A New Horizon for Chronic Sinusitis: Burjeel Medical City Delivers Gulf’s First Six-Monthly Treatment

Burjeel Medical City has administered a groundbreaking biologic therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis, marking a significant milestone in ENT care across the Gulf region and offering patients relief from a condition that has long resisted conventional treatment.

When persistent nasal obstruction, recurrent infections and a faded sense of smell begin to define the texture of daily life, the search for lasting relief becomes urgent. For a 43-year-old Emirati patient who had endured these symptoms for more than five years, and for whom two surgical interventions had brought only temporary reprieve, Burjeel Medical City has now offered something genuinely transformative: depemokimab, an ultra-long-acting biologic administered as a simple subcutaneous injection designed to sustain control of sinus inflammation over six-month intervals.

This represents the first administration of the treatment in the Gulf region, undertaken with the support and clinical oversight of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. The therapy targets the underlying immune drivers of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), a condition in which conventional approaches including antihistamines, nasal sprays and even surgery frequently fall short. The patient’s symptoms, which had intensified during seasonal changes in the UAE climate and following travel, included the particularly distressing loss of olfactory sensation alongside chronic nasal blockage that disrupted sleep and diminished daily vitality.

Dr. Yogesh More, Consultant and Co-Director of the Burjeel ENT Head & Neck Institute, who led the ENT team in administering this pioneering treatment, describes the profound impact of such persistent symptoms. “When symptoms persist over a prolonged period and are associated with polyps, they can significantly affect quality of life,” he explains. “The sinus allergies flared up during local seasonal changes in the UAE as well as after travel.” In this patient’s case, the loss of smell proved particularly consequential, erasing the pleasure of culinary aromas and fragrances and contributing to a pervasive fatigue that rippled through his professional and personal life.

The mechanism of action proves elegant in its precision. Depemokimab addresses one of the key inflammatory pathways driving the disease, targeting the immune cells whose dysregulation leads to recurring symptoms. For eligible adult patients whose condition has proven resistant to adequate medical and surgical management, and whose type 2 inflammation markers indicate suitability for biologic intervention, a single dose can sustain disease control for six months. Following his first injection, this patient experienced marked improvement, with the return of his sense of smell representing not merely a clinical milestone but a restoration of sensory pleasure and quality of life.

“One of the most important benefits we have seen is the return of the patient’s sense of smell,” Dr. More emphasises. “Existing treatment options, including sinus surgery and steroids, do not always provide sufficient improvement in this area. When used alongside sinus surgery, this treatment can also help reduce the recurrence of nasal polyps.” This dual action, combining reduced polyp recurrence with improved symptom control, addresses a particularly vexing problem for patients who have already undergone surgical intervention.

The extended six-month dosing interval carries significance beyond the clinical realm. As Dr. More notes, “Extending the interval between doses to once every six months may be particularly valuable for eligible patients, helping them balance their treatment needs with their personal and professional commitments while supporting disease control and improving their quality of life.” This temporal generosity reflects a deeper understanding of what healing truly means: not merely the suppression of symptoms but the restoration of the life around them.

As Burjeel Holdings continues to establish transformative partnerships advancing surgical excellence, and strengthens its commitment to innovation through collaborations in healthcare technology and accessibility, this milestone affirms its position as a catalyst for advancing evidence-based therapies for patients living with complex and long-standing ENT conditions.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This achievement underscores Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a regional centre for advanced medical innovation and specialised healthcare delivery. By bringing such sophisticated biologic therapies to local patients, Burjeel Medical City ensures that residents no longer require travel abroad for access to cutting-edge treatments, addressing a practical need whilst elevating the emirate’s healthcare infrastructure and reputation for clinical excellence. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s support and oversight of this milestone reflects the emirate’s commitment to integrating advanced therapeutic options into its healthcare ecosystem.

For Abu Dhabi’s residents living with conditions that have resisted conventional treatment, the introduction of depemokimab represents tangible hope and the possibility of restored quality of life. Dr. More emphasises the importance of consultation and accurate diagnosis: “patients experiencing persistent or recurrent symptoms” should seek specialist evaluation to determine whether such innovative approaches might benefit their individual circumstances, ensuring that those most likely to benefit from biologic intervention receive appropriate consideration within a carefully calibrated clinical framework.

Source: WAM