YONKERS: ContraFect Corp a biotechnology company based here in the city of hills has been working on therapies to combat drug-resistant infectious diseases such as the staph infection MRSA.

The US government contract provides $9.8 million in initial funding and up to an additional $77 million over time.

The government is interested in ContraFect’s ongoing studies of the drug Exebacase, which is seen as a potential  a breakthrough therapy.

ContraFect says there are an estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide each year from drug-resistant infections.

Antibiotic-resistant infections acquired in hospitals have been especially troubling.

ContraFect believes its Exebacase has the potential to become a new standard of care, compared to using antibiotics alone, for the treatment of bloodstream infections.

ContraFect about 350 patients enrolled in a randomized, double-blind clinical study of the Exebacase therapy at more than 40 sites in the U.S.

The patient criteria for inclusion in the study was broadened to include people who have been hospitalized with a Covid-19 infection confirmed by positive diagnostic testing.