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,
TrimestaTM, 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.