Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Apr. 28, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35867
Entity Registrant Name	CHIMERIX, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	33-0903395
Entity Address, Address Line One	2505 Meridian Parkway
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town	Durham
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	27713
City Area Code	919
Local Phone Number	806-1074
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	CMRX
Name of each exchange on which registered	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		88,583,567
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0001117480
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31