ContraFect Announces Publication of Exebacase Data in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Journal

YONKERS, N.Y., April 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq:CFRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of biologic therapies for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, today announced that its manuscript titled “The Antistaphylococcal Lysin, CF-301, Activates Key Host Factors in Human Blood To Potentiate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriolysis” was published in the April edition of the peer-reviewed Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Journal of the American Society of Microbiology.

The manuscript highlights in vitro activity of exebacase (CF-301) in human blood versus in a conventional testing medium (cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (caMHB)), in which exebacase exhibited markedly higher potency (32 to ≥100-fold) in human blood versus caMHB in three standard microbiologic testing formats and demonstrated synergistic interaction with two key human blood factors. These results ultimately demonstrated that the unique properties of exebacase enabled bactericidal potentiation of antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Cara Cassino, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development at ContraFect and co-author of the manuscript remarked, “We are pleased to be the first to report on the unique properties of a lysin, exebacase, which activate dormant host defense factors in human blood, such as human lysozyme, to potentiate bactericidal power against MRSA. These findings may have important therapeutic implications and may underpin our recent positive topline data from the exebacase Phase 2 study which further indicate that direct lytic agents have the potential to serve as a meaningful new treatment modality in the fight against antibiotic resistance.”

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About ContraFect:

ContraFect is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing differentiated biologic therapies for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, particularly those treated in hospital settings. An estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide each year are attributed to antimicrobial-resistant infections. We intend to address life threatening infections using our therapeutic product candidates from our lysin platform and through the use of other novel agents. Lysins are a new therapeutic class of bacteriophage-derived, recombinantly produced, antimicrobial proteins with a novel mechanism of action associated with the rapid killing of target bacteria, eradication of biofilms and synergy with conventional antibiotics. We believe that the properties of our lysins will make them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus) and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (P. Aeruginosa), which can cause serious infections such as bacteremia, pneumonia and osteomyelitis. Our lead lysin candidate, exebacase (CF-301) is completing a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of Staph aureus bacteremia, including endocarditis and is the first lysin to enter clinical studies in the U.S.

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About Exebacase (CF-301):

Exebacase (CF-301) is a recombinantly-produced lysin (cell wall hydrolase enzyme) with potent bactericidal activity against Staph aureus, a major cause of blood stream infections (BSIs) also known as bacteremia. Exebacase has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for Staph aureus bacteremia. It has a novel, rapid, and specific mechanism of bactericidal action against Staph aureus. By targeting a conserved region of the cell wall that is vital to bacteria, resistance is less likely to develop to exebacase. In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that exebacase is highly active against biofilms which complicate Staph aureus infections. Exebacase was licensed from The Rockefeller University and is being developed at ContraFect.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains, and our officers and representatives may make from time to time, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “promise” or similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements regarding our ability to discover and develop differentiated biological therapies for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, statements made regarding in vitro activity of exebacase, whether exebacase demonstrates unique properties that enable bactericidal potentiation of antimicrobial activity against MRSA, whether ContraFect is the first to report on this unique property of activating dormant host defense factors in human blood to potentiate bactericidal power against MRSA, whether these findings may have important therapeutic implications and underpin the Company’s recent Phase 2 topline data, whether the Phase 2 topline data was positive, whether the manuscript findings indicate that direct lytic agents have the potential to serve as a meaningful new treatment modality in the fight against antibiotic resistance, the Company’s ability to address life threatening infections using its therapeutic product candidates from its lysin platform and through the use of other novel agents, whether lysins are a new therapeutic class of bacteriophage-derived, recombinantly produced, antimicrobial proteins with a novel mechanism of action associated with the rapid killing of target bacteria, eradication of biofilms and synergy with conventional antibiotics, whether the properties of the Company’s lysins will make them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as Staph aureus and P. aeruginosa, whether exebacase has potent bactericidal activity against Staph aureus, whether exebacase has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for Staph aureus bacteremia, whether resistance is less likely to develop against exebacase and whether exebacase is highly active against biofilms which complicate Staph aureus infections.. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on ContraFect’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond ContraFect’s control, including those detailed in ContraFect's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, our ability to develop treatments for drug-resistant infectious diseases. Any forward-looking statement made by ContraFect in this press release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law, ContraFect expressly disclaims any obligations to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contacts:

Michael Messinger

ContraFect Corporation

Tel: 914-207-2300

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Lauren Stival

Stern Investor Relations

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