Synthetic Biologics Announces Presentation of Poster for SYN-004 C. difficile Program at IDWeek 2014™

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a biotechnology company developing novel anti-infective biologic and drug programs targeting specific pathogens that cause serious infections and diseases, announced today that SYN-004, the Company's lead anti-infective product candidate for the prevention of the devastating effects of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), will be presented at the Infectious Disease Week (IDWeek 2014™) held by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), October 8-12, in Philadelphia, PA.

Synthetic Biologics' Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Mike Kaleko M.D., Ph.D., will present a poster outlining preclinical data supporting the development of SYN-004 as a prophylactic against C. difficile.  SYN-004 is designed to protect the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora – or gut microbiome – from the effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) antibiotics, thereby preventing C. difficile infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified C. difficile as an "urgent public health threat", ranking it as the number one hospital-acquired infection in the United States.

The SYN-004 poster will be available for viewing in Exhibit Hall BC at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Thursday, October 9, from 12:30pm to 2:00pm Eastern Time, as part of the "Antimicrobial Resistance: Novel Agents and Approaches to Gram-Positive Infections" session.

Title: SYN-004, a Class A Beta-Lactamase Therapy for the Prevention of Antibiotic-Induced Disruption of Intestinal Microflora
Authors¹: Michael Kaleko, J. Andrew Bristol, Sheila Connelly, Pertti Koski, PhD
Presentation Number: 270

"We are pleased SYN-004 for the prevention of C. difficile continues to gain visibility and recognition among our academic peers as it advances toward the clinic," noted Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics. "We are on schedule to initiate Phase Ia and Phase Ib trials of SYN-004 this year, followed by a planned Phase II efficacy trial in the first half of next year."

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN) is a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel anti-infective biologic and drug candidates targeting specific pathogens that cause serious infections and diseases. The Company is developing an oral biologic to protect the gastrointestinal microflora from the effects of IV antibiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, an oral treatment to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms on constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS), a series of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of Pertussis and Acinetobacter infections, and a biologic targeted at the prevention and treatment of a root cause of a subset of IBS. In addition, the Company is developing an 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.

¹Synthetic Biologics, Rockville, MD

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 Synthetic Biologics' continued advancement of its C. difficile program toward clinical trials and the planned trials. 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 additional clinical studies and results not meeting expectations and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 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.

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SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.