A Pivotal Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Nasal Dilator (Breathe Right Nasal Strips)

This randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study assessed subjective measures of nasal airway breathing immediately after application in the morning upon awakening after use of breathe right nasal strips (BRNS). Participants who met the entrance criteria, were currently suffering from nasal congestion, reported trouble with their sleep and had baseline nasal openness scores at bedtime during the qualification phase of ≤ 70 on a 100-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) on at least four of seven qualification nights were randomized to one of two treatments for use at home. Participants returned to the study site after 7 and 14 days of nightly nasal strip use, respectively. At the two return visits, a validated subjective questionnaire, the Nocturnal Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (NRQLQ), measured response.

The study had a screening phase, a one-week baseline qualification and a two-week treatment phase. Participants who met the entrance criteria, who were currently suffering from nasal congestion every night or almost every night, reported trouble with their sleep and had baseline nasal openness scores at bedtime during the qualification phase of ≤ 70 on a 100-point VAS on at least four of seven qualification nights were randomized to one of two treatments for use at home. During the two-week in-home treatment phase, daily diaries measuring the perception of nasal breathing and nasal congestion using a VAS were completed. Participants returned to the study site after 7 and 14 days of nightly nasal strip use, respectively. At the two return visits, a validated subjective questionnaire, the NRQLQ, measured response.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Consent: Demonstrated understanding of the study and willingness to participate as evidenced by voluntary written informed consent and has received a signed and dated copy of the informed consent form.
* Compliance: Understands and is willing, able and likely to comply with all study procedures and restrictions.
* General Health: Good general health with (in the opinion of the investigator) no clinically significant and relevant abnormalities of medical history or physical examination.
* Contraception: Females of childbearing potential who are, in the opinion of the investigator, practicing a reliable method of contraception.
* Leptorrhine Nose: Has a leptorrhine nose as defined in Appendix I to this protocol (nasal tip protrusion index of 45 or greater)
* Chronic Nasal Congestion: Complains of chronic nocturnal nasal congestion for at least the last year. When experiencing nasal congestion, complains always or almost always every night.
* Sleep: Reports trouble with sleep.
* VAS Nasal Openness Qualifying Question: Has baseline nasal openness scores at bedtime during the one-week baseline qualification phase of ≤ 70 on a 100-point VAS where 0=extremely blocked and 100=extremely open on at least four of seven nights.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergy/Intolerance: Known or suspected intolerance or hypersensitivity to the study materials (or closely related compounds), allergy or atopic reaction to adhesive bandages or latex.
* Participant has current or a history of skin cancer, chronic skin condition, or eczema on the face or nose.
* Participant has visible open sores, sunburn, irritation on the face or nose immediately prior to randomization.
* Participant has been diagnosed with sleep apnea in a sleep laboratory.
* Participant has had a diagnosis of another major sleep disorder (i.e. primary insomnia, i.e. regularly sleeping less than six hours per night, sleep insufficiency, i.e. sleeping \>two hours more on non-work days as compared to work days, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, or periodic limb movement disorder).
* Participant has a non-typical sleep schedule (e.g. shift-work).
* Participant plans travel involving time-zone changes during the study period.
* Regular/habitual consumption of more than five cups or glasses per day of xanthine-containing beverages (i.e. tea, coffee, cola).
* Participant currently uses any product or medication that has an effect on nasal congestion or sleep. Participant must have discontinued use of the following products according to the timings specified below:

  a) Prior to initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Use of any substance with psychotropic effects or properties known to affect sleep/wake, including but not limited to: neuroleptics, morphine/opioid derivatives, sedative antihistamines, stimulants, antidepressants, clonidine, barbiturates, anxiolytics, thalidomide, hypnotics and sedatives. Use of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep promoting agents including diphenhydramine, doxylamine, tryptophan, valerian root, kava kava, melatonin, St John's Wort and Alluna. Use of OTC alertness aids including caffeine and guarana.

ii. Lubricating sprays/rinses/throat strips iii. Devices prescribed or used for sleep disordered breathing including Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement devices, tongue displacement devices iv. Use of any intranasally administered medications (e.g. Miacalcin) b) Within 3 days prior to the initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Oral decongestants ii. Short-acting prescription and non-prescription antihistamines, including ocular preparations and antihistamines contained in OTC sleep medications or 'night time' pain formulations (e.g. Benadryl, Chlortrimeton, Dimetane, Tavist) iii. Intranasal, oral or inhaled anticholinergics (e.g. Atrovent) iv. Long-acting beta agonists (e.g. Serevent) v. Oral antileukotrienes c) Within 7 days prior to the initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Any topical nasal decongestants (nasal sprays, drops, etc). ii. OTC products such as chin straps, pillows, internal/external nasal dilators.

d) Within 10 days prior to initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Long-acting antihistamines (e.g. Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex, Zyrtec). e) Within 14 days prior to initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Intranasal cromolyn ii. Intranasal antihistamines (e.g. Astelin, Astepro) f) Within 4 weeks prior to the initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Intranasal corticosteroids g) Within 8 weeks prior to the initiation of the baseline qualification phase: i. Inhaled oral, intramuscular, intravenous, ocular and/or dermatological corticosteroid (with the exception of 1% or less topical hydrocortisone products) h) Within 3 months prior to the baseline qualification phase: i. Intranasal vaccines.

* Participant has experienced an acute upper respiratory tract infection during the qualification phase and/or at the Baseline visit.
* Participant abuses alcohol (regularly drinks more than 3 drinks per day) or has a recent history (within last 2 years) of substance or alcohol abuse
* Participant has a positive urine drug screening result (dipstick) for drugs of abuse (cannabinoids, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine, barbiturates, methadone and/or its metabolites, ecstasy).
* Participant has self-reported severe, unstable disease states (e.g. myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cirrhosis, cancer, epilepsy, or stroke), pain syndromes, (e.g. fibromyalgia) or any medical or surgical condition that places the Participant at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study or who in the judgement of the principal investigator would not be suitable for entry into this study.
* Severe nasal obstruction caused by structural abnormality that renders the Participant unsuitable for the study in the opinion of the investigator, i.e. significant nasal polyps, severe deviated septum.
* Participant who is pregnant or nursing, by self-report.
* Participation in another clinical study.
* Receipt of an investigational drug within 30 days of the start of the baseline qualification phase.
* Previous participation in this study.
* Personnel: An employee of the sponsor or the study site or members or their immediate family.