Synthetic Biologics Strengthens Research & Development Team to
Support Expanding Pipeline of Infectious Disease Therapies and
Synthetic Biologics Programs
ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic
Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a developer of synthetic biologics
and innovative medicines for serious diseases and unmet medical
needs, announced today that Andrew
Bristol, Ph.D., joined the team as its new Vice President of
Research & Development. Dr. Bristol has over 20 years of
experience in cancer research and drug development with a special
emphasis on monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines. The Company
also announced that Michael Kaleko,
M.D., Ph.D., has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Research
& Development.
Dr. Bristol comes to Synthetic Biologics after working with the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Post-doctoral Fellow,
focusing on the development of cellular immunotherapy and
anti-cancer vaccines. In 1998, he joined Genetic Therapy, Inc. (a
Novartis company) and rose to the position of Senior Scientist
& Deputy Program Head of the Immunology Program. In 2003, he
co-founded Neogenix Oncology, a company focused on the discovery
and product development using human cancer tissue extracts as
starting material to generate anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies. He
spent the next 10 years with Neogenix, leading the company to win
numerous awards, including the 2010 Maryland Technology Council's
"Emerging Company of the Year" award and the 2007 Frost &
Sullivan "Excellence in Research" award. Prior to joining Synthetic
Biologics, he was the Founder and General Manager of Bristol
Consulting Services.
Dr. Bristol earned his Ph.D. degree from Tufts University, and his B.A. degree in Molecular
Biology from the University of California,
Berkeley.
Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive
Officer at Synthetic Biologics, stated, "We are pleased to welcome
Andy to Synthetic Biologics and expect that his extensive knowledge
and biotechnology experience – especially in the development of
monoclonal antibodies and successfully navigating the drug
development process – will be vital in moving our projects
forward."
"Since Mike joined Synthetic Biologics he has been invaluable to
us as we continue to expand our synthetic biologics and DNA-based
human therapeutics research. He has been integral in ramping up
both our synthetic DNA and monoclonal antibody programs with
Intrexon," concluded Mr. Riley.
Dr. Kaleko joined Synthetic Biologics in March 2012 as Scientific Director. Prior to
joining Synthetic Biologics, Dr. Kaleko co-founded Advanced Vision
Therapies, Inc. to develop treatments for eye diseases, including
an anti-inflammatory biological for multiple ocular indications. He
also co-directed research at Genetic Therapy, Inc., where he
developed multiple gene transfer and gene expression platform
technologies for hemophilia, cancer, diabetes and ocular diseases.
Dr. Kaleko has published 62 peer-reviewed articles and filed over
30 patent applications.
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 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 continued
development pipeline, our intent to move our clinical programs
forward and the expected contribution of Dr. Bristol. 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/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.