- 7-year-old Josh Hardy will receive a drug his family hopes will save his life
- The family and supporters had been pushing a drug company for the medicine
- Company officials who denied their request were pressured online as word spread
- Now the company says it will start a new study and give Josh the medicine
(CNN) — After days of pleading with drug company executives, Josh Hardy’s parents got what they’d been praying for: a chance to get medicine that could help their son survive.
The Chimerix pharmaceutical company said Tuesday that the ailing 7-year-old will receive medicine that doctors hope will help him when he becomes the first patient in a new trial set to start Wednesday.
Todd Hardy, Josh’s father, said he got the call from Chimerix president Kenneth Moch about a half hour before the public announcement was made.
“It was wonderful,” Hardy said. “Truly wonderful. It was overwhelming.”
In an emotional Facebook post, mother Aimee Hardy praised the company’s decision.
“Glory to GOD!” she wrote. “They are releasing the drug for Josh!!!!!!!!!”
The company had previously denied calls from the 7-year-old’s family to give him the drug, brincidofovir, arguing that spending the time to help Josh and others like him would slow down efforts to get the drug on the market.
Josh’s story drew national attention as his parents and supporters pushed the company to change its mind in online and media campaigns.
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