Dr. Sebastian Johnston of Imperial College London detailed the results during an oral presentation, noting that the reduction in local airway inflammation aligns with prior findings showing improved patient quality of life and reduced symptom severity. Analysis of nasal lavage samples revealed that patients treated with vapendavir exhibited significantly lower levels of inflammatory molecules IP-10/CXCL10 and GM-CSF compared to the placebo group.

These results provide a mechanistic explanation for why patients in the Phase 2a challenge study experienced less severe illness. While levels of IFN-α2a and IFN-λ1/IL-29 also trended lower in the treatment group, those specific markers did not reach statistical significance. Dr. Katharine Knobil, Chief Medical Officer at Altesa BioSciences, emphasized that managing these infections is critical, as acute exacerbations remain the primary driver of hospitalizations and long-term lung function loss in the COPD population.

Building on this evidence, Altesa has moved into the Phase 2b CARDINAL study. This multinational, randomized trial is currently enrolling 900 participants across the United States and the United Kingdom. The study aims to evaluate the drug's impact on respiratory symptoms, duration of illness, and overall healthcare resource utilization in a broader setting.