RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:BCRX) today announced results from a proof-of-concept study of its broad spectrum antiviral BCX4430 for the treatment of experimental Ebola virus infection in rhesus macaques, conducted at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

The primary goal of the study was to assess the effect of BCX4430 treatment on survival through Day 41 in animals infected with Ebola virus. Dosing of placebo or BCX4430 by intramuscular (i.m.) injection was initiated 30-120 minutes after virus challenge and continued twice a day (BID) for 14 days.

Animals were dosed with either placebo, 16 mg/kg of BCX4430 BID or 25 mg/kg of BCX4430 BID. Survival at day 41 in the 16 mg/kg group of BCX4430 treated animals was 4 of 6 (66.7%, p<0.001 compared to 0% survival in controls) and 6 of 6 in the 25 mg/kg treated group (100%, p<0.001 compared to controls). The overall survival rate for BCX4430 treated animals at day 41 was 10 of 12 (83%, p<0.001 compared to controls). Preliminary evaluation of the quantity of virus in the blood showed an approximate 3-log reduction in Ebola virus RNA copies/mL of plasma, compared with control animals.

"These results provide important evidence of BCX4430's potential as a treatment for Ebola virus disease," said Dr. William P. Sheridan, Chief Medical Officer at BioCryst. "We look forward to completing the ongoing Phase 1 clinical safety trial of BCX4430 in healthy volunteers and working with our U.S. Government partners in continuing the nonclinical and clinical development of this potential antiviral medical countermeasure."

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding this project under Contract No. HHSN272201300017C.

About BCX4430

BCX4430 is an RNA dependent-RNA polymerase inhibitor that has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity in vitro against more than 20 RNA viruses in nine different families, including filoviruses, togaviruses, bunyaviruses, arenaviruses, paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses and flaviviruses. BioCryst is developing BCX4430 in collaboration with U.S. Government Agencies.

About USAMRIID

USAMRIID's mission is to provide leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological threat agents. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions-vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information-that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute, located at Fort Detrick, Md., is the only Department of Defense laboratory equipped to safely study highly hazardous viruses, including Ebola, at Biosafety Level 4 (maximum containment). USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

The information contained in this press release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred.

About BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals designs, optimizes and develops novel small molecule drugs that block key enzymes involved in rare diseases. BioCryst currently has several ongoing development programs: oral inhibitors of plasma kallikrein for hereditary angioedema, including BCX4161 and several second generation compounds; RAPIVABTM (peramivir injection), a viral neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment of influenza, and BCX4430, a broad spectrum viral RNA polymerase inhibitor. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.BioCryst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future results, performance or achievements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause BioCryst's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein include: that the Company or its licensees may not commence as expected additional pre-clinical studies or human clinical trials; that the planned studies may not be successful or may not be successfully completed; that the FDA may require additional studies beyond those planned for BCX4430, or may not provide regulatory clearances which may result in delay of planned clinical trials, or may impose a clinical hold on BCX4430, or withhold market approval for BCX4430; that the Company may not be able to obtain additional funding for BCX4430 development; that government funding or other contracts for BCX4430 may have certain terms and conditions, including termination provisions, that subject the Company to additional risks; that the Company may lose current funding for the program. Please refer to the documents BioCryst files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically BioCryst's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, all of which identify important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in BioCryst's projections and forward-looking statements.

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Robert Bennett, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, +1-919-859-7910