Allergic Respiratory Treatment Revolutionized with Spray Therapy

Yonsei Researchers Develop Spray for Allergic Respiratory Disease

A new spray-based treatment for allergic respiratory diseases has been developed, offering an alternative to traditional injection therapies.

The research team, led by Professor Kim Joo-young of Yonsei University College of Medicine, Professor Cho Hyung-joo of Severance Hospital, and Professor Park Joon-sang of Hongik University, announced the creation of a nano-sized antibody drug designed to treat chronic rhinosinusitis by directly targeting nasal inflammation.

[Photo by ⓒsev.severance.healthcare]

Unlike conventional treatments such as oral medications and injections, this new therapy uses nanobodies—tiny proteins approximately 2-4 nanometers in size—that are sprayed directly onto the inflamed nasal surface, significantly improving treatment efficacy while minimizing discomfort for patients.

The nanobodies specifically target the IL-4Rα receptor, a protein involved in immune response and inflammation regulation.

Published in the international journal Materials Today Bio, the study shows that this spray-based treatment not only enhances drug penetration at the site of inflammation but also reduces the risk of side effects associated with long-term oral steroid use and antibody injections.

Professor Cho Hyung-joo explained, “This new spray treatment addresses the limitations of current therapies, including side effects, high costs, and patient discomfort, and is expected to significantly aid in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and other allergic respiratory diseases.”

This research was supported by the Korea Research Foundation’s Convergence Basic Research Laboratory project.

Editor 메디마스터
^{Provided by: YONSEI UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM}