Altesa BioSciences closed a $75 million Series B to advance vapendavir, an oral antiviral targeting rhinoviruses, into larger clinical testing for respiratory disease and COPD exacerbation prevention. Former FDA official Brett Giroir, now Altesa CEO, led the financing round with institutional backers including Forbion and Sanofi. The company plans a placebo‑controlled mid‑stage trial to test vapendavir’s ability to reduce severe respiratory exacerbations. Investors and clinical partners noted the potential to address an unmet need in virus‑triggered COPD morbidity; Altesa said it will leverage prior challenge‑study data and academic collaborations to design the pivotal program.