Apollo Therapeutics reports positive Phase 1 results for rhinovirus vaccine

Apollo Therapeutics and Imperial College London have reported encouraging Phase 1 trial results for APL-10456, an experimental vaccine targeting the rhinovirus, the primary cause of the common cold.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 144 healthy volunteers. Data indicated that a single dose induced immune responses recognizing all three major rhinovirus species (RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C). The vaccine utilizes a conserved recombinant protein antigen and adjuvants to trigger a Th1-polarized immune response, aiming to generate T cells that recognize multiple strains.

While the results show cross-reactive immune recognition, they do not yet prove protection against infection or the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The vaccine was reported to be well-tolerated, with the most common adverse events being mild-to-moderate injection-site reactions and no serious adverse events reported.

A second part of the trial is evaluating two doses in individuals aged 55 and older, with results expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.