Altesa BioSciences has announced $75 million oversubscribed Series B funding to support its phase 2b Cardinal study for vapendavir, a drug that treats rhinovirus infections in patients with chronic lung disease.
The funding will enable Altesa to begin the clinical study for vapendavir — an oral drug that targets the cause of inflammation and exacerbations — in Q2 2026. The multinational randomized placebo-controlled trial will be carried out on patients with COPD, following them when they suffer from a rhinovirus infection. In the previous Challenge study, the drug improved upper and lower airway symptoms, reduced the duration of illness, decreased inflammatory markers, and led to better small airway function than a placebo.
This round of funding is led by Forbion. Other investors who contributed include Sanofi and existing investors Medicxi, Pitango, and Atlantic Partners.