Synthetic Biologics Appoints Michael Kaleko, M.D., Ph.D., as Scientific Director

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 18, 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 that Michael Kaleko, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Company as Scientific Director. Dr. Kaleko has worked in the field of gene therapy since its inception in the mid-1980s and has extensive experience developing vector platforms, inducible transcription systems and product candidates in multiple disease areas. He brings over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical sector, including eleven years with Genetic Therapy, Inc., a Novartis company.

From 1999 until 2002, Dr. Kaleko co-directed research at Genetic Therapy, where he developed multiple gene transfer and gene expression platform technologies for hemophilia, cancer, diabetes and ocular diseases. In 2002, he co-founded Advanced Vision Therapies, Inc. to develop treatments for eye diseases, including an anti-inflammatory biological for multiple ocular indications. After selling the company in 2005, he continued as Chief Scientific Officer until 2010. Dr. Kaleko has published 62 peer-reviewed articles, filed over 30 patent applications and received the Novartis Pharma Research and Development Business Excellence Award for his work in the diabetes field.

"We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Synthetic Biologics' team. We expect that Mike's significant accomplishments in the field of gene therapy will be valuable assets as we continue the work to build our portfolio of synthetic biologics and DNA-based human therapeutics," stated Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Synthetic Biologics.

Dr. Kaleko earned Sc.B., M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Brown University, served his medical residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University and completed a fellowship in clinical endocrinology with a focus in gene therapy research at the University of Washington, Seattle.

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 intent to build our portfolio of biologics and therapeutics and the expected contribution of Dr. Kaleko. 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.

SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.