SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 4, 2019

 

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-12584   13-3808303
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File No.)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

9605 Medical Center Drive, Suite 270

Rockville, MD 20850

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301) 417-4364

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

  Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (the “Company”) will be making corporate presentations over the next several weeks, including a presentation at the 2019 BIO Asia Conference on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan. In connection with the presentations, the Company intends to discuss the slide presentation attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The slide presentation attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K includes “safe harbor” language pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, indicating that certain statements contained in the slide presentation or in the press release are “forward-looking” rather than historical.

 

The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K or Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

  

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits
     

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

99.1   Synthetic Biologics, Inc. investor presentation dated March 4, 2019

   

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  

 

Dated: March 4, 2019 SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Steven A. Shallcross
  Name: Steven A. Shallcross
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
99.1   Synthetic Biologics, Inc. investor presentation dated March 4, 2019

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

March 2019 Company Overview Updated 3.4.2019

 

 

Forward - Looking Statements This presentation includes forward - looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 , as amended, 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,” “indicates,” and similar expressions . These statements are based upon management’s 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 timeline for our SYN - 004 (ribaxamase), SYN - 010 and SYN - 020 clinical trials and reporting of data, the size of the market, benefits to be derived from use of SYN - 004 (ribaxamase), SYN - 010 and SYN - 020 , our anticipated patent portfolio, and our execution of our growth strategy . 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, our product candidates demonstrating safety and effectiveness, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, our ability to initiate clinical trials and if initiated, our ability to complete them on time and achieve the desired results and benefits, our clinical trials continuing enrollment as expected, our ability to obtain regulatory approval for our commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to our ability to promote or commercialize our product candidates for the specific indications, acceptance of our product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of our products, developments by competitors that render our products obsolete or non - competitive, our ability to maintain our license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of our patent estate, our ability to become or remain profitable, our ability to establish and maintain collaborations, our ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund our research and development activities, a loss of any of our key scientists or management personnel, and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics’ annual report on Form 10 - K for the year ended December 31 , 2018 , subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10 - Qs and any other filings we make with the SEC . The information in this presentation is provided only as of the date presented, and Synthetic Biologics undertakes no obligation to update any forward - looking statements contained in this presentation on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law . Synthetic Biologics, Inc. is a publicly - traded therapeutic company based in Rockville, MD ( NYSE American: SYN ) 2

 

 

Financial Snapshot Synthetic Biologics, Inc. Capitalization Table December 31, 2018 Common Shares Outstanding 15,484,411 Series A Preferred Shares 2 120,000 Series A Common Equivalents 634,921 Series B Preferred Shares 9,161 Series B Common Equivalents 7,966,087 Stock Options Issued (2007 & 2010 Plans) 3 938,982 Total Outstanding Warrants 4 18,915,850 1 Based on Annual Report on Form 10 - K filed with the SEC 2/27/2019 2 Series A Preferred Shares accrue a 2% dividend; conversion is $18.90 3 As of 12/31/2018 weighted average exercise price is $15.18 4 As of 12/31/2018 weighted average exercise price is $3.85 Current SYN Snapshot Exchange NYSE American Ticker SYN Cash (as of 12/31/2018) ~$28.9 million Average Daily Volume (3M ADV) 386,000 Headquarters Rockville, MD 3

 

 

About Synthetic Biologics • Diversified microbiome - focused company pioneering proprietary early & late - stage product candidates designed to protect and preserve the gut microbiome: • SYN - 010 , for the treatment of an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS - C); • SYN - 004 (ribaxamase), for the prevention of acute graft - vs - host disease (aGVHD), VRE colonization/ bacteremia and primary C. difficile infection (CDI); and, • SYN - 020 , potential to treat multiple diseases that stem from GI inflammation, colitis and “leaky gut” • Targeting large unmet medical needs and significant market opportunities in hematologic cancer therapy, opportunistic infections, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the treatment of GI disorders by harnessing the potential of the gut microbiome • Developing robust pipeline of product candidates leveraging proprietary formulations • Expanding intellectual property estate protecting platform product candidates • Sufficient capital to fund lead programs through Q1 2020 4

 

 

