Synthetic Biologics Appoints Carol Reed, M.D., as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: SYN), a developer of synthetic DNA-based therapeutics and innovative disease-modifying medicines for serious illnesses, announced today the appointment of Carol Reed, M.D., as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs. In this position, Dr. Reed will be responsible for the design and implementation of all aspects of clinical development, including clinical trials, and will lead the Company's regulatory initiatives. Dr. Reed brings over 25 years of experience, in medical practice and in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical sector, including six years with Clinical Data, Inc., a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company which was acquired by Forest Laboratories, Inc.

Most recently, Dr. Reed served as Chief Medical Officer at Clinical Data, Inc. from 2005 through 2011, after the company merged with Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she had served as Vice President, Medical Affairs since 2003. During her tenure at Clinical Data, Inc., Dr. Reed was responsible for the design and management of two successful consecutive Phase III clinical trials for VIIBRYD® which is used in the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. These efforts led to the approval of VIIBRYD in January 2011 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prior to this time, Dr. Reed served as Associate Medical Director in Pulmonary Medical Research at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, she was the Associate Director, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Hospital of St. Raphael and directed its Medical Intensive Care Unit.

"We are very pleased to add an executive of Carol's caliber to the Synthetic Biologics' team. Carol's broad experience in clinical development, as well as her leadership skills, are expected to be tremendous assets to the Company as we continue to work to build our development pipeline and move our ongoing MS and ALS clinical programs forward," stated Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer at Synthetic Biologics.

Dr. Reed earned an M.D. from the Rush Medical College in Chicago and an M.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of synthetic DNA-based therapeutics and innovative disease-modifying medicines for serious illnesses. Synthetic Biologics is developing, or has partnered the development of, product candidates for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), cognitive dysfunction in MS, fibromyalgia 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 Reed. 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 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.

VIIBRYD® is a registered copyright of Forest Laboratories, Inc.

SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.