Isaac J. Bright, MD, Joins Synthetic Biologics as Vice President, Corporate Development

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a clinical stage company focused on developing therapeutics to protect the gut microbiome, announced Isaac J. Bright, MD, has joined the Company in the new position of Vice President, Corporate Development. Dr. Bright will be responsible for strategic business and corporate development activities to help maximize potential partnering opportunities for the Company's two lead GI microbiome-focused drug candidates: SYN-010, designed to reduce methane production in the gut to treat an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), and SYN-004, designed to prevent C. difficile infection (CDI), antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) and the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms.

Dr. Bright is a life sciences and healthcare industry veteran with 15 years of transactional and operational experience. Most recently, he led the U.S. private equity investment practice as a Partner at Merieux Development where he was responsible for investment thesis development, company screening and comprehensive due diligence for the healthcare and venture capital fund. Previously, Dr. Bright served as Vice President, Corporate Development and Diagnostics for QuantaLife, Inc. where he drove the auction and trade sale process. His early career was devoted to drug-device combination therapy programs at Medtronic, Inc.

"Isaac's perspective on GI microbiome-focused therapy development is derived from his unique breadth of experience across multiple classes of therapeutics in the life science and medical device sectors," said Jeffrey Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics. "As we enhance our current partnering efforts, Isaac is expected to be a strategic advocate for collaborative progress of our Phase 2 GI microbiome-focused programs, and a strong leader as we continue to explore opportunities with complementary industry participants."

Dr. Bright is a Stanford University Medical School-trained physician, and earned a BA degree in Biochemistry from Pepperdine University. He was a Howard E. Mitchell Fellow at the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania where he earned an MBA. Dr. Bright has authored several peer-reviewed papers and abstracts, serves on the Board of Directors for ImaginAb, Inc. and is a Board Observer at Twist Biosciences.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN) is a clinical stage company developing therapeutics to protect the gut microbiome while targeting pathogen-specific diseases. The Company's lead candidates in Phase 2 development are: (1) SYN-010 which is intended to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms in the gut microbiome to treat an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), and (2) SYN-004 which is designed to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). In collaboration with Intrexon Corporation, the Company is also developing preclinical stage monoclonal antibody therapies for the prevention and treatment of pertussis and novel discovery stage biotherapeutics for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 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, and include statements regarding the expected contribution and leadership of Dr. Bright in exploring partnership opportunities, Synthetic Biologics' continued exploration of partnership opportunities  with complementary industry participants and the potential benefits of SYN-004 and SYN-010. These forward-looking statements are based management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability of Dr. Bright to develop partnership opportunities with complementary industry participants, a failure to receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization of Synthetic Biologics' therapeutics, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials, and those conducted by investigators, for SYN-004 and SYN-010 to be commenced or completed on time or to achieve desired results and benefits, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials to continue enrollment as expected or receive anticipated funding, a failure of Synthetic Biologics to successfully develop, market or sell its products, Synthetic Biologics' inability to maintain its material licensing agreements, or a failure by Synthetic Biologics or its strategic partners to successfully commercialize products and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. 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.

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SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.