Our Leadership Team Steven Shallcross, CEO & CFO Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Empire Petroleum Partners, LLC, Innocoll AG (formerly privately held Innocoll Holdings, Inc.) Raymond Stapleton, PhD, SVP, Manufacturing Merck & Co., Inc. Michael Kaleko, MD, PhD, SVP R&D Genetic Therapy, Inc. (Novartis), Advanced Vision Therapies (currently known as Wellstat Ophthalmics ) Deb Mathews, PharmD, VP Medical Affairs Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Vince Wacher, PhD, Product Development & Partnering Verva Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eastman Chemical Company 5

 

 

AAD antibiotic associated diarrhea; aGVHD acute graft - vs - host disease; AMR antimicrobial resistance; CDI Clostridium difficile infection; CIC chronic idiopathic constipation; CPI checkpoint inhibitor autoimmune enteropathy; CRE carbapenem resistant enterococci; DR delayed release; Est. estimated; HCT hematopoietic cell transplant patients; IAP intestinal alkaline phosphatase; IBS - C irritable bowel syndrome with constipation; VRE vancomycin resistant enterococci. SYN Portfolio Product Candidate Indication (expansion) Target Preclinical Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Gastroenterology SYN - 010 IBS - C (CIC) Gut Methanogens Cancer Treatment Complications SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) aGVHD in HCT ( VRE) IV cephalosporins IV penicillins SYN - 020 (IAP) Radiation Enteropathy (CPI) Multiple SYN - 006 (carbapenemase) aGVHD in HCT (CRE ) IV carbapenems Infectious Disease SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) CDI ( AMR) IV cephalosporins IV penicillins SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) DR AAD ( AMR) PO cephalosporins PO penicillins FDA Phase 3 N≈4,000 Est. filing IND Q4 2019 Est. Phase 1/2 H2 2019 Cedars Sinai 2b Potential pediatric opportunity 6

 

 

Q3 Q4 Q1 - Q2 Q3 Q4 Milestones & Potential Value Drivers 2018 2019 SYN - 010 Agreement with Cedars - Sinai to co - fund Phase 2b investigator - sponsored clinical study SYN - 010 Initiated Patient enrollment in Phase 2b investigator - sponsored clinical study (Cedars - Sinai) SYN - 004 Announced results from EOP2 meeting Single Phase 3 clinical program (N=~4,000) may be sufficient for approval for prevention of CDI SYN - 020 Anticipated IND filing SYN - 010 Anticipated topline data readout from Phase 2b investigator - sponsored clinical study (Cedars - Sinai Medical Center) SYN - 004 Clinical development activities for anticipated Phase 1/2 HCT Clinical Study SYN - 004 Anticipated first patient dosed in Phase 1/2 HCT Clinical Study SYN - 020 Preclinical & manufacturing activities Identification of target indication *Based on management’s current beliefs & expectations SYN - 004 End of Phase 2 Meeting with FDA 7

 

 

SYN - 010 Novel Treatment for IBS - C

 

 

Up to 14% of US adults ( 6% Chinese adults) have chronic constipation $3,508 average additional healthcare cost in US per patient per year Up to 5% of US adults ( 1% Chinese adults) suffers from IBS - C $3,856 average additional healthcare cost per patient per year Only 8% of IBS patients and 14% of chronic constipation patients are completely satisfied with current therapies Variable efficacy, unwanted side - effects, unpredictable diarrhea Constipation is an Enormous Problem Suares NC (2011) Am J Gastroenterol 106 :1582 - 92. Zhao Y - F (2011) Aliment Pharmacol Ther 34: 1020 – 1029. Cai Q (2014) J Med Economics 17: 148 - 58. Doshi JA (2014) J Manag Care Spec Pharm 20: 382 - 90. Long Y (2017) Neurogastroenterol Motil 29: e12897. International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders https://iffgd.org/images/pdfs/IBSpatients.pdf . Quigley EMM (2018) Adv Ther 35: 967 - 80. 9

 

 

US IBS and Constipation Market • Digital and DTC campaigns are enhancing awareness of both IBS and gut health • New entrants are growing the market, not cannibalizing it • Opportunity for treatments with a novel mode - of - action and improved side - effect profile $2.5B Market Growth Drivers IMS Health Analytics Link custom report (last accessed, August 2017) More than 2x growth in 4 years IBS and Constipation Markets are Growing 10

 

 

 Constipation  Pain  Bloating Directly targeting a microbial cause of IBS - C symptoms SYN - 010 is a Unique Approach to Treating IBS - C Bisacodyl Erythromycin Prucalopride Senna Linaclotide Lubiprostone Plecanatide Tenapanor PEG Senna SYN - 010 11 Intestinal methane production alters gut motility and slows intestinal transit: Triantafyllou K (2014) J Neurogastroenterol Motil 20: 31 - 40. Chang B (2016) Am J Gastroenterol 112 :186 - 7. Pimentel M (2006) Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 290: G1089 - 95. ⁶ Park YM (2017) Neurogastroenterol Motil Sep;29(9). doi : 10.1111/nmo.13077. Suri J (2018) Medicine (Baltimore) 97: e10554.  Hydration   Motility   Methane  M. smithii M. smithii CH 4 CH 4 CH 4 CH 4 CH 4 CH 4

 

 

Preserve lovastatin in the lactone form; target methanogens in the lower GI tract SYN - 010 Modified Release Lovastatin Lactone SYN - 010 Hubert S (2017) J Pharm Sci 107: 662 - 71. Marsh E (2015) Am J Gastroenterol 110 (Suppl 1) :S753. Stomach pH 1.4 - 2.0 Duodenum pH 5.9 - 6.6 Jejunum pH 6.6 - 7.4 Ileum pH 7.3 - 7.8 Cecum pH 5.6 - 5.9 Colon pH 5.6 - 6.8 O O H O OH O O O H O OH O O O H O OH O O O H O OH O O O H O OH O O O H O OH O M. smithii Bacteria M. smithii Bacteria M. smithii overgrowth Bacterial overgrowth H 2  CH 4 H 2  CH 4 Phase 1 data indicates delivery of lactone throughout the colon Enteric protection limits lactone  β - hydroxyacid 12 O O H O OH O • Inhibits CH 4 production • No effect on cholesterol • Intestinal site - of - action • Only CH 4 - inhibiting statin Lovastatin lactone

 

 

• Patients meeting Rome III criteria for IBS - C enrolled at 12 sites in the USA • Breath methane >10 ppm at screening • Single, daily oral doses of SYN - 010 • IBS - C symptoms reported daily using ePRO devices • Symptom responses observed over 12 - weeks • Increased BM frequency, decreased breath methane • Improvement in abdominal pain • Reduction in bloating (>70% response rate) • No drug - related diarrhea² • Absence of 12 - week placebo - controlled data means results compelling but not conclusive SYN - 010 Clinical Proof - of - Concept Phase 2a exploratory study in patients with IBS - C 13 ¹All patients who completed the RCT were eligible to enter the EXT, no new patients were enrolled in EXT. ²One case of diarrh ea reported after the study was completed but determined to be unrelated to study drug by investigator. BM bowel movement. | | | | Screen 1 28 Day 84 RCT EXT SYN - 010 42 mg (19) SYN - 010 42 mg (17) SYN - 010 21 mg (22) Placebo (22) SYN - 010 42 mg (20) SYN - 010 42 mg (20) COHORT 3 COHORT 2 COHORT 1 Randomized, placebo - controlled 4 - week study ( RCT ) followed by 8 - week open - label extension ( EXT )¹

 

 

SYN - 010 effects on IBS - C symptoms, breath gases and microbiome parameters SYN - 010 Phase 2b Clinical Trial Treatment Period EOS | | | | | | | | | - 17 - 14 1 14 28 42 56 70 84 Screen | - Diary Baseline - | DAY Pretreatment LBT LBT Clinic Visits Lactulose Breath Test Breath CH 4 H 2 H 2 S CO 2 Cytokines in plasma Stool microbiome LBT SYN - 010 21 mg q.d. (n=50) SYN - 010 42 mg q.d. (n=50) Placebo q.d. (n=50) 14 Single - center study conducted by the Cedars - Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA) Medically Associated Science and Technology ( MAST ) Program Complete spontaneous bowel movements ( CSBMs ), worst abdominal pain score (0 - 10), worst abdominal bloating score (0 - 4), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale) and laxative use are recorded by patients each day via a web portal ( REDCap ). Primary endpoint = change from Baseline in the weekly average number of CSBMs during the 12 - week Treatment Period for SYN - 010 relative to placebo • Male or female 18 - 65 years • IBS - C symptoms (Rome IV) for ≥6 months • Breath CH 4 ≥10 ppm on LBT • Weekly abdominal pain score ≥3.0 during Pretreatment • <3 CSBMs and ≤5 SBMs per week during Pretreatment Daily reporting of stool frequency, stool consistency, abdominal pain, bloating, laxative use; weekly PAC - SYM

