chimerix

Over the weekend, the company presented new, re-hashed results from the SUPRESS study, suggesting that patients on brincidofovir benefited more than those receiving a placebo, and that failure to follow study protocol might be the culprit behind the disappointment in December. Essentially, doctors may have mis-diagnosed and mis-treated patients in the study who presented with diarrhea, a known side effect of brincidofovir but also a symptom of Graft-vs-Host-Disease. Chimerix believes that corticosteroids, given to treat GVHD, may have contributed to the drug’s failure. Study protocol called for interruption of the drug if diarrhea presented, and the median cumulative exposure to corticosteroids was 8-fold higher in subjects on brincivofodir than those on placebo. Steroids, not drug ineffectiveness, might be to blame for brincidofovir’s inability to reduce the risk of infection at 24 weeks


The company ended the year with just under $350 million in cash and equivalents. On Monday, the company’s market capitalization stood at $230 million.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jakeking/2016/02/22/...tech/#43b1e757254b