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news.Chimerix, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral antivirals, has announced an award of $17m through the extension of its contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development of its broad spectrum antiviral brincidofovir (BCV, CMX001) as a medical countermeasure to treat smallpox.
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Chimerix received the initial award in February 2011 which supported early research and development of brincidofovir in animal models of smallpox (Contract Number HHSO100201100013C). This contract extension provides an additional $17.0 million to Chimerix for a period of 15 months, and will support Phase 3 trials expected to initiate in the second half of 2014.
M. Michelle Berrey, MD, MPH, President, CEO and CMO of Chimerix, said, "We are pleased to announce the continued development of brincidofovir with our partners at BARDA.
If positive, data from these animal studies will support Chimerix’s regulatory submission for brincidofovir for the treatment of smallpox, which could potentially allow brincidofovir to become the first medicine approved in this area of high unmet need.
This work complements the ongoing brincidofovir clinical programs for prevention of CMV infection in transplant recipients in the SUPPRESS trial and for the treatment of life-threatening adenovirus infection through the AdVise trial, both of which also represent areas where new antiviral therapies are needed."
Chimerix’s brincidofovir (BCV, CMX001) is an oral antiviral with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against all five families of DNA viruses including orthopoxviruses, the family of viruses which includes smallpox.
Brincidofovir has demonstrated efficacy in animal models of orthopox virus disease, which was a requirement for approval of the current contract extension. Brincidofovir has received fast track designation for smallpox, CMV, and adenovirus infections.
This contract extension with BARDA supports research and development of brincidofovir as a treatment for smallpox infections, but does not include a purchase option for the Strategic National Stockpile.