ContraFect Appoints Michael Messinger as Chief Financial Officer

YONKERS, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq:CFRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of protein and antibody therapeutics for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, today announced the appointment of Michael Messinger as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Messinger previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Finance.

Prior to joining the Company in 2012, Mr. Messinger was Director of Finance at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for the financial management of Lexicon's partnership with Symphony Capital, in addition to fiscal coordination and project management concerning Lexicon's development programs. Before that, Mr. Messinger was Controller at Coelacanth Corporation. Previously, he was an auditor at Ernst & Young. Mr. Messinger is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Michigan.

“We are pleased to announce Mike’s promotion to Chief Financial Officer,” said Steven Gilman, Ph.D., the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Mike has made critical contributions to our corporate mission and successfully led our finance and accounting efforts over the past six years, including playing an integral role in raising over $100M to fund our important work. We look forward to his continued contributions to the progress of the Company.”

“I am honored to take on this new role at ContraFect,” said Michael Messinger, the Company's Chief Financial Officer. “The Company is developing an exciting portfolio of lysin and other therapeutics, and I am pleased to continue working alongside the rest of the executive team to lead the finance function, build value for shareholders, and support the advancement of treatments for patients suffering from life-threatening infectious diseases.”

About ContraFect:

ContraFect is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing therapeutic protein and antibody products 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 and monoclonal antibody platforms to target conserved regions of either bacteria or viruses (regions that are not prone to mutation). ContraFect's initial product candidates include new agents to treat antibiotic-resistant infections such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) and influenza. ContraFect’s lead product candidate, CF-301, is currently in 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.  ContraFect is also conducting research focused on the discovery of lysins to target Gram-negative bacteria.

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 protein and antibody therapeutics for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, whether Mr. Messinger’s contributions were critical to the corporate mission of the company, whether he played an integral role in raising $100M, whether he will contribute to the progress of the company, whether he will continue to work with the executive team to build value for the shareholders and support the advancement of treatments for patients suffering from life-threatening infectious diseases,  the Company’s ability to address life threatening infections using our therapeutic product candidates from our lysin and monoclonal antibody platforms to target conserved regions of either bacteria or viruses, whether our initial product candidates can treat antibiotic-resistant infections such as MRSA and influenza, and our ability to discover new lysins targeting Gram-negative bacteria. 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

Email:

Matthew Shinseki

Stern Investor Relations

Tel: 212-362-1200

Email: