ContraFect and National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC Sign Agreement to Collaborate on Universal Influenza Treatment

YONKERS, NY--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2014) - ContraFect Corporation (NASDAQ: CFRX) (NASDAQ: CFRXW) (NASDAQ: CFRXZ), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of protein therapeutics and antibody products for life-threatening, drug-resistant infectious diseases, announced today that they have entered into a collaborative research agreement with the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC ("IVDC") to advance research and development of CF-404, its Universal Influenza Treatment. 

"Working with the IVDC in China provides ContraFect access to some of the world's top experts in the field of influenza," stated Julia P. Gregory, ContraFect's chief executive officer. "As new strains of influenza often arise in China, working with the Chinese agency allows us to test our Universal Influenza Therapy, CF-404, on the relevant strains of influenza by their expert team."

"The IVDC believes it is very important to address serious or life-threatening Influenza and looks forward to working with ContraFect's new medicine to treat this global threat," commented Yuelong Shu, deputy director of the IVDC.

About CF-404

CF-404 is a therapeutic cocktail composed of three fully human monoclonal antibodies that protects animals from all strains of influenza that effect humans, including potential pandemic strains. These highly potent antibodies are effective at low doses. The goal of the CF-404 program is to create a Universal Influenza Therapy. 

About Influenza

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. According to the U.S. CDC, there may be up to 49,000 influenza-related deaths per year in the U.S.

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. Due to drug-resistant and newly emerging pathogens, hospital acquired infections are currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, following heart disease, cancer and stroke. We intend to address drug-resistant 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 (drug-resistant staphylococcus bacteria) and influenza.

About IVDC

National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (IVDC) is a historic medical virology research institute in China and committed for viral disease control and prevention. IVDC is responsible to establish and manage national wide viral diseases surveillance network, to provide scientific information and evidences for government to develop the policy and strategies and to conduct researches of diagnostics, vaccines and antiviral drugs for viral disease control and prevention.

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" or similar references to future periods. 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. 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.