 

 

• Targets a microbial cause of IBS - C symptoms • Anticipate more predictable efficacy, potential patient selection with biomarker • Chronic daily therapy for the lifetime of the disease • May normalize bowel habits, avoid cycling through symptom relief and recurrence • Potential safety and efficacy benefits • High bloating response rate in Phase 2a studies¹ • No drug - related diarrhea or nausea ² • May enable payer - and consumer - friendly pricing SYN - 010 Potential Differentiating Benefits ¹IBS - C patients have reported bloating as the most bothersome symptom affecting their QoL: Neri L (2016) Neurogastroenterol Motil 28: 581 – 91. Kanazawa M (2016) BioPsychoSoc Med 10: 19. ²Prucalopride (2 mg q.d.) showed high rates of nausea (14%), diarrhea (13%) and headaches (19%) compared to placebo (7%, 5%, 9%) in Phase 3 trials of CIC; MOTEGRITY™ (prucalopride) tablets, for oral use. Prescribing information 2018. 15

 

 

SYN - 010 Strategy • EOP2 meeting held with FDA after Phase 2a clinical trial (July 2016) • Agreed on Phase 3 program to address dose - response, evaluate potential food effects, and establish long - term safety (~$80M) • Potential to simplify Phase 3 program based on Phase 2b data • Ideally, propose a single SYN - 010 dose, significantly reducing development cost and time and increasing flexibility of study design • Plan to leverage Phase 2b data and reduced - cost Phase 3 program (if agreed) to obtain a development and commercialization partnership • Topline data readout expected in 2H 2019 • Prior interest expressed in SYN - 010; however, development cost and risk was not supported by Phase 2a results Use Phase 2b data to re - engage FDA and potential partners 16 FDA expressed interest in new modes - of - action to treat IBS - C and acknowledged in end - of - phase 2 ( EOP2 ) meeting minutes that Mevacor® safety data would be supportive for potential SYN - 010 505(b)2 registration pathway.

 

 

SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Prevention of aGVHD in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

 

 

• The gut microbiome is a complex community of ~39 trillion microbes in our gastrointestinal tract¹ • Predominantly reside in the colon • The microbiome is integral to our health² • Cancer, CNS, GI, immune system, infection, metabolism • Antibiotic damage to the microbiome can cause disease • Emergence of pathogens and MDROs • Detrimental changes to microbial metabolome • Impaired gut barrier function and inflammatio n The Gut Microbiome and Disease Prevention ¹Sender (2016) Cell 164: 337 - 40. ²Knight R (2017) Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 18: 65 - 86. MDRO multidrug resistant organism 18

 

 

β - lactam antibiotic excreted into the GI tract damages the microbiome SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) to Protect the Gut Microbiome Antibiotic Excreted in Bile IV β - LACTAM ANTIBIOTIC Stomach Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cecum Colon β - Lactam Antibiotic 19 Healthy Microbiome DAMAGED Microbiome

 

 

Degrading β - lactam antibiotic excreted into the GI tract SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) to Protect the Gut Microbiome SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Antibiotic Excreted in Bile IV β - LACTAM ANTIBIOTIC Stomach Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cecum Colon 20 Enteric protection intended to prevent gastric release and limit acid degradation Ribaxamase enzyme released into the upper small intestine degrades β - lactam antibiotic SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) is an enteric - protected formulation of a proprietary class A β - lactamase enzyme that degrades penicillins a nd cephalosporins Concomitant with IV β - lactam β - Lactam Degraded Healthy Microbiome

 

 

SYN - 004: Multiple Disease Prevention Opportunities 21 AMR infographic: https://www.antimicrobialsworkinggroup.org/antimicrobial - resistance/ aGVHD image: Naymagon S (2017) Nature Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 14 : 711 – 26 Cephalosporin or Penicillin Antibiotic SYN - 004 CDI AMR aGVHD Clostridium difficile Infection Antimicrobial Resistance acute Graft - vs - Host Disease

 

 

