As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2021

Registration No. 333-                

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ContraFect Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	39-2072586
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

28 Wells Avenue, Third Floor

Yonkers, New York 10701

(914) 207-2300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Natalie Bogdanos, Esq.

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

ContraFect Corporation

28 Wells Avenue, Third Floor

Yonkers, New York 10701

(914) 207-2300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Peter N. Handrinos, Esq.

Wesley C. Holmes, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

(617) 948-6060

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective on filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.  ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to Be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)(2)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(3)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(3)	Amount of Registration Fee(3)
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share	8,819,904	$2.98	$26,283,314	$2,437

(1) Consists of 8,819,904 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase shares of common stock.

(2) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement also covers any additional number of shares of common stock issuable upon stock splits, stock dividends or other distribution, recapitalization or similar events with respect to the shares of common stock being registered pursuant to this registration statement.

(3) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based on the average of the high and low sales price per share of the registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 3, 2021.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the   Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any   jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, dated December 8, 2021.

PROSPECTUS

8,819,904 Shares of Common Stock

ContraFect Corporation is registering 8,819,904 shares of common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase its common stock that were issued on May 27, 2020 as part of our underwritten public offering completed on the same date, or the 2020 Warrants. We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of the 2020 Warrants for cash.

The common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CFRX.” On December 7, 2021, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $2.92 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2021.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE	2
THE COMPANY	4
RISK FACTORS	5
USE OF PROCEEDS	6
DILUTION	7
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	12
LEGAL MATTERS	13
EXPERTS	13

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell 8,819,904 shares of our common stock from time to time upon exercise of the 2020 Warrants as described in this prospectus. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus, all information incorporated by reference herein, as well as the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” on page 2 of this prospectus. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision. To the extent that any statement that we make in this prospectus is inconsistent with statements made in any documents incorporated by reference, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with any information that is different. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are offering the securities offered hereby only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the securities offered hereby in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities offered hereby and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate, including our general expectations and market position, market opportunity and market share, is based on information from our own management estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industry’s future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These and other important factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates.

When we refer to “ContraFect,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean ContraFect Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.

This prospectus also includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus appear without the ^® and ^™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and tradenames.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.

Our web site address is http://www.contrafect.com. The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC, but excluding any information contained therein that was furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC:

• Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021.

• The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 6, 2021.

• Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021, June  30, 2021 and September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021, August 13, 2021 and November 15, 2021, respectively.

• Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021, March 12, 2021, March  19, 2021, and May 21, 2021.

• The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on July 28, 2014 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description.

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

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You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

ContraFect Corporation

28 Wells Avenue, Third Floor

Yonkers, New York 10701

(914) 207-2300

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

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THE COMPANY

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of direct lytic agents, including lysins and amurin peptides, as new medical modalities for the treatment of life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotic-resistant infections account for 2,000,000 illnesses in the United States and 700,000 deaths worldwide each year. We intend to address antibiotic-resistant infections using product candidates from our lysin and amurin peptide platforms.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in March 2008. Our principal executive offices are located at 28 Wells Avenue, 3rd Floor, Yonkers, NY 10701, and our telephone number is (914) 207-2300.

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and any risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We are registering shares of our common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the 2020 Warrants. We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of the 2020 Warrants for cash. We intend to use the proceeds from the exercise of the 2020 Warrants for cash for general corporate and working capital purposes.

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DILUTION

If the 2020 Warrants are exercised, the interest of the holders of the 2020 Warrants will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the exercise price per share and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the exercise. The net tangible book value of our common stock as of September 30, 2021 was $53.0 million, or $1.35 per share based upon 39,332,721 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2021. Net tangible book value per share is equal to our total tangible assets, less our total liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2021.

After giving effect to the issuance of 8,819,904 shares of common stock upon exercise of the 2020 Warrants at an exercise price of $4.90 per share, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2021 would have been $96.2 million, or $2.00 per share based upon 48,152,625 shares outstanding immediately after the exercise of the 2020 Warrants as of September 30, 2021. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.65 per share to our existing holders and an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of $2.90 per share to the holders of the 2020 Warrants.

Dilution per share of common stock to new investors is determined by subtracting as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the exercise of the 2020 Warrants from the exercise price per share paid by the holders of the 2020 Warrants. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis.

Exercise price per share			$	4.90
Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2021	$	1.35
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to the exercise of the 2020 Warrants		0.65
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the exercise of the 2020 Warrants				2.00
Dilution per share to holders of the 2020 Warrants			$	2.90

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after the exercise of the 2020 Warrants is based on 39,332,721 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and excludes:

• 2,950,551 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of share options outstanding under our incentive award plans as of September 30, 2021, at a weighted average exercise price of $9.22 per share;

• 26,774 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the 2014 Plan, as of September 30, 2021, and shares of common stock that may become available pursuant to provisions in the 2014 Plan that automatically increase the share reserve under the 2014 Plan as of September 30, 2021; and

• 2,106,829 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $13.03 per share.

The foregoing table does not give effect to the exercise of any outstanding options or warrants, other than the 2020 Warrants. To the extent options are exercised, there may be further dilution to the holders of the 2020 Warrants.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (our “certificate of incorporation”), and amended and restated bylaws (our “bylaws”). The following description is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which is filed with the SEC, and applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

Our authorized capital stock consists of:

• 125,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and

• 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Common Stock

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CFRX.”

