Chimerix Appoints Thomas Pitler, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Development

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, announced today that Thomas A. Pitler, Ph.D., has joined the company as Vice President, Business Development.

Dr. Pitler brings to Chimerix more than 25 years of experience, combining skills in business development and strategic planning with a strong scientific and financial background.  Dr. Pitler has overall responsibility for the business development activities at Chimerix, advancing and leveraging the company's deep pipeline of proprietary oral antiviral therapeutics in its transition to a development-stage company.  In this newly-created position, Dr. Pitler reports directly to Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Tom brings to Chimerix the notable combination of industry deal-making with operations and research experience," said Mr. Moch.  "Tom is uniquely qualified to expand Chimerix's strategic alliances and opportunities to develop significant value from Chimerix's extraordinary pipeline of therapeutics against a range of challenging viral diseases.  We look forward to working with him."

Prior to joining Chimerix, Dr. Pitler was Senior Vice President, Chief Business and Financial Officer at Neurogen, Inc., which was recently acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals.   He joined Neurogen in 1995 as a scientist in research and development.  In 1999, he became head of business development, subsequently moving into business and corporate development positions of increasing responsibility.  While at Neurogen, Dr. Pitler was responsible for the in-licensing of a Phase II clinical-stage compound from Wyeth, and led multi-million dollar out-licensing and technology deals with several international pharmaceutical companies.  Before joining Neurogen, Dr. Pitler was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and held other academic positions.  He received a B.A. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Wake Forest University.   

About Chimerix

Chimerix is developing antiviral therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases.  Led by a world-class antiviral drug development team, Chimerix is advancing programs to address cytomegalovirus (CMV), BK virus, adenovirus, smallpox, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.  The company's lead compound, CMX001, is in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies for the treatment of BK virus and CMV, potentially deadly infections among immunocompromised patients.  CMX001 is also being developed as a biodefense countermeasure in the event of a smallpox release.  CMX157, a late-stage preclinical candidate, is a new chemical entity created by applying Chimerix's PIM (Phospholipid Intramembrane Microfluidization) Conjugate Technology to chemically modify tenofovir, an approved HIV drug.  CMX157 is being developed as a potential once-weekly nucleoside analogue against HIV infections.  Building on the company's extensive chemical library, Chimerix is also pursuing translational medicine efforts to address malaria, dengue fever and other public health needs.  Chimerix has received financing from leading venture capital firms, including Sanderling Ventures, Canaan Partners, Alta Partners, Asset Management Company and Frazier Healthcare Ventures, as well as significant funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  Additional information about Chimerix and its antiviral drug development programs may be found online at http://www.chimerix.com.

SOURCE Chimerix, Inc.