Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Awards Contract Worth Up to $67 Million for the Development of a Novel TetraPhase Pharmaceuticals Antibiotic

WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage life science company developing a portfolio of potent new antibiotics designed to be effective against dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens, today announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded a contract worth up to $67 million for the development of TP-434, a potent new antibiotic effective against multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens and the lead product candidate in Tetraphase's clinical pipeline. Tetraphase will be working on this contract with Buffalo, NY-based CUBRC, Inc.

“BARDA’s award covering the development of TP-434 brings the total federal funding in support of the development of Tetraphase’s antibiotics to more than $100 million,” said Guy Macdonald, president and chief executive officer of Tetraphase. “Tetraphase and CUBRC are proud to play an important role in addressing the global concerns of bioterrorism and antibiotic resistance via the development of potential solutions to these growing threats to human health.”

The BARDA contract includes pre-clinical efficacy and toxicology studies; clinical studies; manufacturing activities; and associated regulatory activities to position the broad-spectrum antibiotic TP-434 as a potential empiric countermeasure for the treatment of inhalational disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis. In parallel, TP-434 is being developed as a potential therapeutic agent for serious hospital infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant aerobic and/or anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens.

The contract includes a 12-month base period with committed funding of $11.5 million and subsequent option periods that, if completed, would bring the total value of the award to approximately $67 million.

About TP-434

TP-434, the lead product candidate in Tetraphase's clinical pipeline, is a potent new antibiotic effective against multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. TP-434 is also effective against a broad spectrum of other difficult-to-treat and MDR pathogens, including gram-positive bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), anaerobic species like Clostridium difficile, and atypical species like Legionella that grow inside human cells. TP-434's spectrum and pharmacokinetic properties are consistent with its use as a once-daily monotherapy. Preliminary phase 1 data have shown that TP-434 also has the potential to be developed as an oral therapy. TP-434 I.V. is currently in phase 2 clinical development for cIAI, complicated intra-abdominal infections.

About Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing its breakthrough synthetic chemistry technology platform to discover and develop next-generation tetracycline antibiotics that address unmet needs such as the treatment of serious drug-resistant and gram-negative infections. The company has developed an emerging pipeline of potent novel antibiotics that provide a portfolio of intravenous and oral drug candidates with the potential to treat a wide range of infections, including broad-spectrum and selective-spectrum infections. To learn more about Tetraphase, please visit www.tphase.com.

About CUBRC

CUBRC is an independent not-for-profit scientific corporation that executes Research, Development, Testing and Systems Integration programs in Medical Sciences, Chemical and Biological Defense, Public Safety and Infrastructure, Information Fusion, Command and Control, and Hypersonics. To learn more about CUBRC, please visit www.cubrc.org.

Contacts

Sam Brown Inc.

Mike Beyer, 773-463-4211

beyer@sambrown.com

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