ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a developer of synthetic biologics and innovative medicines for serious infections and diseases, announced today that Brad Spellberg, M.D., joined the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Spellberg is an infectious disease specialist whose NIH-funded laboratory studies highly drug-resistant infections in an effort to develop vaccines and immune therapies to prevent and treat them. He has also worked closely with the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to focus attention on the rising public health crisis caused by increasing antibiotic resistance and decreasing new antibiotic development.
Dr. Spellberg is an Associate Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and Associate Program Director for Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and LA BioMed. His research regarding new drug development for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases became the foundation for the IDSA’s white paper, “Bad Bugs, No Drugs,” and has been cited extensively in medical publications and on Capitol Hill. He is a Fellow in the IDSA and has served as Co-Chair of the IDSA’s Antimicrobial Availability Task Force (AATF). As a member of the AATF, he has first-authored numerous IDSA position papers and review articles relating to public policy of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic development. Dr. Spellberg is also the author of Rising Plague: The Global Threat from Deadly Bacteria and Our Dwindling Arsenal to Fight Them, which he wrote to inform and educate the public about the crisis in antibiotic resistant infections and lack of antibiotic development.
“As we expand our infectious disease pipeline, we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Spellberg to our Scientific Advisory Board,” stated Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer at Synthetic Biologics. “Over the past six months we have added development programs for the prevention of C. difficile, and the treatment of pertussis and Acinetobacter. With declining treatment options, these serious pathogens have a devastating impact on patients, and they pose a growing economic burden on society. Dr. Spellberg’s medical and research expertise in the infectious disease area should provide valuable guidance as we continue to move our programs forward.”
Dr. Spellberg earned a B.A. in molecular cell biology-immunology from UC Berkeley before attending the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he received academic honors including serving as the UCLA AOA Chapter Co-President and winning the prestigious Stafford Warren award for the top academic performance in his class. Dr. Spellberg completed his residency in internal medicine and subspecialty fellowship in infectious diseases at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
“I look forward to working with the team at Synthetic Biologics as a Scientific Advisory Board member. The incidence of antibiotic-resistant infections is increasing at an astounding rate, creating high demand for new anti-infective therapies,” said Dr. Spellberg. “Synthetic Biologics is focused on developing novel treatments and preventions to address the growing need in the infectious disease space, and I am particularly impressed with the Company’s clinical-stage oral enzyme candidate for the prevention of C. difficile. C. difficile is an opportunistic bacteria that poses a serious threat to patients and I welcome the opportunity to provide guidance as the Company takes steps to advance its unique prophylactic candidate towards the clinic.”
About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.
Synthetic Biologics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of product candidates for serious infections and diseases. Synthetic Biologics is developing a biologic for the prevention of C. difficile infection, and a series of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of serious infectious diseases, including pertussis and Acinetobacter. The Company is also developing a synthetic DNA-based therapy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In addition, the Company is developing a drug candidate for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and cognitive dysfunction in MS, and is designing a clinical development pathway for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics’ website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.
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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 the forward movement of our clinical programs and the expected contribution of Dr. Spellberg. 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 move our programs forward 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.
