DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, was presented with the “2011 SEBIO Deal of the Year: Venture Capital Transaction” award during a ceremony held at the conclusion of Southeast BIO’s (SEBIO) 13th Annual Investor Forum on November 3, 2011. Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Timothy W. Trost, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, accepted the award on behalf of Chimerix.
Chimerix was recognized for having raised a $45 million venture capital financing round earlier this year. Investors in the financing, which closed in February, were Alta Partners, Asset Management Company, Canaan Partners, Frazier Healthcare Ventures, Morningside Group, New Leaf Venture Partners, Pappas Ventures, and Sanderling Ventures. Since inception, Chimerix has raised over $100 million from leading venture capital investors, in addition to $60 million in government funding. Chimerix is developing broad spectrum, oral antiviral therapies for the treatment of life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised patients, such as stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients, and as a biodefense countermeasure in the event of a smallpox release.
“Chimerix is proud to be recognized by SEBIO as a driving force in the region’s life science industry,” said Moch. “This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of Chimerix’s employees to advancing our antiviral clinical development programs.”
About Southeast BIO
Southeast BIO (SEBIO) is a regional nonprofit organization that fosters the growth of the life sciences industry in the Southeastern United States through efforts that promote entrepreneurship and bring together companies, investors, universities, and support organizations active in the development of the industry.
About Chimerix
Chimerix is developing novel antiviral therapeutics with the potential to transform patient care in multiple settings, including transplant, oncology, acute care and global health.
The company’s lead candidate, CMX001, is a broad spectrum, oral antiviral agent being tested in ongoing placebo-controlled clinical trials and in open-label treatment protocols for the prophylaxis, preemption and treatment of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses, such as herpesviruses, adenoviruses, and orthopoxviruses. To date, more than 650 patients have been dosed with CMX001 in placebo-controlled clinical trials and open-label treatment protocols, including over 350 individuals who have received CMX001 under Emergency Investigational New Drug Applications (EINDs) or as part of the CMX001-350 Open-Label Study to help treat life-threatening dsDNA viral diseases for which there are no other therapeutic options.
Clinical studies of CMX001 include an ongoing Phase 2 study of the prevention/control of CMV in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (CMX001-201); a Phase 2 study for the treatment of adenovirus infection in pediatric and adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (AdV HALT Trial/CMX001-202); and an Open-Label Study (CMX001-350) for the treatment of dsDNA viral infections. The Open-Label Study builds on Chimerix’s extensive experience working with over 150 clinicians at over 80 leading institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel who have sought CMX001 under EINDs for the treatment of immunocompromised patients.
CMX001 is also being developed as a medical countermeasure in the event of a smallpox release, including the potential to provide an important therapeutic option for the 80 million people in the U.S. currently estimated to be immunocompromised and thus not candidates to receive a smallpox vaccine. Chimerix has received federal funding for the development of CMX001 as a medical countermeasure against smallpox from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under Grant No. U01-A1057233 and from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSO100201100013C.
Chimerix’s second clinical-stage antiviral compound CMX157, a potent nucleoside analogue with in vitro activity against HIV and hepatitis B (HBV), has the potential to directly address several limitations of current HIV therapies. Chimerix is developing CMX157 for the treatment of HIV and HBV infections, including those caused by multi-drug resistant viruses. A Phase 1 clinical study has been completed demonstrating that the compound is well tolerated and that the active antiviral, TFV-PP, was measurable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after a single dose and remained detectable for six days, indicating that it may be suitable for once-weekly dosing.
Led by a world-class antiviral drug development team, Chimerix is also leveraging the company’s extensive chemical library to pursue new treatments for hepatitis C virus, influenza, malaria and other global public health needs. For additional information on Chimerix, please visit http://www.chimerix.com.
SOURCE Chimerix, Inc.
