Synthetic Biologics' SYN-004 Microbiome-Protecting Preclinical Data Highlighted in Late-Breaking Poster at Digestive Disease Week® 2015

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutics to protect the microbiome while targeting pathogen-specific diseases, presented preclinical results in a late-breaking poster at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2015 in Washington, DC today. The research supports the development of SYN-004, the Company's candidate therapy designed to degrade certain intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome for the prevention of C. difficile infection and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). Beta-lactam antibiotics are a mainstay in hospital infection management, and include commonly used penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone.

The "SYN-004, a Clinical Stage Oral Beta-Lactamase Therapy, Protects the Intestinal Microflora from Antibiotic-Mediated Damage in Humanized Pigs" poster summarized preclinical efficacy data that support the ability of SYN-004 to degrade certain beta-lactam antibiotics in the GI tract, with the following conclusions:

• In fistulated dogs, oral delivery of SYN-004 resulted in efficient degradation of ceftriaxone in the GI tract, and
• In humanized pigs, SYN-004 protected the intestinal microflora from ceftriaxone and maintained the natural balance of the microbiome.

"The data suggest that SYN-004 has the potential to protect the human microbiome and to become the first prophylactic therapy designed to prevent antibiotic-mediated microbiome damage, including C. difficile infection, in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics," stated Michael Kaleko, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research & Development of Synthetic Biologics.

"These findings support our ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial that is evaluating the ability of two different dose strengths of SYN-004 to degrade residual IV ceftriaxone in the GI tract of up to 20 healthy participants with functioning ileostomies, without affecting the concentrations of IV ceftriaxone in the bloodstream," noted Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics. "We are on schedule to report topline data from the Phase 2a clinical trial of SYN-004 this quarter, with a Phase 2b clinical trial anticipated to initiate during the second half of this year."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized C. difficile as an "urgent public health threat," and has stated the need for research to better understand the role of normal gut bacteria. SYN-004 is intended to block the unintended harmful effects of certain IV antibiotics within the GI tract and maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome, potentially preventing the 1.1 million C. difficile infections[i] and 30,000 C. difficile-related deaths[ii] in the United States each year. Approximately 118 million doses of IV beta-lactam antibiotics[iii] that could be inactivated in the GI tract by SYN-004, were administered to approximately 14 million hospitalized U.S. patients during 2012.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN) is a clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutics to protect the microbiome while targeting pathogen-specific diseases. The Company is developing an oral biologic to protect the gut microbiome from intravenous (IV) antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection and an oral statin treatment to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms on irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). In addition, the Company is developing a monoclonal antibody combination for the treatment of Pertussis in collaboration with Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), and a Phase 2 oral estriol drug for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and cognitive dysfunction in MS. For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.

This release includes forward-looking statements on Synthetic Biologics' current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and include statements regarding the potential for SYN-004 to protect the human microbiome and to become the first prophylactic therapy designed to prevent antibiotic-mediated microbiome damage, anticipated timing of the topline data from the Phase 2a and the initiation of the Phase 2b clinical trial and the size of the market. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Synthetic Biologics' forward-looking statements include, among others, the ability of SYN-004 to perform as expected, the results of the clinical trials and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and any other filings with the SEC. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Synthetic Biologics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

[i] This information is an estimate derived from the use of information under license from the following IMS Health Incorporated information service: CDM Hospital database for full year 2012. IMS expressly reserves all rights, including rights of copying, distribution and republication.

[ii] U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. January 25, 2012. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/nn/nn012512.htm Accessed: September 30, 2013.

[iii] This information is an estimate derived from the use of information under license from the following IMS Health Incorporated information service: CDM Hospital database for full year 2012. IMS expressly reserves all rights, including rights of copying, distribution and republication.

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SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

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