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the certificate of incorporation. An election of directors by our stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election. Subject to the exceptions provided below, other matters shall be decided by the affirmative vote of our stockholders having a majority in voting power of the votes cast by the stockholders present or represented and voting on such matter. Our certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws also provide that our directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon. Subject to the rights of holder of any series of preferred stock, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote in any annual election of directors is required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, several of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws. See below under “—Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws—Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.”

Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately all assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Other Rights. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Dividend

Holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock. We have never

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declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. We currently expect to retain all future earnings, if any, for use in the development, operation and expansion of our business. Any determination to pay cash dividends in the future will depend upon, among other things, our results of operations, plans for expansion, tax considerations, available net profits and reserves, limitations under law, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors considers to be relevant.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.

Registration Rights

The shares of common stock underlying the warrants issued in connection with our initial public offering are currently registered under a registration statement that has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to registration rights granted to the holders in accordance with the terms of the warrants.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Some provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could make the following transactions more difficult: an acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; an acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or the removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that provide for payment of a premium over the market price for our shares.

Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability of our board of directors, without action by the stockholders, to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences as designated by our board of directors could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

Stockholder Meetings. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, or by our board of directors.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.

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Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our certificate of incorporation eliminates the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.

Removal of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.

Stockholders Not Entitled to Cumulative Voting. Our certificate of incorporation does not permit stockholders to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they choose, other than any directors that holders of our preferred stock may be entitled to elect.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. Under Section 203, we would generally be prohibited from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the time that this stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:

• prior to this time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

• upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

• at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Under Section 203, a “business combination” includes:

• any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

• any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

• any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder, subject to limited exceptions;

• any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

• the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Choice of Forum. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative form, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if the Court of Chancery does

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not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, creditors or other constituents; (3) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws; (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws; or (5) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Our amended and restated bylaws also provide, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this choice of forum provision. It is possible that a court of law could rule that the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated bylaws is inapplicable or unenforceable if it is challenged in a proceeding or otherwise.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The amendment of any of the above provisions, among others and except for the above-described provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock and the provision prohibiting cumulative voting, would require approval by holders of at least 75% in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in an annual election of directors.

The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the composition of our board and management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

On May 27, 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 11,797,752 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 8,848,314 shares of our common stock. The remaining 2020 Warrants are exercisable for 8,819,904 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $4.90 per share. Holders of the 2020 Warrants may exercise such warrants upon surrender of the applicable warrant certificate on or prior to the applicable expiration date at the offices of our warrant agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us (or pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure, if applicable), for the number of warrants being exercised.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.

SEC registration fee	$	2,437
Legal fees and expenses	$	(1	)
Accounting fees and expenses	$	(1	)
Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses	$	(1	)
Transfer agent fees and expenses	$	(1	)
Miscellaneous	$	(1	)
Total	$	(1	)

(1) These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also

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empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that it will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan) (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that it will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the c to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Registrant, as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which the Court of Chancery of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, or on appeal from any such action, suit or proceeding, he or she will be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

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We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers in which we have agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, and also advance expenses as incurred, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from damage arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of our company or our subsidiaries.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.

We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on behalf of ContraFect and any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in that capacity, subject to certain exclusions and limits of the amount of coverage.

Item 16. Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ContraFect Corporation, dated August  1, 2014, and Certificate of Amendment, dated May 9, 2016, Certificate of Amendment, dated May 2, 2017, and Certificate of Amendment, dated February  3, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-36577) filed on March 18, 2020).
3.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of ContraFect Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-36577) filed on November 13, 2020).
4.1	Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Amendment No.  2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-195378) filed on July 3, 2014).
5.1	Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
23.1	Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
24.1	Powers of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto).

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from

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the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

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(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communications that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Yonkers, State of New York on December 8, 2021.

CONTRAFECT CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Roger J. Pomerantz
	Roger J. Pomerantz, M.D., F.A.C.P.
	Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned officers and directors of the registrant hereby severally constitutes and appoints Roger J. Pomerantz, Michael Messinger and Natalie Bogdanos, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement and any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE	TITLE	DATE
/s/ Roger J. Pomerantz Roger J. Pomerantz, M.D., F.A.C.P.	Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)	December 8, 2021
/s/ Michael Messinger Michael Messinger	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	December 8, 2021
/s/ Steven C. Gilman Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D.	Vice Chairman of the Board	December 8, 2021
/s/ Sol J. Barer Sol J. Barer, Ph.D.	Lead Independent Director	December 8, 2021
/s/ Lishan Aklog Lishan Aklog, M.D.	Director	December 8, 2021
/s/ Jane F. Barlow Jane F. Barlow, M.D.	Director	December 8, 2021

SIGNATURE	TITLE	DATE
/s/ David N. Low, Jr. David N. Low, Jr.	Director	December 8, 2021
/s/ Michael J. Otto Michael J. Otto, Ph.D.	Director	December 8, 2021
/s/ Cary W. Sucoff Cary W. Sucoff	Director	December 8, 2021