DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chimerix (NASDAQ:CMRX), a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that improve outcomes for immunocompromised patients, today announced the appointment of Heather Knight-Trent, PharmD, as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Knight-Trent brings more than 15 years of pharmaceutical regulatory experience to Chimerix and will be responsible for managing all U.S. and global regulatory matters for the Company, including strategy, filings and interactions with regulatory authorities.

“We are delighted to have Heather join the Chimerix team during this critical time in the Company’s growth,” said M. Michelle Berrey, MD, MPH, President and CEO of Chimerix. “Her extensive pharmaceutical regulatory experience and scientific background will be valuable as we continue to advance brincidofovir’s development and progress earlier stage molecules in our pipeline in the years ahead.”

“I am thrilled to join the Chimerix leadership team at this exciting time for the Company,” said Dr. Knight-Trent. “There is a great opportunity for brincidofovir to potentially prevent and treat a broad range of life-threatening viral infections in immunocompromised individuals, and I look forward to being part of the team committed to getting brincidofovir to patients,” said Dr. Knight-Trent.

Dr. Knight-Trent was previously executive director of regulatory affairs at Hurley Consulting Associates, where she was responsible for regulatory strategy and implementation for multiple clients. She was previously at Bristol Myers Squibb for ten years in roles both in the U.S. and Europe, most recently as the director of global regulatory, safety and biometrics business operations. In this role Dr. Knight-Trent supported the vice presidents of global regulatory strategy for all therapeutic areas on resourcing, budget, group capabilities and continuous improvement projects. She also held positions in regulatory affairs at Zymogenetics (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb) in Seattle, Washington and at Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., in Nutley, New Jersey.

Dr. Knight-Trent holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctor of pharmacy degree from West Virginia University. In 2000 and 2001, she was a Rutgers Industrial Pharmacy Post-Doctoral Fellow with Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., and FDA CDER’s oncology division. Dr. Knight-Trent is a registered pharmacist in West Virginia and she is a member of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy Leadership Council.

About Chimerix
Chimerix is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing medicines that improve outcomes for immunocompromised patients. Chimerix's proprietary lipid conjugate technology has produced brincidofovir (BCV, CMX001); CMX157, which was licensed to ContraVir Pharmaceuticals; and earlier-stage compounds. Chimerix recently announced a new clinical candidate, CMX521, for the treatment and/or prevention of norovirus. For further information, please visit Chimerix's website, www.chimerix.com.