Chimerix, a Durham, N.C., biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral antivirals, has been awarded a $17 million 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.

Chimerix received the initial award in February 2011, which supported early R&D of brincidofovir in animal models of smallpox. This contract extension provides an additional $17 million to Chimerix for 15 months, and will support phase III trials expected to initiate in the second half of 2014.

M. Michelle Berrey, M.D., MPH, president, CEO and chief managing officer of Chimerix, said, "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.