitaxel or structurally related compounds.
14. Subject has taken biologic drugs in the 6 months leading up to the screening visit or who expect to take biologics in the next 24 months.
15. Subject has taken oral corticosteroids in the 30 days leading up to their baseline appointment.
16. Subject who plans to undergo posterior nasal nerve ablation in the next 24 months.
17. Subject has a history of inability to tolerate nasal endoscopy
18. Concurrent medical condition that would affect the investigator's ability to evaluate the subject's condition or that could compromise subject safety, such as severe COPD, severe asthma
19. Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the first 12 months of enrollment in the study
20. Subject who has undergone a nasal/sinus surgery including but not limited to ESS, polypectomy, septoplasty, turbinoplasty, balloon sinus dilation, placement of steroid releasing implants, posterior nasal nerve ablation in the 6 months prior to the baseline appointment.
21. Previous Draf III frontal sinus surgery or a study index procedure ESS is expected to be or is a Draf III sinus surgery.
22. Subject whose index procedure did not include bilateral ethmoid ESS and bilateral frontal ESS
23. Subject whose expected study index procedure includes steroid releasing implants or non-resorbable nasal packing/stents.
24. Subject whose study index procedure is aborted for any reason
25. Life expectancy \<2 years

Where it's running

  • University of Alabama
    Birmingham, Alabama, United States
    Recruiting
  • Excel ENT
    Birmingham, Alabama, United States
    Recruiting
  • North Alabama ENT
    Huntsville, Alabama, United States
    Recruiting
  • SENTA Clinica
    San Diego, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Colorado ENT & Allergy
    Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
  • Physicians' Clinic of Iowa
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
    Recruiting
Show 10 more locations
  • Kumc
    Kansas City, Kansas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Advanced ENT
    Louisville, Kentucky, United States
    Recruiting
  • Montefiore Medical Center
    The Bronx, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Charleston ENT & Allergy
    Charleston, South Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • MUSC - Medical University of South Carolina
    Charleston, South Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • Dallas ENT
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Ear and Sinus Institute
    Fort Worth, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • ENT Associates of Texas
    McKinney, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Virginia
    Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Noem Cohen, MD — University of Pennsylvania
  • Study coordinator: Sr Clinical Operation Director
  • Email: myersj@airiver.com
  • Phone: 6123250226

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.