BioCryst Gets Additional Funding For Non-Human Primate Study Of BCX4430 In Ebola

(RTTNews) - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) Friday said the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or NIAID has awarded a contract modification for an additional $2.4 million to the firm to conduct a dose ranging efficacy study of an intramuscular formulation of BCX4430 in non-human primates as a treatment for Ebola virus disease.

The study is expected to be initiated within weeks.

"The successful completion of an efficacy study in an experimental Ebola virus disease model in non-human primates represents an important next step towards understanding the potential of BCX4430 as a treatment for Ebola disease in humans," the firm said.

NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, granted a contract to BioCryst in September 2013 valued up to $22.0 million over five years.

With this additional award, the BCX4430 development contract has been increased in value to $24.4 million, if all options are exercised.

BCRX, which closed at $13.21 on Thursday, is up 5 percent in pre-market activity.