Dr. Brent Richardson is one of 4 clinicians at Bastian Voice Institute who together manage a large population of adult patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). RRP is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which in turn stimulates growth of benign proliferative lesions called papillomas, similar to warts. State-of-the-art management remains precise surgical removal of papillomas when the lesions regrow sufficiently to cause hoarseness or rarely in adults, airway obstruction.
Looking for a medical alternative to surgery, Dr. Richardson’s ground-breaking pilot study of three patients used an investigational oral anti-viral medication called Brincidofovir. The medication appeared to reduce the amount of disease and prolong the interval to regrowth of lesions in these three patients. Given these encouraging results, further study is needed, because the behavior of RRP is so variable. Dr. Richardson is pursuing the possibility of a larger clinical trial with the drug’s pharmaceutical sponsor and developer. To view the abstract of his study, click this link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00034894211007227