Altesa BioSciences, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic lung diseases including COPD and asthma, today announced a $75 million oversubscribed Series B funding round led by Forbion, with participation from Sanofi and Altesa’s existing investors, including Medicxi, Pitango, and Atlantic Partners.
“There is nothing ‘common’ about the common cold for people with chronic lung disease,” said Altesa CEO Brett P. Giroir, M.D., former Assistant Secretary of Health and Acting FDA Commissioner. “This financing supports advancing clinical development of vapendavir for the treatment of rhinovirus infections, the leading cause of respiratory exacerbations in COPD and other chronic lung conditions. Vapendavir targets the cause of inflammation and exacerbations – the virus itself.”
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The current Series B financing will support the CARDINAL study, a Phase 2b multinational randomized placebo-controlled trial that will enroll 900 COPD patients in the US and UK, following them and randomizing when they experience a rhinovirus infection. Dr. Katharine Knobil, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Altesa, and former CMO of GSK, will lead the investigation, expected to commence in Q2 2026. The CARDINAL study builds on Altesa’s recently completed rhinovirus Challenge Study in COPD patients, in which vapendavir improved upper and lower airway symptoms, reduced illness durations and inflammatory markers, and better maintained small airways lung function compared to placebo.
“Our trial’s objective is to demonstrate that treatment of rhinovirus respiratory infections can improve symptoms, hasten resolution of illness, and maintain quality of life, while potentially avoiding advanced medical interventions,” said Dr. Knobil. “For many COPD patients, even a simple cold can lead to an exacerbation, hospitalization, and worsening quality of life – vapendavir has the potential to change that trajectory.”
While the immediate focus is on COPD, vapendavir has potential for broader application in other high-risk respiratory populations, including people with asthma.
“We are honored to have Forbion as our lead investor, a global leader with an unmatched track record for developing companies and products across multiple therapeutic areas. In addition, Altesa will benefit greatly from the participation of Sanofi, given its ongoing expertise in COPD therapeutics,” said Dr. Giroir. “By focusing on the true medical need – patients most at risk for hospitalization, death, and long-term decline – we hope to radically improve outcomes and reduce overall healthcare burden.”
“Rhinovirus-driven exacerbations represent one of the most significant and underserved drivers of morbidity in COPD and other chronic lung diseases,” said Jon Edwards, PhD, Forbion Partner. “Altesa’s vapendavir is a first-in-class approach that targets the underlying viral cause of these events, with the potential to meaningfully improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burden for millions of patients. We are proud to lead this financing and support the world class team Altesa has assembled as they advance vapendavir into the Phase 2b CARDINAL study.”
In connection with the financing Jon Edwards, Ph.D., will join the board and Moncef Slaoui, Ph.D., will transition from Board Member to Chair of Altesa’s Board of Directors, strengthening the company’s leadership as it advances vapendavir into late-stage clinical development.
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