Altesa BioSciences Unveils Promising Phase 2 Vapendavir Study Results for COPD Treatment
Altesa BioSciences, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, presented new findings at the 2026 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe Conference, highlighting the potential of vapendavir, an investigational oral rhinovirus capsid inhibitor. The Phase 2a challenge study demonstrated that vapendavir significantly reduced inflammatory responses and viral loads in COPD patients infected with rhinovirus. This development is crucial as rhinovirus is responsible for about 50% of acute COPD exacerbations, yet no approved treatment exists. The study showed that vapendavir treatment reduced key inflammatory mediators, such as IFN-α2a, IP-10, and IL-29, compared to placebo. The company has also initiated the Phase 2b CARDINAL clinical trial to further assess vapendavir's efficacy in improving respiratory symptoms and maintaining lung function in COPD patients. 
