BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. designs, optimizes, and develops small-molecule pharmaceuticals that block key enzymes involved in infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. It uses structure-based drug design, which incorporates multiple scientific disciplines, including biology, crystallography, medicinal chemistry, and computer modeling to develop new therapeutic candidates. The company has progressed two compounds into late-stage pivotal clinical trials comprising Peramivir, an anti-viral for influenza; and Forodesine, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor forcutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Peramivir is being developed under a contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Forodesine has been granted Orphan Drug status by the FDA for three indications, including T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including CTCL; CLL and related leukemias, such as T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, adult T-cell leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia; and for the treatment of B-ALL. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals is also testing BCX4208, a second generation PNP inhibitor, which is in a Phase II study for the treatment of gout. The company utilizes crystallography and structure-based drug design to discover additional compounds and to progress others through pre-clinical and early development to address the unmet medical needs of patients and physicians. It has strategic alliances with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Shionogi & Co., Ltd.; Green Cross Corporation; and Mundipharma International Holdings Limited.