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Investigating tezepelumab for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

A Multicentre, Single-Arm, Phase 3b Study to Assess Changes in Symptoms in Adult Participants With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyposis Initiating Treatment With Tezepelumab (ESSENCE)

Phase 3 Interventional AstraZeneca · NCT06706817

This study is testing if a new medication called tezepelumab can help adults with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps feel better before they have surgery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment180 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 130 Years
SexAll
SponsorAstraZeneca Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionstezepelumab, methotrexate
Locations45 sites (Newport Beach, California and 44 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06706817 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase IIIb study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tezepelumab in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) who are eligible for surgery. Participants will be monitored over a 40-week period, with a treatment phase lasting 24 weeks, during which their nasal congestion and sino-nasal symptoms will be assessed using specific scoring systems. The study will enroll approximately 60 sites across 10 countries, focusing on patients with significant symptoms and a history of CRSwNP. The primary outcomes will be measured through participant-reported scores before and after treatment initiation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a physician-diagnosed chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps who have symptoms severe enough to warrant surgical consideration.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps or those whose symptoms are not severe enough to require surgery may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar biologic treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis, indicating a potential for success with this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must be 18 years of age or older, at the time of signing the informed consent.
* Participants with physician-diagnosed CRSwNP for at least 12 months prior to Visit 1 who have all of the following:
* Severity consistent with the need for surgery as defined by total NPS ≥ 4 (at least 2 for each nostril) at screening, as determined by the central reader
* Mean NCS ≥ 2 in the 2 weeks prior to Visit 2
* Ongoing documented NP symptoms for \> 8 weeks prior to screening such as rhinorrhoea, reduction or loss of smell and/or poor quality/loss of sleep
* SNOT-22 total score ≥ 30 as assessed at screening. Note: approximately 50 participants with a NPS = 4 at screening will receive treatment with tezepelumab.
* Any standard of care for treatment of CRSwNP, which must include treatment with intranasal corticosteroids, provided the participant is stable on that treatment for at least 30 days prior to Visit 1. Investigators should also assure that participants are compliant and on a stable dose of the background INCS during study period.
* Either 1) documented treatment of NP exacerbation with SCS for at least 3 consecutive days or one IM depo-injectable dose (or contraindications/intolerance to) within the past 12 months prior to Visit 1 but not within the last 3 months prior to Visit 1 OR 2) any history of NP surgery (or contraindications/intolerance to)
* Body weight of ≥ 40 kg at Visit 1
* Female participants:
* Contraceptive use by women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. Women of non childbearing potential are defined as women who are either permanently sterilised (hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy), or who are postmenopausal.
* Women will be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrhoeic for 12 months prior to the planned start date of the first IMP administration without an alternative medical cause.

The following age-specific requirements apply:

* Women \< 50 years old would be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrhoeic for 12 months or more following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatment and FSH levels in the postmenopausal range.
* Women ≥ 50 years old would be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrhoeic for 12 months or more following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatment.
* WOCBP must be willing to use one of the methods of contraception described hereafter, from the time of signing the ICF throughout the study and 16 weeks after last tezepelumab administration:
* Combined (oestrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, intravaginal, transdermal
* Progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, injectable, implantable
* Intrauterine device
* Intrauterine hormone-releasing system
* Bilateral tubal occlusion
* Vasectomised partner (vasectomised partner is a highly effective birth control method provided that the partner is the sole sexual partner of the WOCBP participant and that the vasectomised partner has received medical assessment of the surgical success)
* Sexual abstinence: it is considered a highly effective method only if defined as refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the study treatments. The reliability of sexual abstinence needs to be evaluated in relation to the duration of the study and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the participant.
* Cessation of contraception after this point should be discussed with a responsible physician.
* Provision of signed and dated written ICF as described in Appendix A 3 prior to any mandatory study-specific procedures, sampling, and analyses.
* Participant who is capable of giving signed informed consent as described in Appendix A 3 which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the ICF and in this protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants with documented allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and/or central compartment atopic disease.
* Any clinically important pulmonary disease other than asthma (eg, active lung infection, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, hypereosinophilic syndromes, etc) that could confound interpretation of clinical CRSwNP endpoints results.
* Any disorder, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological, musculoskeletal, infectious, endocrine, metabolic, haematological, psychiatric, or major physical impairment that is not stable in the opinion of the investigator and could:

  * Affect the safety of the participant throughout the study
  * Influence the findings of the study or the interpretation
  * Impede the participant's ability to complete the entire duration of study.
* Sinus surgery within 6 months of screening visit OR any sinus surgery in the past which changed the lateral wall of the nose making NPS evaluation impossible.
* Participants with conditions or concomitant disease that makes them non-evaluable for the primary CRSwNP endpoints such as:
* Antrochoanal polyps
* Nasal septal deviation that occludes at least one nostril
* Acute sinusitis, nasal infection, asthma exacerbation or upper respiratory infection at screening or in the two weeks before screening, or Churg-Strauss syndrome (also known as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis), Young's syndrome or Kartagener's syndrome
* History of cancer:

  1. Participants who have had basal cell carcinoma, localised squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix are eligible to participate in the study provided that curative therapy was completed at least 12 months prior to Visit 1.
  2. Participants who have had other malignancies are eligible provided that curative therapy was completed at least 5 years prior to Visit 1.
* Uncontrolled epistaxis within 2 months of Visit 1
* A helminth parasitic infection diagnosed within 6 months prior to Visit 1 that has not been treated with, or has failed to respond to, standard of care therapy.
* For participants with comorbid asthma: Current smokers or participants with a smoking history ≥ 10 packs per year and participants using vaping products, including electronic cigarettes. Former smokers with a smoking history of \< 10 pack per year and users of vaping or e-cigarette products must have stopped for at least 6 months prior to Visit 1 to be eligible.
* History of chronic alcohol or drug abuse within 12 months prior to Visit 1.
* Tuberculosis requiring treatment within the 12 months prior to Visit 1.
* Major surgery within 8 weeks prior to Visit 1 or planned NP surgery or planned surgical procedures requiring general anaesthesia or inpatient status for more than 1 day during the conduct of the study.
* History of known immunodeficiency disorder including a positive HIV test at Visit 1, or the participant taking antiretroviral medications as determined by medical history and/or participant's verbal report.
* Infection requiring systemic antibiotics within 14 days prior to Visit 1. Note: Participants with respiratory infections requiring antibiotics within 14 days prior to Visit 1 may extend their screening period to allow recovery and return no sooner than 14 days after completion of therapy.
* Evidence of COVID-19 within 4 weeks prior to screening or ongoing clinically significant COVID-19 sequelae (eg, participants who have long-term post-COVID-19 anosmia).
* Receipt of any marketed or investigational biologic agent within 4 months or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Visit 1 or receipt of any investigational non-biologic agent within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longest) prior to Visit 1.
* Treatment with systemic immunosuppressive/immunomodulating drugs (eg, methotrexate, cyclosporine, etc.), except for SCS used in the treatment of asthma/asthma exacerbations, within the last 12 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Visit 1.
* Receipt of immunoglobulin or blood products within 30 days prior to Visit 1.

Where this trial is running

Newport Beach, California and 44 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal PolypsChronic rhinosinusitisRhinosinusitis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.