ContraFect Announces Publication of Exebacase Data in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Journal
April 08 2019 - 7:00AM
ContraFect Corporation
(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.”
To access the latest issue of Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy, please click here.
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.
Follow ContraFect on Twitter @ContraFectCorp and
LinkedIn.
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 MessingerContraFect CorporationTel: 914-207-2300Email:
mmessinger@contrafect.com
Lauren StivalStern Investor RelationsTel: 212-362-1200Email:
lauren.stival@sternir.com
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