• Patients admitted for treatment of LRTI at 54 sites (Europe, North America) • Achieved primary endpoint • Reduced CDI incidence by 71.4% vs Placebo (1.0% vs 3.4% P=0.045) • Preserved the microbiome • Reduced ceftriaxone - mediated loss of microbial diversity vs Placebo • Suppressed AMR • Reduced VRE colonization by 43.9% vs Placebo (P=0.0002) • Reduced expression of multiple AMR genes SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Clinical Proof - of - Concept Protected the microbiome and prevented CDI and AMR Kokai - Kun JF (2017) Gastroenterology 152 (Suppl 1): S1309. P - values are based on one - sided z - test (Chi - square) for the comparison of SYN - 004 to Placebo. LRTI clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe lower respiratory tract infection. VRE vancomycin resistant enterococci 22 Treatment Period 1 Follow - up 2 Screen Day 1 5 - 14 days 72 h 6 Weeks SYN - 004 Cohort n = 206 Placebo Cohort n = 206 Ceftriaxone (IV)² SYN - 004 (Oral, 150 mg q6h) Ceftriaxone (IV)² Placebo (Oral, q 6 h) T 0 4 T 1 T 2 6 4 2

 

 

• Approximately 8,539 allogeneic HCT procedures conducted in the USA (~4,500 in China) in 2016¹ , ² • IV β - lactam antibiotics are used to treat febrile neutropenia in 80 - 90% of allogeneic HCT recipients³ • Microbiome damage by IV β - lactam antibiotics is strongly associated with aGVHD, VRE bacteremia and CDI⁴ - ⁷ • aGVHD occurs in 40 - 60% of allogeneic HCT recipients and is a leading cause of graft failure and mortality⁸ - ⁹ Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) ¹D’Souza A, Fretham C. Current use and outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: CIMBTR summary and slides, 2017. http://www.cimbtr.org . ²Xu L - P (2017) Bone Marrow Transplant 52: 1512 - 8. ³Kimura S (2014) J Infect 69: 13 - 25. ⁴ Shono Y (2016) Sci Transl Med 8: 339ra71. ⁵ Taur Y (2012) Clin Infect Dis 55: 905 - 14. ⁶ Dubberke ER et al. (2010) Clin Transplant 24: 192 - 8. ⁷ Satlin MJ (2016) Transpl Infect Dis 19: e12762. ⁸Sung AD (2013) Stem Cell Transplant Med 2: 25 - 32. ⁹ Johnson BH (2019) Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Jan 6. pii : S1083 - 8791 Image credit: http://www.bonemarrowmx.com/allogeneic - bone - marrow - transplant/ 23

 

 

• In - patient costs for allogeneic HCT in the USA range from $180,000 to >$300,000 depending on the disease severity¹ - ³ • All - cause costs for allogeneic HCT in the USA in 2014 were >$600,000 per patient (up to 12 months post transplant)³ • Allogeneic HCT recipients who develop aGVHD have a 3 - fold increase in mortality (16.2% vs 5.3%) and almost 2 - fold increase in hospital costs¹ • Increased costs attributed to increase length of stay in hospital • Prevention of aGVHD is an absolute necessity in allogeneic HCT • 1 ° aGVHD treatments (steroids) fail in ≥50% patients resulting in poor survival⁴ , ⁵ • Even a 20% reduction in aGVHD by SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) could significantly improve outcomes and reduce costs • e.g. Save at least 4 lives and ~$1.4M in - hospital costs per 100 allogeneic HCT recipients⁵ Potential to save lives and reduce costs SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) to Prevent aGVHD in HCT ¹ Yu J (2018) Curr Med Res Opin 21: 1 - 12. ² Broder MS (2017) Am Health Drug Benefits 10: 366 - 74. ³ Bonafede M (2017) J Med Econ 20: 1244 - 51. ⁴ Xhaard A (2012) Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 18: 406 - 13 . ⁵Bader P (2018) Bone Marrow Transplant 53: 852 - 62. ⁵Calculation assumes 40% rate of aGVHD, $180,000 per patient added costs for aGVHD; 16.2% in - hospital mortality with aGVHD; and 50% steroid refractory aGVHD with 20% 2 - year survival . 24

 

 

• Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate SYN - 004 safety¹ • Allogeneic HCT recipients (n≈40) receiving IV β - lactam antibiotics to treat neutropenic fever • Critical to demonstrate that SYN - 004 does not alter antibiotic PK or efficacy • Key investigators identified, clinical protocols and pre - IND package in development • Intend to apply for Orphan Drug designation • Potential Phase 3 clinical development program² • Allogeneic HCT recipients (n≈300 - 500) receiving IV β - lactam antibiotics to treat neutropenic fever • 1 ƒ endpoint likely aGVHD - free survival • 2 ƒ endpoints may include aGVHD incidence and severity, overall survival, non - relapse mortality • Evaluation of VRE colonization/bacteremia, CDI support post - market development in broader indications • Specialized patient population provides opportunity for SYN to market without a partner • Significant potential benefit may permit SYN - 004 pricing flexibility, potential access to NTAP Planning to initiate investigator initiated study 2H 2019 SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Strategy 25 ¹Clinical trial programs have not yet been discussed with regulatory agencies. ²Estimated Phase 3 study size and potential en dpo ints based on clinical trial designs reported on Clinicaltrials.gov. NTAP Medicare New Technology Add - on Payment.

 

 

SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Long - Term Value Strategy CDI, AMR Infection Control Estimated Clinical Trial Size (n) Estimated Value 10’s - 100’s of Millions Patients⁴ aGVHD HCT 3,000 - 4,000 800 - 1,000 300 - 500 CDI, AMR Solid Organ Transplant 10,000 - 20,000 Patients¹ , ² Estimated patient numbers are worldwide per annum. ¹ D’Souza A, Fretham C. Current use and outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: CIMBTR summary and slides, 2017. Available at http://www.cimbtr.org . ²Xu L - P (2017) Bone Marrow Transplant 52: 1512 - 8. ³ https://www.who.int/transplantation/gkt/statistics/en/ ⁴Estimated from IV penicillin and cephalosporin use d ata extracted from IMS Health 2017 . 26 50,000 - 100,000 Patients³

 

 

SYN - 020 Treatment of Specific Colitis Conditions

 

 

• Maintains gastrointestinal homeostasis¹ , ² • Detoxifies inflammatory mediators³ • Endotoxin, bacterial DNA, flagellin, nucleotides • Tightens the gut barrier⁴ , ⁵ • Prevents “leaky gut” • Diminishes endotoxemia • Promotes the growth of commensal intestinal flora ⁶ Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase A naturally - occurring protein with the unique capacity to treat many diseases • IAP is a naturally - occurring enzyme produced in the small intestine • 150 kD homodimer coordinating Mg 2+ and Zn 2+ 28 ¹ Bilski J (2017) Mediators Inflamm 2017: 9074601 . ²Estaki M (2014) World J Gastroenterol 20: 15650 - 6. ³Chen KT (2010) Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 299: G467 - 75. ⁴ Liu W (2016) J Am Coll Surg 222: 1009 - 17. ⁵ Martinez - Moya P (2012) Pharmacol Res 66: 144 - 53. ⁶ Malo MS (2010) Gut 59: 1476 - 84.

 

 

Model Outcome Humans Ulcerative Colitis Clinical improvement in refractory UC at 21 days following one week of cIAP infusion via nasoduodenal tube¹ Type 2 Diabetes High IAP levels are associated with protection from diabetes even in obese individuals² Mice Leaky Gut Diminished endotoxemia in high - fat diet (HFD) fed mice³ Increased expression of zonulin / occludin ⁴ Antibiotic - mediated dysbiosis Accelerated recovery of microbial diversity after antibiotic damage to microbiome⁵ Protected from overgrowth by C. difficile and S. typhimurium ⁶ Colitis Improved intestinal tissue histology and inflammatory cytokine profiles in multiple rodent models⁷ Metabolic Syndrome Prevented and reversed multiple symptoms in high - fat diet (HFD) fed mice³ Ameliorated symptoms arising from azithromycin treatment in HFD fed mice⁸ IAP has Demonstrated Efficacy in Animals and Humans 29 ¹ Lukas M (2010) Inflamm Bowel Dis 16: 1180 - 6 . ²Malo MS (2015) EBioMedicine 2: 2016. ³Kaliannan K (2013) PNAS 110: 7003 - 8. ⁴ Hamarneh SR (2014) Ann Surg 260: 706 - 14. ⁵Malo MS (2010) Gut 59: 1476 - 84. ⁶ Alam SN (2014) Ann Surg 259: 715 - 22. ⁷ Tuin A (2009) Gut 58: 379 - 87 . ⁸Economopoulos KP (2016) Diabetes Obes Metab 18: 519 - 27.

