Adults in Gloucestershire who suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps can now benefit from a new, non-surgical treatment from Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital.
Approved for use in the UK in February 2026, the treatment, known as biologic therapy, is now available through Nuffield Health's specialist ENT service.
Nasal polyps are non-cancerous growths that develop in the lining of the nose and sinuses as a result of ongoing inflammation. While surgery can remove these growths, they can sometimes grow back, leading to a cycle of recurring symptoms that health authority, NICE, acknowledges can 'significantly impact quality of life'.
Symptoms include constant nasal blockage, loss of smell and taste, facial pressure, and fatigue due to poor quality sleep. Traditional treatments involve the use of steroids, which broadly suppress the immune system, while the newer treatment is changing how the condition is managed by tackling the root cause of the problem, rather than the symptoms alone.
Biologic therapy targets specific parts of the immune response that cause inflammation by blocking key immune signals, focusing on what is known as 'type 2 inflammation'. Successful clinical trials have shown the treatment not only shrinks the polyps, but also reduces the accompanying symptoms, when combined with standard care.
The treatment can be administered by injection every two to four weeks, with many patients able to self-administer at home following specialist guidance provided by Nuffield Health.
Adults whose condition has not responded to sinus surgery or steroid medication may be eligible for biologic therapy, with patients assessed on an individual basis, taking their medical history, symptom severity, and any other related conditions into account.
Patients in Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas can access a full diagnostic assessment – which can involve nasal endoscopy and a review of treatment history – through the ENT service at Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital.
Care is led by experienced consultants including Mr Okechukwu Okonkwo, a consultant ENT surgeon at Nuffield Health who specialises in the management of nasal polyps and other complex sinus diseases.
To book an assessment with Mr Okechukwu Okonkwo, visit nuffieldhealth.com/consultants/mr-okechukwu-okonkwo, or call Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital on 01242 246574.
