Altesa BioSciences has announced the enrollment of the first patient in its phase IIb CARDINAL clinical trial, a multinational study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of vapendavir in treating rhinovirus infections among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The trial aims to determine whether directly targeting rhinovirus can improve respiratory symptoms, shorten illness duration and preserve lung function compared to placebo.

The CARDINAL study is a randomised, placebo-controlled trial that will enroll approximately 900 COPD patients across the United States and the United Kingdom. Designed to reflect real-world care settings, the study will monitor participants over time and initiate treatment upon confirmation of rhinovirus infection. Patients will then be assigned to receive one of two doses of vapendavir or a placebo.

The primary objective of the trial is to assess improvements in respiratory symptoms using patient-reported outcomes. Secondary endpoints include time to symptom resolution, quality of life, healthcare resource utilisation and lung function, as well as identifying an optimal dose for future phase III studies.

Vapendavir is an investigational, orally administered antiviral drug that works by preventing rhinoviruses from entering human cells and replicating. It has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity across multiple rhinovirus types and other respiratory enteroviruses. Earlier phase IIa studies showed that the drug improved upper and lower airway symptoms, reduced illness duration and helped maintain small airway lung function.

Rhinovirus infections are responsible for nearly half of all acute COPD exacerbations, yet current treatments largely focus on managing symptoms after inflammation has already begun. By targeting the underlying viral cause, vapendavir aims to interrupt this process earlier, potentially offering a more effective treatment approach for vulnerable patients.

While the immediate focus remains on COPD, vapendavir may also have broader applications in other high-risk populations, including individuals with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. The trial marks a significant step forward in developing targeted antiviral therapies to address unmet needs in respiratory care.