Chimerix CMRX announced disappointing top-line data from the phase III SUPPRESS study on its lead candidate brincidofovir. The study, which was evaluating brincidofovir in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), did not achieve its primary endpoint of the prevention of clinically significant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection through week 24 after transplant. The stock plunged 81.4% on the news.
After HCT, fewer patients in the brincidofovir arm were seen to experience a CMV infection through week 14, consistent with the positive antiviral effect of the compound seen in the phase II study. However, between week 14 and week 24, there was an increase in CMV infections in patients receiving brincidofovir compared to the control arm. Additionally, an increase in mortality in the brincidofovir arm was observed as compared to the control arm, although the increase was not statistically significant. A full analysis of data from the SUPPRESS study is ongoing and is expected to be available in Feb 2016.
Meanwhile, the company plans to continue to evaluate brincidofovir for serious adenovirus infections and in smallpox. However, Chimerix has decided to stop further enrollment in the phase III SUSTAIN and SURPASS studies in kidney transplant recipients till the availability of complete data from the SUPPRESS study, including secondary endpoints in other viral infections. We note that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to Brincidofovir for CMV, adenovirus and smallpox.
Chimerix currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ACHN, Horizon Pharma plc HZNP and Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated CORT. All the three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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