Chimerix (Nasdaq: CMRX) is gearing up for the FDA- approved to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial of its possible treatment for Ebola. The company also is looking to raise $105 million.
The drug has already been administered to two Ebola patients, one of whom died. The new trial will test safety, tolerability and efficacy for Brincidofovir.
The company has already received Food and Drug Administration approval to accelerate Brincidofovir’s development as well as its use in the two Ebola patients in the U.S.
No effective treatment for Ebola exists.
On Wednesday, Chimerix disclosed plans to raise $105 million through a stock offering.
Also, the company is preparing for the Phase 2 clinical trial.
Website FiercePharma reported that Chimerix has added more details to the trial design clinicaltrials.gov.
“The trial calls for 50 patients aged 2 months to 75 years old who test positive for the lethal Ebola virus. While the online site notes that no recruiting is being done yet, Chimerix lists a company contact for the study along with plans to start off Ebola patients with a 200-mg dose of brincidofovir (CMX001), to be followed up with four 100-mg doses over the next two weeks. The study is slated to wrap up a little more than a year from now,” FiercePharma reported.
The Chimerix news came as concerns mounting about fighting the disease, which has killed more than 4,500 people.
Triangle firm BioCryst and drug giant GlaxoSmithKline also have treatments under development.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
