A Phase 2 interventional study of Vapendavir and Placebo in COPD Exacerbation Acute, COPD With Acute Lower Respiratory Infection and Rhinovirus, sponsored by Altesa Biosciences, Inc.. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-30.
Sponsored by Altesa Biosciences, Inc. · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
Vapendavir (VPV) is a drug being developed to treat human rhinovirus (RV) infection, one virus responsible for the common cold. Vapendavir prevents the virus from entering cells and making more infectious copies of itself. A study is being planned to investigate VPV in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, a lung disease making it difficult to breathe) who develop a rhinoviral infection; however, VPV has not been approved for use in treating any indication (disease) by the FDA or any other global regulatory agency. Therefore, VPV is considered investigational, and the study doctor is conducting this investigational research study. Safety will be monitored throughout the entire study.
Study Drug Indication:
Study Rationale:
An effective, easily administered therapy for RV infection would have the potential to reduce the serious health effects in vulnerable populations, such as those with COPD. Treatment of RV infection could reduce the severity and frequency of acute COPD exacerbations, preserve pulmonary function, prevent secondary bacterial infections, and mitigate the need for costly medical interventions, including inhaled agents, steroids, antibacterial drugs, emergency treatment, hospitalization, and mechanical ventilation. Thus, early treatment of acute COPD exacerbations related to RV infection could potentially improve both the quality of life and longevity of COPD patients.
Altesa BioSciences, Inc. is developing drugs to treat RV and other respiratory virus infections. VPV has been shown to inhibit RV in vitro and in human clinical trials. Furthermore, VPV has been administered to more than 650 study participants and has been well-tolerated. Based on its potential to prevent severe respiratory complications, Altesa BioSciences, Inc is continuing the development of this drug for the treatment of RV infection.
Study Dose justification:
Study Treatment Duration:
End of Study:
Study Centers:
Study Treatment:
Study Procedures:
Study Sample Size:
Statistical Methods:
48 studies on the registry are indexed under Enterovirus Infections; 3 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 52 is below the median of 132 across 31 interventional studies indexed under Enterovirus Infections.
Browse Enterovirus Infections studies →Altesa Biosciences, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
Compared within Enterovirus Infections, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Virus Diseases. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
If sexually active and/or of (both females and males), must agree to use a highly effective forms of ≥ 28 days prior to the first dose (females), during the study period (both males and females) and for 30 days (females) or 90 days (males) after the last dose. A woman is considered of childbearing potential (WOCBP), i.e. fertile, following menarche and until becoming unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilisation methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a postmenopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient. Highly effective contraception is defined as methods that can achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly.
Males (including those with a vasectomy): agree to use a condom and if a female partner of childbearing potential, use of at least one other contraceptive method; males must also agree not to donate sperm within 90 days after the last dose).
WOCBP participants must use at least one highly effective contraceptive method.
Birth control methods which may be considered as highly effective:
Combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation
progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants with other causes of chronic airflow limitation:
Individuals with close contact to at risk patient group, including:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
CYP3A is a group of enzymes, mainly CYP3A4, in the liver and gut that break down many medicines. Some medicines, supplements and foods (grapefruit, St John’s wort) slow them down or speed them up, which changes how much of a study drug stays in the body.
Studies list them so they can be avoided or switched; bring a list of everything you take, including supplements.
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Postmenopausal
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
FEV1
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
CYP3A (CYP3A4) inhibitors and inducers
CYP3A is a group of enzymes, mainly CYP3A4, in the liver and gut that break down many medicines. Some medicines, supplements and foods (grapefruit, St John’s wort) slow them down or speed them up, which changes how much of a study drug stays in the body.
Studies list them so they can be avoided or switched; bring a list of everything you take, including supplements.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Washout period
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
VPV will be dispensed by the study team on Day 0 at the clinical study visit at the study site. Participants will be given enough VPV for the 7-day treatment phase, (eg. Days 2 to 8). Treatment is twice daily, am and pm, 12 h apart ± 2 h. VPV micronized free base tablets (250 mg each) will be given orally beginning with a 1,000 mg loading dose (4 tablets) as soon as symptoms are present or the subject answers "yes" to "do you think you have a cold today" followed by 500 mg (2 tablets) either on the same day (eg day 2) or the next day. Treatment will therefore be for a total of 7 days consisting of an initial 1,000 mg dose (4-tablets) followed by thirteen 500mg doses (2-tablets). Treatment may occur within the home, on non-clinical study days.
