Altesa BioSciences' Vapendavir Shows First-Ever Activity Against Rhinovirus C in Breakthrough Research
Key Insights
Altesa BioSciences (search) will present groundbreaking data at ICAR2026 showing vapendavir's activity against rhinovirus (search) C, previously thought to be insensitive to capsid inhibitors.
The oral antiviral drug and its major metabolite ALT-001 demonstrate direct activity against all three major rhinovirus (search) species: RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C.
Vapendavir is advancing through Phase 2B Cardinal Study, enrolling 900 COPD (search) patients across the US and UK to evaluate respiratory symptom improvement.
Altesa BioSciences (search) announced it will present novel data demonstrating that vapendavir, a rhinovirus capsid (search) inhibitor, exhibits unprecedented activity against type C rhinoviruses at the 39th International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR2026) in Prague, Czech Republic, from April 27 to May 1.
The oral presentation, titled "Vapendavir, a Rhinovirus Capsid (search) Inhibitor, Exhibits Activity Against Type C Rhinoviruses," will be delivered by Katherine Squires, PhD, Altesa's Vice President for Research and Translational Science. The data represent the first documented evidence of vapendavir's activity against rhinovirus (search) C both preclinically and clinically, challenging the previous scientific understanding that rhinovirus C was insensitive to capsid inhibitors.
Breakthrough Antiviral Activity
Vapendavir, an oral, potent, broad-spectrum investigational antiviral drug, has demonstrated activity against rhinoviruses and related respiratory enteroviruses. The company will present new in silico, in vitro, and clinical data showing that both vapendavir and its major metabolite, designated as a New Chemical Entity (ALT-001), have direct activity against all three major rhinovirus (search) species: RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C.
This discovery significantly expands the therapeutic potential of vapendavir, as rhinovirus (search) C infections are a major cause of respiratory illness and exacerbations in patients with chronic lung diseases.
Phase 2B Cardinal Study Advancement
Altesa is advancing vapendavir's clinical development through its Phase 2B Cardinal Study, a multinational randomized placebo-controlled trial in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (search) (COPD (search)) patients experiencing rhinovirus (search) infections. The study will enroll 900 people with COPD across the United States and United Kingdom.
The trial's primary objective focuses on assessing improvement in respiratory symptoms using established patient-reported outcomes. Additional endpoints will evaluate time to symptom resolution, quality of life, healthcare resource utilization, and lung function parameters.
Clinical Impact and Future Potential
According to Altesa, vapendavir recently demonstrated significant clinical benefits in COPD (search) patients experimentally challenged with rhinovirus (search), including improved symptoms, reduced duration of illness and viral load, and maintained small airway function. The company projects that if approved, vapendavir could prevent up to 50% of COPD exacerbations, improve quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.
"We are honored to present our novel data at ICAR, the premier international conference for antiviral research," said Dr. Brett Giroir, Altesa CEO and former US Assistant Secretary for Health and FDA Commissioner (acting). "In addition to advancing our fundamental understanding of the clinical pharmacology of vapendavir, these new findings strongly support the expansion of vapendavir potential indications to new patient groups, new diseases, and new treatment paradigms including prophylaxis."
Company Focus and Mission
Altesa BioSciences (search) operates as a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company led by global experts in respiratory medicine and infectious diseases. The company dedicates its efforts to improving the lives of people with chronic lung diseases, including COPD (search) and asthma (search), by targeting viral respiratory infections—identified as the principal cause of exacerbations and pathological inflammation in these conditions.