ContraFect Corporation Hires David Huang, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer

YONKERS, NY--(Marketwire - November 15, 2011) -

ContraFect Corporation, the company that is pioneering the use of recombinant proteins for the treatment of drug-resistant bacteria, announced today that David Huang, M.D., Ph.D. has joined as its Chief Medical Officer. As CMO, Dr. Huang will be responsible for the company’s clinical strategy and the development of its lead compound, CF-301, for infections caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. CF-301 is a first-in-class drug that is expected to have a major role in the treatment of infections caused by MRSA (drug-resistant Staphylococcus).

Prior to joining ContraFect, Dr. Huang served as the Global Medical Director of Medical Affairs for Pfizer Inc., where he played a key role in the development of Zyvox for MRSA-associated infections. Previously, he was the Associate Director of Clinical Development for Boehringer Ingelheim, where he played a key role in the development of Aptivus and Viramune for HIV infections.

Robert Nowinski, CEO and Chairman of ContraFect, said, “The addition of David to our senior management is a major step for us. David has the clinical experience to take our lead product through development and to market. We anticipate our clinical testing of CF-301 to begin by mid-year 2012. "

Dr. Huang previously served as an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and currently serves as an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of New Jersey Medicine and Dentistry as well as an attending physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Manhattan. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Houston Medical School. Dr. Huang is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

“I am very excited to join ContraFect and its commitment to developing first-in-class therapies which address the increasing worldwide prevalence of virulent and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms,” remarked Dr. Huang. “CF-301 is a novel Lysin protein that has enormous potential to revolutionize the way we combat infectious diseases. We are at a time where there are fewer and fewer antibiotics to treat the drug-resistant and dangerous microbes that threaten our community.”

About ContraFect:

ContraFect Corporation is a biotechnology company pioneering the use of Lysins and Monoclonal Antibodies to treat life-threatening infectious diseases. ContraFect’s initial products include agents to treat diseases such as MRSA (drug-resistant staphylococcus bacteria), other serious bacterial infections, and influenza.

Our scientific approach is based on the following principles:

• Monoclonal Antibodies for the treatment of life-threatening bacterial and viral diseases
• Lysins for the treatment of drug-resistant gram positive bacteria, such as staphylococcus (MRSA), streptococcus and intestinal infections
• Transition from conventional monotherapy to a combinatorial approach using multi-therapy antibody and Lysin treatments
• Address the growing challenge of drug-resistance and therapy escape mechanisms used by pathogens

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein that do not describe historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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