Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, ContraFect In Development Pact

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies and ContraFect Corp. have signed a contract to support the process development and cGMP manufacture of CF-301, ContraFect’s Staphylococcal-specific bacteriophage lysin. CF-301 is ContraFect’s lead compound with potent activity against all forms of Staph infections, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant strains (VISA/VRSA).

Fujifilm Diosynth will use its pAVEway advanced protein expression technology to establish a high productivity process and will conduct the program at its site in Billingham, UK.
 

Dr. Robert Nowinski, chief executive officer and chairman of the board at ContraFect, said, “CF-301 is a protein that differs from antibiotics and is effective against all current and potential drug-resistant Staph infections. ContraFect has now completed its laboratory research on CF-301 and has moved to pre-clinical development with an eye towards its IND submission in Q2 2012 and our first in man clinical trials later that year.”
 

“We are delighted to be selected by ContraFect for development of CF-301,” said Steve Bagshaw, managing director of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK business. “By combining the application of our pAVEway™ expression technology with our extensive knowledge and experience, we are well positioned to have a long and successful partnership between our companies. This partnership with ContraFect is very much in line with our goal to be a solutions provider to our clients.”