Altesa BioSciences, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to preventing and treating rhinovirus infections, one of the leading causes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma exacerbations, announced a partnership with bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, to utilize the BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® respiratory solution as its core point-of-care diagnostics platform at U.S. sites for Altesa's upcoming Phase 2B clinical trial.

The trial will be a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the safety and efficacy of vapendavir – a direct-acting antiviral medicine – to treat rhinovirus infections in patients with COPD. Rhinovirus infections are responsible for approximately half of acute exacerbations of COPD, and it is hypothesised that early treatment of rhinovirus infections may prevent respiratory complications and improve recovery time. The study will recruit 600 participants with GOLD stage II, III and IV COPD. 

At U.S. sites, participants who begin experiencing cold-like symptoms will visit their assigned study site to have the suspected rhinovirus infection diagnosed by the BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® Respiratory/Sore Throat (R/ST) Panel Mini. As of now, bioMérieux is the only provider of CLIA-waived POC molecular panel including rhinovirus. 

From a single patient sample, the panel will indicate whether the patient's signs and symptoms are the result of an infection with Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Human Rhinovirus, Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus, and/or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) within about 15 minutes so that randomisation and treatment can promptly begin.

"This is the first time the BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® respiratory solution has been used in such a clinical trial," said John Osiecki, Ph.D, Vice President, Medical Affairs North America, bioMérieux, "and we appreciate Altesa's vision in seeking faster evidence to inform clinical decisions."