ContraFect Corporation
(Nasdaq:CFRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company focused on the discovery and development of direct lytic
agents (DLAs), including lysins and amurin peptides, as new medical
modalities for the treatment of life-threatening,
antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced that it has
entered into an initial funding agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation to investigate the potential utility of DLAs against
resistant Gram-negative pathogens which afflict Cystic Fibrosis
(CF) patients. The first stage of the agreement will profile
funding for the in vitro activity of ContraFect’s next product
candidate, CF-370, an engineered lysin targeting Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, and amurin peptides, against bacterial specimens
obtained from CF patients at different stages of disease. With
supportive data, ContraFect plans to evaluate future clinical
development of CF-370 and/or amurin peptides as therapeutic
candidates for the treatment of exacerbations in CF lung disease.
“We are thrilled to announce this agreement with
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to examine our DLAs as novel
potential therapeutic modalities for CF lung infections.
Individuals living with CF are frequently burdened with
life-threatening lung infections resulting from highly
drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including but not
limited to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and there is an urgent need for
new treatment approaches. We believe that our DLA approach has
promise to address these infections and provide meaningful
therapeutic benefit to these patients,” said Cara Cassino, M.D.,
Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief
Medical Officer of ContraFect. “The opportunity to develop DLAs in
CF highlights the broad therapeutic potential of our novel
approach, as we continue to identify and evaluate additional new
target diseases.”
Pathogenic bacteria are known to be a major
contributor to CF disease. The lungs of CF patients are typically
colonized with pathogenic bacteria, that damage the epithelial
surfaces and lead to the growth of highly resistant Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, which is associated with further epithelial surface
damage, and an overall decline in pulmonary function. Chronic lung
infections are known to be a main cause of lung function
deterioration and ultimately mortality in CF patients. Therefore,
there is strong rationale supporting the development of novel
therapeutics targeting the specific pathogens associated with this
disease.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will provide
ContraFect with financial support for research activities. Further
financial details were not provided. ContraFect retains global
rights for CF-370 and its entire DLA therapeutic pipeline.
About Cystic Fibrosis:
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a rare, life-shortening
genetic disease affecting approximately 75,000 people worldwide. CF
is a progressive, multi-system disease that affects the lungs,
liver, GI tract, sinuses, sweat glands, pancreas and reproductive
tract. People with CF who have chronic infections are at greater
risk for worsening lung disease, and infection remains a top
concern of both patients and clinicians. Many individuals also
suffer severe side effects from long-term antibiotic use, such as
hearing loss, and are at increased risk of developing
antibiotic-resistant infections.
About ContraFect:
ContraFect is a biotechnology company focused on
the discovery and development of direct lytic agents (DLAs),
including lysins and amurin peptides, as new medical modalities for
the treatment of life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections.
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 DLAs, which include lysins and amurin
peptides. Lysins are a new class of DLAs 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. Amurin
peptides are a novel class of DLAs which exhibit broad-spectrum
activity against a wide range of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative
pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa),
Acinetobacter baumannii, and Enterobacter species. We believe that
the properties of our lysins and amurin peptides will make them
suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as
methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) and P. aeruginosa, which
can cause serious infections such as bacteremia, pneumonia and
osteomyelitis. We have completed a Phase 2 clinical trial for the
treatment of Staph aureus bacteremia, including endocarditis, with
our lead lysin candidate, exebacase, which is the first lysin to
enter clinical studies in the U.S. Exebacase, currently being
studied in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study, was granted
Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of
MRSA bloodstream infections (bacteremia), including right-sided
endocarditis, when used in addition to standard-of-care
anti-staphylococcal antibiotics in adult patients.
Follow ContraFect on Twitter @ContraFectCorp and LinkedIn.
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 funding agreement
between ContraFect and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, whether DLAs
can address lung infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram
negative bacterial pathogens in Cystic Fibrosis, ContraFect’s
ability to discover and develop DLAs as new medical modalities for
the treatment of life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections,
whether the first stage of the funding agreement will profile in
vitro activity of CF-370 against bacterial specimens obtained from
CF patients, whether ContraFect will be able to evaluate future
clinical development of CF-370 and/or amurin peptides as
therapeutic candidates for the treatment of exacerbations in CF
lung disease, statements made by Dr. Cassino, whether ContraFect
receives financial support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for
research activities, ContraFect’s ability to address
life-threatening infections using its DLA platform, whether lysins
are a new class of DLAs 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, whether amurins are a
novel class of DLAs which exhibit broad-spectrum activity against a
wide range of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, and
whether the properties of ContraFect’s lysins and amurins will make
them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as
MRSA and P. aeruginosa. 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 under the caption “Risk Factors”
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
Carlo Tanzi, Ph.D.Kendall Investor RelationsTel:
617-914-0008Email: ctanzi@kendallir.com
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