DURHAM, N.C. – Biopharmaceutical company Chimerix, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMRX) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Michelle Berrey as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, succeeding Kenneth Moch, who is resigning to pursue other interests.

The company said Berrey will also continue to serve as its Chief Medical Officer.

Before joining Chimerix, Berrey was Chief Medical Officer at Pharmasset, Inc., a company that focused on the development of nucleotide analogs for the treatment of hepatitis C, from 2007 until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences, Inc. in January 2012.

Chimerix, which is based in Research Triangle Park, gained attention recently with its experimental anti-viral drug that could help save 7-year-old Virgina boy’s life. Josh Hardy’s heart and kidneys were failing due to an adenovirus infection. Chimerix’s drug was not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration because it was in the final stages of clinical trials. But the company and agency were able to reach an agreement to provide Hardy with the drug after an extensive public campaign waged by Josh’s family.

Company officials did not give any additional details about the CEO change.