YONKERS, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 modalities for the treatment of life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced that the Company has been selected to give a Late Breaker oral presentation on the reduction in health resource utilization among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) patients treated with exebacase in the recently completed Phase 2 study of exebacase at ID Week 2019, October 2-6, in Washington, DC. The company will also present the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Staph aureus isolates from the Phase 2 clinical study, as well as the results of several preclinical efficacy studies, which further advance the understanding of activity of exebacase against biofilms and in infective endocarditis.
The oral presentation will be given by Cara Cassino, MD, ContraFect’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development, who will discuss the reductions in hospital length of stay and 30-day hospital readmission rates among U.S. patients with MRSA bacteremia including endocarditis who were treated with exebacase, compared to those who received antibiotics alone in the Phase 2 trial of exebacase. The Company will also present data on the activity of exebacase against Staph aureus isolates from patients enrolled in the Phase 2 trial. Additionally, the Company will present data on the impact of dosing strategies in administering exebacase with daptomycin in the rabbit model of infective endocarditis, the activity of exebacase against biofilms formed on orthopedic Kirschner wires and the exebacase pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship in pre-clinical models.
Presentation Details:
Oral Presentation Title: Exebacase (EXE) Reduced Length of Stay and 30-Day Readmission Rates for US Patients with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bacteremia Including Endocarditis Compared to Standard of Care Antibiotics (SoC) Alone in a Phase 2 Study
Session Title: Late Breaker Oral Abstracts 1
Abstract Number: 725443
Room: 209 AB
Time and Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019, 2:05 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET
Presentation Title: Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) Activity Against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) Isolates from Bacteremic Patients Enrolled in a Phase 2 Study (CF-301-102)
Session Title: Novel Antimicrobials and Approaches Against Resistant Bugs
Abstract Number: 711
Room: Exhibit Hall BC
Time and Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019, 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Presentation Title: Activity of Exebacase (CF-301) Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Biofilms on Orthopedic Kirschner Wires
Session Title: Novel Antimicrobials and Approaches Against Resistant Bugs
Abstract Number: 712
Room: Exhibit Hall BC
Time and Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019, 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Presentation Title: Impact of Dose-Administration Strategies of the Antistaphylococcal Lysin Exebacase, (CF-301), in Addition to Daptomycin (DAP) in an Experimental Infective Endocarditis (IE) Model due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Session Title: Novel Antimicrobials and Approaches Against Resistant Bugs
Abstract Number: 671
Room: Exhibit Hall BC
Time and Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019, 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Presentation Title: PK-PD Relationship and PK Driver of Efficacy of the Novel Antibacterial Lysin Exebacase (CF-301) in Pre-Clinical Models
Session Title: PK/PD and Susceptibility Testing
Abstract Number: 1550
Room: Exhibit Hall BC
Time and Date: Friday, October 4, 2019, 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
The abstracts can be accessed through the IDWeek website. Following the meeting, the presentation posters will be available on the ContraFect website.
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 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 new 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 (CF-301), which 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. 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. We have completed a Phase 2 superiority design clinical study with exebacase which evaluated its safety, tolerability, efficacy and PK when used in addition to standard-of-care (SOC) antibiotics for the treatment of Staph aureus bacteremia, including endocarditis, in adult patients. In a pre-specified analysis of MRSA-infected patients, the clinical responder rate at day 14 in patients treated with exebacase was 42.8% higher than the clinical responder rate in patients treated with SOC antibiotics alone (74.1% for patients treated with exebacase compared to 31.3% for patients treated with SOC antibiotics alone (p=0.010)). Additionally, among US MRSA patients discharged alive from the hospital, the median length of stay was reduced by four days and the 30-day all cause readmission rate was reduced to 16.0% from 30.8% in patients treated with exebacase. We believe exebacase has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for Staph aureus bacteremia. 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 planned presentations, the Company’s ability to discover and develop DLAs as new modalities for the treatment of life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections, the Company’s ability to address life threatening infections using its therapeutic product candidates from 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 exhibit broad-spectrum activity against a wide range of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, whether the properties of the Company’s lysins and amurins will make them suitable for targeting antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as Staph aureus and P. aeruginosa, the potential for exebacase to be a first-in-class treatment for Staph aureus bacteremia, statements made regarding exebacase and Phase 2 study results. 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 Messinger
ContraFect Corporation
Tel: 914-207-2300
Email: mmessinger@contrafect.com
Lauren Stival
Stern Investor Relations
Tel: 212-362-1200
Email: lauren.stival@sternir.com