European Respiratory Society (ERS) Meeting
September 2025
Four Take-Aways Related to the Treatment of Rhinovirus to Prevent COPD Exacerbations
There are four take-aways that directly relate to Altesa’s clinical development program:
There remain significant unmet medical needs for people suffering with COPD. Despite the many advances in inhaled medications and injectable biologicals, COPD remains a leading cause of death throughout the world. People live in fear of having an exacerbation that could leave them breathless, and the societal costs are measured in the hundreds of billions, if not trillions of dollars.
Rhinovirus is the cause of approximately 50% of COPD exacerbations, which are a main cause of the decline in lung function and quality of life, and can ultimately lead to premature mortality. Rhinovirus is very much underappreciated by physicians as a major cause of exacerbations, but years of clinical evidence paired with recent advances in testing and the prospect of effective treatment has increased the urgency to change the paradigm of COPD management.
There is tremendous enthusiasm for a new treatment paradigm in which the underlying cause of many exacerbations – rhinovirus – is directly treated. Treating the cause, and not just the downstream consequences, is a proven medical paradigm across many respiratory viruses, like COVID and flu.
Now we have the same opportunity to treat the underlying cause by using vapendavir to treat rhinovirus infections in people living with chronic pulmonary disorders.
Key Highlights of ERS 2025
World-leading pulmonary experts, Drs. Sebastian Johnston and Wisia Wedzicha, both Professors of Respiratory Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, UK, discussed the impact viral infections have in triggering COPD exacerbations and the importance of preventing respiratory deteriorations caused by rhinovirus infections in COPD patients.
Professor Johnston observed:
“Patients fear these infections because they know it will worsen their symptoms and quite frequently, they end up in hospital. This is the first study to show a positive outcome with an antiviral drug that will treat over half of common colds, and COPD patients will be very enthusiastic to have this drug in their home if and when it gets to this stage — which I sincerely hope it does.”
Moreover,
Dr. Wedzicha made five additional key observations:
Rhinovirus: The Most Common Cause of COPD Exacerbations
Viruses: The Key Exacerbation Trigger
Exacerbations Start with Colds
Every Exacerbation Counts Toward Lung Function Decline
First 5 Days of Exacerbation: Double the Risk of MI, 40% Increased Stroke Risk
In Closing…
“Leaving ERS, we were humbled by the enthusiasm for Altesa’s new treatment paradigm expressed by world-leading pulmonary experts. Upstream treatment of the actual cause of exacerbations, instead of trying to rescue patients from downstream consequences, is a paradigm proven to be effective for so many other viral infections like COVID-19 and influenza. Vapendavir is the first opportunity to apply this proven medical paradigm to the rhinovirus infections that can be so devastating and deadly to people living with chronic lung conditions.”