Synthetic Biologics Strengthens Clinical & Regulatory Team to Support Expanding Pipeline of Infectious Disease Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a developer of product candidates focused on the prevention and treatment of serious infectious and other diseases, announced today that Joseph Sliman, M.D., M.P.H., joined the team and will assume the role of Senior Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs, previously held by Carol Reed, M.D. In this position, Dr. Sliman 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. Sliman has more than 18 years of experience in clinical and public health research, including 10 years directing clinical projects and product development, in therapeutic areas such as infectious diseases and vaccines. Synthetic Biologics also announced that Dr. Reed will continue to contribute to the Company's team as a key clinical & regulatory advisor.

Most recently, Dr. Sliman served as Senior Medical Director and Head of Patient Safety and Pharmacovigilance at Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he directed efforts for a New Drug Application for HETLIOZ (tasimelteon), which is indicated for the treatment of Non-24 Hour Disorder in totally blind adults. Prior to this time, Dr. Sliman served as Medical Director in Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at MedImmune, Inc., where he was a member of successful Biologics Licensure Application teams. Prior to joining MedImmune, he served as Associate Medical Director at Dynport Vaccine Company, where he was the clinical director for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine trials as well as its Defense Vaccines development program (partnered with Department of Defense Joint Vaccines Acquisition Program).  During his service in the United States Navy, Dr. Sliman led the U. S. Pacific Fleet disease surveillance programs, including influenza surveillance, preparedness, and prevention, as well as communicable disease and injury surveillance and prevention and health policy development.

Dr. Sliman earned an M.D. from the Uniformed Services University, a Master's Degree in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, and a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology, with Honors in Biology, from Pennsylvania State University.

Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer at Synthetic Biologics, stated, "We are pleased to welcome Joe to Synthetic Biologics and expect that his extensive clinical development, regulatory and biotechnology experience – especially in navigating clinical pathways with regulatory agencies – will be vital in moving our infectious disease programs forward."

Mr. Riley concluded, "We are also pleased that Dr. Carol Reed will continue to be part of the Synthetic Biologics' team as a key advisor on clinical development projects. Carol has been integral in moving forward clinical development strategies for our new infectious disease programs and planning the next steps for our Phase II product candidate, Trimesta^TM, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis."

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN) is a biotechnology company focused on the development of product candidates for serious infectious and other diseases. Synthetic Biologics is developing oral treatments targeting archaea, a non-bacterial intestinal form of life increasingly associated with chronic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity and type 2 diabetes, an oral biologic to protect the gastrointestinal microflora from the effects of IV antibiotics for the prevention of C. diff infection, a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of Pertussis and Acinetobacter infections, and a biologic targeted at the prevention and treatment of IBS. In addition, the Company is developing an oral estriol drug candidate for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and cognitive dysfunction in MS (with results of an ongoing 164 subject, 15 center, two-year, double blind, placebo controlled, Phase II relapsing-remitting MS clinical trial expected to be announced during the first half of 2014). 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 contributions of Dr. Sliman and 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, 2012 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.