Jon Edwards PhD
Partner
Improving the Lives of People with Chronic Lung Diseases, Starting with COPD
Altesa is an innovative, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic lung diseases, including COPD and asthma, from the threat of severe viral respiratory infections. Our primary focus is rhinovirus, the most common respiratory virus on the planet and the main cause of serious, potentially life-threatening exacerbations.
COPD currently affects 18.6 million Americans and is the third leading cause of death globally, robbing patients of breath, limiting daily activities, and making social interactions risky due to the threat of potentially catastrophic respiratory virus infections.
While smoking remains a major risk factor, up to 25% of US cases and as many as 40% globally are unrelated to smoking, with increasing rates of vaping expected to further drive COPD prevalence. Each year, COPD patients collectively experience an estimated 2.05 billion acute exacerbations in North America alone, and between 2025 and 2050, direct US medical costs are expected to reach $6.24 trillion.
Nearly 50% of COPD exacerbations are triggered by rhinovirus, or the common cold. When a person with COPD “catches a cold,” rhinovirus can drive them into a life-threatening medical crisis, often requiring hospitalization and accelerating long-term decline.
There is nothing “common” about the common cold for people with chronic lung disease. This financing supports advancing clinical development of our lead program vapendavir, a potent, oral medicine, 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. Vapendavir has been administered to more than 700 normal volunteers, or people living with COPD or asthma. Following a successful rhinovirus Challenge Study in COPD patients demonstrating vapendavir’s clinically beneficial effects on respiratory symptoms, illness duration, inflammation, and small airways function, we will initiate the large, multicenter CARDINAL Phase 2b trial in the US and UK in Q2 2026. Forbion is a valued strategic partner providing both capital and a shared commitment to challenging the status quo to advance novel, orthogonal solutions that redefine COPD and asthma treatment paradigms. Together, we are focused on delivering a transformative therapeutic breakthrough, not just incremental improvement on the margins."Brett P. Giroir, M.D.
CEO, Altesa BioSciences, Former US Assistant Secretary for Health, Acting FDA Commissioner, Admiral, US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
