VirTus Respiratory Research Supports Development of Apollo Therapeutics’ APL-10456 from Preclinical Proof of Concept to Positive Phase 1 Data

VirTus Respiratory Research Supports Development of Apollo Therapeutics’ APL-10456 from Preclinical Proof of Concept to Positive Phase 1 Data

VirTus Respiratory Research Ltd, a specialist respiratory contract research organisation (CRO), founded by Imperial College London investigators Professor Sebastian Johnston and Dr Michael Edwards, today highlighted its role in the preclinical development of Apollo Therapeutics’ and Imperial’s APL-10456, following the announcement of positive initial data from the vaccine’s Phase 1 clinical trial.

VirTus has worked on the APL-10456 programme for more than five years, conducting more than 20 preclinical studies to support the selection, development and progression of the candidate, testing the cross-species immunogenicity and efficacy. This work included evaluating the efficacy of several vaccine candidates in mouse models of rhinovirus infection, helping to select APL-10456 and establish early proof of concept and generating preclinical evidence that informed its progression into first-in-human clinical development.

APL-10456 is a first-in-class, adjuvanted recombinant protein subunit vaccine designed to prevent rhinovirus-driven exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Developing a broadly protective rhinovirus vaccine has historically been challenging because of the approximately 180 genetically distinct rhinovirus strains across three species – RV-A, RV-B and RV-C.