Illium Technologies

Ilium Technologies was a biotechnology company specializing in the development of lysins, a novel class of antimicrobial agents derived from bacteriophages. The company's platform focused on engineered enzymes that specifically target and degrade the cell walls of pathogenic bacteria, offering a potential solution to antibiotic resistance. Its lead program, which became known as exebacase (CF-301), was designed to treat systemic infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA. Founded as a spin-out from the University of Washington and based on research from the Rockefeller University, Ilium was acquired by ContraFect Corporation in 2014. Under ContraFect, the technology advanced into Phase 3 clinical trials before the parent company faced financial challenges and liquidation in late 2023.