Groundbreaking therapy at Sentara Norfolk General offers hope to patients battling rare disease

For more than 20 years, Chris Ellison of Virginia Beach has lived with a rare disease that required countless medical procedures just to protect his ability to breathe, speak, and swallow.

He was just 18 years old when he was diagnosed with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), an uncommon condition caused by chronic infection and human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 or 11. According to the RRP Foundation, it affects only about 20,000 people worldwide.

Looking back, the warning signs began years earlier.

“I had strep throat all the time and problems swallowing,” Ellison said.

Those symptoms eventually led him to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, where doctors diagnosed the condition.

Since 2003, he has undergone at least 30 surgeries, along with numerous in-office procedures, to remove papillomas and scar tissue that repeatedly develop in his airway. The procedures have become so routine, he said, he’s “been scoped” more times than he can count.

In more aggressive cases of RRP, the growths can spread deeper into the airway and even into the lungs, where they may remain benign or become malignant. Surgery has been the standard treatment, but it does not address the underlying cause of the disease. Until recently, there was no FDA-approved therapy that did.

That changed in August 2025, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Papzimeos, the first and only immunotherapy designed to treat the underlying HPV infection responsible for adult RRP.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is one of fewer than 10 sites in the country using Papzimeos, and it is the only location offering the treatment in the Hampton Roads, Virginia region.

When Ellison learned about this treatment from his otolaryngologist, John Sinacori, M.D., FACS, associate professor at the Voice and Swallowing Center at EVMS at ODU, he said, “Sign me up!”

He is the first patient to undergo the treatment at Sentara.

Papzimeos therapy consists of four injections administered over 12 weeks and is designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to attack HPV-infected cells.

The medication requires meticulous attention to detail and demands seamless coordination. It must be ordered weeks in advance, is shipped under ultra-cold conditions, is carefully thawed and handled, and must be administered within 60 minutes.

"Bringing this breakthrough therapy to our community was a true collaborative effort between pharmacy administration, the inpatient pharmacy, and our outpatient infusion leadership,” said Hazel Paras, supervisor at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy.

“From setting up detailed policies and procedures to building system checks, our top priority has been ensuring that patients can receive this life-changing treatment safely and seamlessly right here in Hampton Roads."

Ellison is expected to complete his series of injections by early October, and he’s optimistic this will finally end his cycle of surgeries and, ultimately, cure his RRP. Clinical trial results have offered hope. One year after completing treatment, 51% of patients between the ages of 18 and 35 remained surgery-free.

“RRP is a life-altering disease. It can cause airway problems and even psychological issues for patients,” Dr. Sinacori said. “Mr. Ellison has gone through more than his share of in-office procedures and surgeries. This therapy could bring significant positive change for him and greatly improve his quality of life.”

Currently, Dr. Sinacori treats about 30 adult RRP patients. He expects many of them will soon begin receiving Papzimeos therapy at the Sentara Norfolk General infusion center.