Contract Awarded for Smallpox Countermeasure Drug Candidate

(CDC.gov)

Chimerix Inc., a pharmaceutical company in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, was awarded a contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop the company’s antiviral drug candidate, CMX001 as a medical countermeasure in the event of a smallpox release. The contract has a total potential value of $81 million.

CMX001 is a potential therapeutic with test results showing the ability to combat all five families of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses, including smallpox. The BARDA contract will fund expanded human safety trials and a new clinical study of CMX001 for the treatment of twelve life-threatening or serious conditions caused by dsDNA viruses.

This award is Chimerix’s first contract with BARDA. Under the contract, Chimerix will receive funding of $24.8 million during the first year with subsequent option periods that, if completed, would bring the total contract value to $81.1 million.

Read more: BARDA Awards Contract for Smallpox Antiviral Drug

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