Charles B. Shoemaker, Ph.D., Joins Synthetic Biologics' Scientific Advisory Board

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a developer of synthetic biologics and innovative medicines for serious diseases and unmet medical needs, announced today that Charles B. Shoemaker, Ph.D., joined the Company's Scientific Advisory Board. With over 30 years of experience as a scientist in academia, government agencies and the biotechnology industry, Dr. Shoemaker currently serves as Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Shoemaker's laboratory at the Cummings School at Tufts is developing treatments for both the prevention and cure of intoxication from a number of microbial toxins, primarily bioterror threat agents such as Botulinum neurotoxins as well as toxins from Clostridium difficile, E. coli, anthrax and ricin. In addition, he co-leads the Molecular Helminthology Laboratory at Tufts, in which research is directed to the development of therapeutics and vaccines for parasitic worm infections. Prior to joining Tufts, Dr. Shoemaker led the Animal Health Research Unit at the government-owned research company, AgResearch, in New Zealand. Previously Dr. Shoemaker was on the faculty and conducted his research at Harvard University. He began his career as one of the original scientists at the formation of Genetics Institute, Inc., a highly successful biotechnology company in Boston that was later acquired by American Home Products and is now part of Pfizer (Wyeth). Dr. Shoemaker has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications, authored five patents and four pending patents in the biotechnology area, and is currently the principal investigator of multiple sponsored research projects being conducted at Tufts, including more than $1 million per year in NIH funding.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Shoemaker to our Scientific Advisory Board," stated Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer at Synthetic Biologics. "As a result of our second collaboration with Intrexon Corporation, we are bringing new infectious disease programs on board. Dr. Shoemaker's research in this area is expected to provide important guidance to the Company as we build our development pipeline for the treatment of infectious diseases with monoclonal antibodies."

Dr. Shoemaker earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Iowa and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate, Dr. David Baltimore. He earned a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of product candidates to address serious diseases and unmet medical needs. Synthetic Biologics is developing the following synthetic biologic candidates: a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of serious infectious diseases not adequately addressed by existing therapies and a synthetic DNA-based therapy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The Company is also developing drug candidates for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), cognitive dysfunction in MS and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 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 our continued development pipeline, our intent to move our clinical programs forward and the expected contribution of Dr. Shoemaker. 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, a failure to successfully integrate the new management and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011 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.

SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.