Drug: Vapendavir
Placebo will be dispensed by the study team on Day 0 at the clinical visit at the study site. Participants will be given enough Placebo for the 7-day treatment phase, (eg. Days 2 to 8). Treatment is twice daily, am and pm, 12 h apart ± 2 h. Placebo tablets will be matched to the active treatment and will be administered orally for 7 days as follows: 4 tablets for the initial dose as soon as symptoms are present or the subject answers "yes" to "do you think you have a cold today" on the first day of dosing (eg. Day 2), and 2 tablets, either on the same day (eg Day 2) or the next day. Treatment will therefore be for a total of 7 days (consisting of an initial 4-tablet dose followed by thirteen 2-tablet doses). Treatment may occur within the home, on non-clinical study days.
Drug: Placebo
Participants randomized to the experimental cohort will be administered Vapendavir.
Participants randomized to the placebo cohort will be administered placebo.
Peak change from baseline
• Evaluation of the peak total lower respiratory symptom score (LRSS) in participants administered with VPV relative to/versus (vs) placebo as determined by Mallia et al (Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011) from day of treatment commencement until Day 42. This is a measure of a number of lower respiratory symptoms in a 24 hour period that include: shortness of breath (scale 0-4; 0 = not breathless, 4 = breathless at rest) wheeze (0-4; 0 = no wheeze, 4 = wheeze at rest), cough (0-3; 0 = no cough, 3 = severe cough), sputum quantity (0-3; 0 = none, 3 = large volume , more than 100 ml) sputum quality (0-3; 0 = none, 3 = purulent, green in colour). The total lower respiratory symptom score is the sum of all the above measurements (minimum 0, maximum 17) recorded on each day. These values will be recorded via a study diary over a six week period (day 0-42). Peak value is the highest daily total value over the 6 week post-infection period.
Time frame: From Baseline Visit through Follow-Up Visit, up to 7 weeks
Peak COPD Specific Respiratory Symptoms
The Exacerbations of Chronic obstructive disease Tool-Respiratory Symptoms (EXACT-RS), out of 40 and EXACT-PRO, out of 51. Each questionnaire asks questions about severity of symptoms and impact on daily tasks (reach scored 0-3 or 0-4, 0=not at all, 3 or 4=extremely.
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Peak Upper Respiratory Symptoms
Jackson Score as measured by Mallia et al (Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011). A modified Jackson score will be utilized which assesses the following eight upper respiratory symptoms daily: nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, general malaise, headache, chilliness (each scored 0-3 where 0 = none, 3 = severe). Minimum daily score= 0, maximum daily score= 24.
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Peak Overall Symptom severity
* Patient global impression of severity (PGIS) The PGIS asks one question on disease severity and is scored from 0-3 (0=none, 3=severe) * Patient global impression of change (PGIC). The PGIC asks one question on how symptoms have changed from yesterday (-3 to +3 where -3= much worse, 0=no change and +3= much better).
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Peak Virus Load as measured in RNA copies per mL
* Nasal lavage virus load * Sputum virus load
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Peak Sputum Bacterial Load
* Total 16SrRNA as measured in DNA copies per mL * Moraxella catarrhalis as measured in DNA copies per mL * Streptococcus pneumoniae as measured in DNA copies per mL * Haemophilus influenzae as measured in DNA copies per mL * Bacterial load as measured in pfu per mL by NHS microbiology culture
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Maximum Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)
* FEV1 as measured in L/second * FEV1 as measured in % predicted from L/second
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Maximum Change in Forced Vital Capacity
* Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) as measured in L * FVC as measured in % predicted from L
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Maximum Change in FEV1/FVC
FEV1/FVC ratio in L
Time frame: Day of treatment commencement to Day 42
Plan to share: No
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Studies of the drug tested here: Vapendavir
Altesa Biosciences, Inc.