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February 6, 2012

North Carolina biotechnology company Chimerix reported positive phase 2 results for a broad spectrum antiviral agent expected to have applications fighting infections faced by bone marrow transplant patients.

Chimerix now plans to start phase 3 clinical trials on CMX001 later this year. The company is studying the compound for the prevention of cytomegalovirus diseases, or CMV, in patients who have had hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Durham, North Carolina-based Chimerix said that compared to a placebo, CMX001 had a statistically significant benefit in preventing CMV from entering the bloodstream or from causing CMV disease 13 weeks after a transplant. The data were presented at a blood and marrow transplant conference in San Diego last Friday.

CMV is a member of the herpesvirus group of viruses; like other herpesviruses CMV has the ability to remain dormant in the body for long periods of time. The virus can lead to serious disease and even death in transplant recipients, cancer patients and others who have compromised immune systems.