ContraFect Announces Publication of Paper on Recent Exebacase Data in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Journal
May 31 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 an article titled “Postantibiotic and Sub-MIC
Effects of Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) Enhance Antimicrobial Activity
against Staphylococcus aureus” will be published in the June
edition of the peer-reviewed Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Journal of the American Society of Microbiology. 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.
The paper describes a series of in vitro studies
of pharmacodynamic parameters of exebacase against Staph aureus,
including the postantibiotic effect (PAE), postantibiotic
sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) effect (PA-SME), and
sub-MIC effect (SME). The study examined how sub-MIC exebacase
exposures affect bacterial growth and extend its antimicrobial
activity against 14 different Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus)
strains tested in human serum. The findings demonstrated that
sub-MIC exposures to exebacase resulted in aberrant changes in
bacterial cell wall structure and inhibition of virulence
phenotypes, including biofilm formation. In an animal model of
Staph aureus infection, PAE resulted in bacterial growth delays of
19 hours and extended growth delays by 6 hours in the presence of
daptomycin. These data suggest that sub-MIC concentrations of
exebacase during therapeutic use in addition to standard of care
(SOC) antibiotics, may contribute to efficacy via sustained
reductions in bacterial fitness and virulence.
“We are pleased to report on these important new
observations of the sustained antimicrobial activity of exebacase
at sub-MIC concentrations which further underpins the efficacy of
exebacase observed in the Phase 2 superiority design study in
patients with Staph aureus bacteremia including endocarditis. Data
from this study demonstrated that the addition of exebacase to SOC
antibiotics has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for
patients with Staph aureus BSIs, particularly for those with
methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA), where we saw a 43%
higher responder rate in patients treated with exebacase compared
to those treated with antibiotics alone,” said Cara Cassino, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and
Development at ContraFect. “We look forward to meeting with the FDA
to discuss the results of the exebacase Phase 2 study and our plans
for Phase 3, which include focusing on patients with MRSA
bacteremia including right sided endocarditis. These are some of
the most difficult to treat Staph infections and we believe
exebacase has the potential to be the first-in-class new treatment
modality for these patients.”
To access the article abstract and latest electronic 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 platform of direct
lytic agents (DLAs), which include lysins and amurin peptides.
Lysins are a new therapeutic class of DLAs derived from
bacteriophage which are 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 Staph aureus and
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (P. Aeruginosa), which can cause serious
infections such as bacteremia, pneumonia and osteomyelitis. We have
clinically completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of
Staph aureus bacteremia, including endocarditis with our lead lysin
candidate, exebacase (CF-301) which 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 the Company’s
ability to discover and develop differentiated biological therapies
for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, whether
exebacase has potent bactericidal activity against Staph aureus,
statements made regarding in vitro studies of pharmacodynamic
parameters of exebacase against Staph aureus, whether sub-MIC
concentrations of exebacase during therapeutic use in addition to
SOC antibiotics may contribute to efficacy via sustained reductions
in bacterial fitness and virulence, whether the sustained
antimicrobial activity of exebacase at sub-MIC concentrations
further underpins the efficacy of exebacase observed in the Phase 2
superiority design study in patients with Staph aureus bacteremia
including endocarditis, whether data from the Phase 2 study
demonstrated that the addition of exebacase to SOC
antibiotics has the potential to improve clinical outcomes
for patients with Staph aureus BSIs, particularly for
those with MRSA, statements made regarding the FDA and plans for
Phase 3, whether exebacase has the potential to be the
first-in-class new treatment modality for patients with MRSA
bacteremia including endocarditis, the Company’s ability to
address life threatening infections using its therapeutic product
candidates from its DLA platform which includes lysins and amurins
and 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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