SYN Synthetic Biologics Inc

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a developer of synthetic biologics and innovative medicines for unmet medical needs, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and summarized operational highlights.

Operational Highlights

Expanding Synthetic Biologic Programs

• Enhanced our relationship with Intrexon by entering into a second worldwide exclusive channel collaboration for the development and commercialization of a series of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for the treatment of certain infectious diseases not adequately addressed by existing therapies. Utilizing Intrexon's comprehensive suite of proprietary technologies, initial discovery efforts will target three infectious disease indications.
• Initiated preclinical research for the development of a synthetic DNA-based therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), utilizing the UltraVector® platform and RheoSwitch Therapeutic System® of our collaborator, Intrexon.
• Appointed biologics expert and gene therapy veteran, Michael Kaleko, M.D., Ph.D., to serve 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.

Advancing Clinical Trial Programs

• Strengthened our clinical and regulatory functions by recruiting the former Chief Medical Officer of Clinical Data, Inc., Carol Reed, M.D., to serve as Senior Vice President of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Reed, who led the design and management of two consecutive successful Phase III clinical trials and FDA approval for VIIBRYD®, is responsible for the design and implementation of all aspects of clinical development and clinical trials, as well as regulatory initiatives.
• Completed enrollment of 164 patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of our proprietary oral formulation of estriol (Trimesta™) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in women. According to various reports, sales of oral disease-modifying therapies for MS, of which Trimesta™, if and when approved, would be in a drug class, is expected to reach $5 billion annually by 2017.
• Initiated patient enrollment in a second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial of Trimesta™ for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in MS. Charitable organizations have pledged to financially support a majority of this new MS clinical trial. As of August 1, 2012, 11 of 64 patients have been enrolled into this trial and patient recruitment continues.

Board of Directors – Improved Corporate Governance

• Improved corporate governance and strengthened the Board by separating the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with the appointment of Jeffrey J. Kraws to serve as independent, non-executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kraws has served on the Board of Directors since January 2006.

"We continue to broaden our reach within the synthetic biologics area as evidenced by the recent expansion of our relationship with Intrexon for the development of monoclonal antibodies to treat infectious diseases. These discovery programs enhance our product pipeline and further emphasize our commitment to the development of new treatment options for unmet medical needs," said Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics. "We look forward to announcing more about our infectious disease targets and program progress in the near future."

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Financial Results

As part of management's plan to streamline our focus, we sold the clinical reference lab on March 8, 2012. Laboratory revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 were charged to discontinued operations, resulting in no revenues for these periods. In addition, the gain on the sale of the clinical reference lab of $677,000 was included in discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

General and administrative expenses were $1.2 million and $2.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $524,000 and $1.8 million for the same periods in 2011. These increases of 124% and 50%, respectively, are primarily the result of additional employee costs, the expansion of our investor relation activities and legal fees related to various Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Charges related to stock-based compensation were $287,000 and $786,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $51,000 and $810,000 for the same periods in 2011.

Research and development expenses were $547,000 and $933,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $281,000 and $512,000 for the same periods in 2011. These increases of 95% and 82%, respectively, are primarily the result of additional employee costs and increased program costs associated with our expanded pipeline, including the initiation of our preclinical program for the treatment of PAH and our clinical trial for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in MS.

Other income was $7,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to other expense of $761,000 for the same period in 2011. Other income was $12,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to other expense of $1.5 million for the same period in 2011. Other expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 included $760,000 and $1.6 million, respectively, relating to the estimated fair value of the warrants associated with the January 2011 and April 2011 financings, adjusted for the change in their fair value at the end of each period.

Cash at June 30, 2012 was $5.9 million compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2011. As of July 31, 2012, we had approximately $5.6 million in cash.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of product candidates to address serious diseases and unmet medical needs. Synthetic Biologics is developing the following synthetic biologic candidates: a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of serious infectious diseases not adequately addressed by existing therapies and a synthetic DNA-based therapy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The Company is also developing drug candidates for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), cognitive dysfunction in MS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fibromyalgia (partnered with Meda AB). For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.

UltraVector® and RheoSwitch Therapeutic System® are registered trademarks of Intrexon Corporation.

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 focus of our efforts in the field of synthetic biology and advancing our clinical programs and the expected size of the future market for sales of oral disease-modifying therapies for MS. 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 receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization of our therapeutics, a failure of our clinical trials to be commenced or completed on time or to achieve desired results, a failure of our clinical trials to receive anticipated funding, a failure of gene therapy to receive market acceptance, a failure of our monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of infectious diseases to be successfully developed or commercialized, our inability to maintain our licensing agreements, including our agreement with Intrexon, or a failure by us or our strategic partners to successfully commercialize products and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' report on Form 10-K/A 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.