ORLANDO, Fla., May 19, 2026
Altesa BioSciences announced positive results from its randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 rhinovirus challenge study evaluating vapendavir in patients with GOLD Stage 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) infected with rhinovirus. The data were presented during an oral session at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference 2026, where researchers highlighted significant reductions in viral load, inflammation, and respiratory symptom burden in patients treated with the investigational antiviral therapy. The study also demonstrated maintained lung function and improved patient-reported outcomes, positioning vapendavir as a potentially important new treatment option for COPD exacerbations caused by rhinovirus infections. The results strengthen Altesa’s strategy to move respiratory virus treatment beyond reactive symptom management toward early antiviral intervention aimed at preventing severe respiratory deterioration.
Vapendavir Demonstrates Strong Antiviral and Clinical Benefits
The oral presentation was delivered by Professor Sebastian Johnston, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy at Imperial College London and Principal Investigator for both the challenge study and the ongoing global Phase 2b CARDINAL trial. According to the study findings, vapendavir achieved multiple clinically meaningful outcomes after treatment was initiated following symptom onset, reflecting a real-world treatment setting commonly seen in COPD care. Patients receiving vapendavir demonstrated reduced viral load, lower inflammatory chemokine levels, and better preservation of small airway lung function as measured by oscillometry. Importantly, the median time to symptom resolution was reduced to 5 days in the vapendavir group compared with 8.5 days in placebo-treated patients, based on the EXACT-Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS) assessment tool recommended by the FDA Division of Antivirals.
The study also reported improved patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes, including fewer patients experiencing clinically meaningful worsening on the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Researchers noted that no major safety or tolerability concerns were identified during the trial. The COPD rhinovirus challenge model used in the study is currently the only operational model of its kind worldwide and was specifically designed to replicate the upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms seen during naturally acquired COPD exacerbations. Researchers further noted that the RV-16 strain used in the challenge study was less sensitive to vapendavir than the majority of naturally circulating rhinovirus strains, suggesting the observed efficacy may underestimate the drug’s real-world antiviral potential. To date, vapendavir has demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability across approximately 700 healthy volunteers and patients with asthma or COPD enrolled in various clinical studies.
CARDINAL Phase 2b Study Targets Major Unmet Need in COPD
Building on the encouraging Phase 2 challenge data, Altesa recently initiated enrollment in the multinational Phase 2b CARDINAL trial, which aims to further evaluate vapendavir’s efficacy and safety in COPD patients with confirmed rhinovirus infection. The study is expected to continue through the fourth quarter of 2027 and plans to enroll 900 participants across 49 clinical sites in the United States and United Kingdom. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will compare two oral doses of vapendavir against placebo in COPD patients classified as GOLD Stage 2 to 4 disease severity. Participants who develop rhinovirus infection during monitoring will receive a 7-day once-daily treatment regimen.
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The primary endpoint focuses on improvement in respiratory symptoms measured by the EXACT-Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS) score, while secondary endpoints include time to symptom resolution, quality-of-life improvements, lung function preservation, healthcare utilization, hospitalization rates, and virology analysis. According to Altesa Chief Medical Officer Dr. Katharine Knobil, the company believes rhinovirus-triggered COPD exacerbations have historically been treated only after substantial inflammatory damage has already occurred. She stated that vapendavir could potentially change that approach by targeting rhinovirus infection before severe respiratory deterioration develops. If successful, vapendavir could become one of the first antiviral therapies specifically designed to reduce rhinovirus-driven COPD exacerbations, addressing a major unmet need in chronic respiratory disease management.
Source: Altesa BioSciences press release
