RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally available, targeted medicines to treat smallpox infection and other viral infections, announced today support for S. 1873, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, authored by Senator Richard Burr, passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and recently sent to the full Senate.
The bipartisan legislation will provide the Department of Health and Human Services with the necessary resources and authority to rapidly develop drugs and vaccines to prepare and respond to bioterrorism and natural disease outbreaks. Under the bill, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency will be established and tasked with accelerating innovative medical countermeasures through direct investment and partnering with the private and academic sectors.
“A large financial gap still remains between innovation and approval of a bioterrorism countermeasure. Additionally, once agents are developed, the lack of a clear path to counterterrorism agent procurement has impeded the biodefense effort,” said George Painter, Ph.D., President and CEO of Chimerix. “Many private biotechnology companies are leading bioterrorism countermeasure innovation despite an uncertain financial environment. This bipartisan bill will be integral to ensuring that private innovation continues by providing resources and direction to improve the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to bioterrorism threats.”
Chimerix is currently developing CMX001, an orally available therapeutic for the treatment of smallpox and complications from the smallpox vaccine. Smallpox holds the potential to be a devastating bioterrorism threat and vaccination is not an option for those individuals with compromised immune systems or skin disorders. CMX001 offers the promise of an orally available treatment option for infected individuals and of a prophylactic for worldwide use to prevent smallpox infection.
About Chimerix
Chimerix Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company creating and developing orally available medicines from bioactive molecules. Application of Chimerix’s proprietary technology enhances oral availability, stabilizes drug in plasma, and facilitates the delivery of drugs into targeted tissues. Known drugs can be modified to improve dosing parameters, broaden therapeutic applications and decrease the risk of adverse reactions. Chimerix is applying its technology towards discovery and development of oral drugs for the treatment of smallpox, cytomegalovirus infection, drug-resistant HIV infection and viral hepatitis. Chimerix was founded in 2002 and is located in Research Triangle Park, NC.
Chimerix, Inc.
CONTACT: Amy Beltran, Ph.D. of Atkins + Associates, +1-858-527-3489,abeltran@irpr.com, for Chimerix, Inc.