 

 

• Manufacturing has limited the clinical progress of oral IAP • cIAP is extracted from calf intestine and requires extensive purification, costing up to $10,000/g¹ • IAP yields are very low ( 10 - 500 mg/L ) in many manufacturing platforms² - ⁵ • Synthetic Biologics has developed a stable cell line expressing high levels of IAP ( >3 g/L ) • Synthetic Biologics IAP has equivalent activity to cIAP and is stable in chyme • COGS estimated to be a few dollars per day at commercialization • Synthetic Biologics has developed novel tablet formulations with different release profiles • Enteric coatings applied to prevent degradation in the stomach and enable release in different regions of the GI tract • Patent applications filed around formulations and release profiles Synthetic Biologics expertise in protein manufacture and oral delivery Overcoming Key IAP Development Challenges 30 ¹https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/p0114?lang=en&region=US. ²Nam JH (2007) Biotechnol Prog 23: 652 - 60 ³ Chen YH (2004) Protein Expr Purif 36: 90 - 9. ⁴ Aldag I (2011) BMC Biotechnology 11: 11. ⁵ Yeatts AB (2012) Biotechnol Bioeng 109: 2381 - 91.

 

 

31 SYN - 020 (IAP) Protects the Intestinal Mucosa Reduced submucosal inflammation in DSS - colitis model Control Vehicle SYN bIAP II, 500 U/day ¹ Bol - Schoenmakers M (2010) Eur J Pharmacol. 633: 71 - 7 ²Efficacy equivalent to literature reports was seen at a SYN bIAP II dose of 100 U/day Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt ( DSS ; 3%) each day for 5 days. SYN bIAP II (100 and 500 U q.d.) was administered by gavage from days 5 - 17. Mice were sacrificed on day 17 and tissues collected for histological analysis¹ , ².

 

 

• Treatment/prevention of radiation enteropathy secondary to cancer therapy • Pelvic and abdominal irradiation is used >300,000 times annually in US¹ • 60 - 80% of radiation - treated cancer patients suffer acute bowel toxicity • Significant unmet need for both inflammatory acute and fibrosing chronic syndromes • SYN animal efficacy data support the use of IAP to treat the acute toxicity • Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate SYN - 020 safety • Cancer patients (n≈18) requiring pelvic radiation “ chemotherapy • 1 ƒ endpoints are safety and SYN - 020 PK (plasma, feces) • 2 ƒ endpoints include diarrhea, intestinal mucosa protection • Key investigators identified, clinical protocols and pre - IND package in development • Phase 1 data may support expanded evaluation in other partnerable indications • Autoimmune enteropathy secondary to cancer therapy with checkpoint inhibitors² Planning IND filing in Q4 2019 SYN - 020 (IAP) Status 32 32 ¹Radiation is used in 50% of cancer patients and has a role in 25% of cures. ²Recent published data suggests similar enteropa thy occurs with CAR - T therapies; Hauer - Jensen M (2014) Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11: 470 - 9

 

 

March 2019 Appendix

 

 

SYN - 010 Novel Treatment for IBS - C

 

 

CH 4 Causality: IBS - C Symptoms Transmitted by FMT Chang B (2016) Am J Gastroenterol 112 : 186 - 7. CDI = Clostridium difficile infection unresolved by vancomycin and metronidazole. Eradication = 14 days of rifaximin 550 mg t.i.d. plus neomycin 500 mg b.i.d. FMT Eradication CDI No other GI symptoms No CDI Severe constipation bloating, distension!! No CDI No other GI symptoms CH 4 0 ppm CH 4 51 ppm CH 4 35 ppm 22 yo 35

 

 

IBS - C Symptom Responses in Phase 2a Clinical Trials CSBM Response: An increase from day 1 baseline of ≥1 Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movement per week in ≥50% of the weeks. Abdominal Pain (or Bloating) Response: A ≥30% decrease from baseline in weekly average worst abdominal pain (or bloating) score in ≥50% of weeks. Overall Response: A CSBM Response and an Abdominal Pain Response in the same week in ≥50% of the weeks in the treatment period (FDA, EMA). 36 4 - Week RCT 8 - Week EXT Nominal P - values (Chi - square) are for SYN - 010 vs Placebo. Numerical increase from baseline in weekly CSBMs for Cohort 2 was statistically different to Placebo (P<0.05) Nominal P - values (Chi - square) are for within group comparison of EXT to RCT *P<0.05, **P<0.005, ***P<0.0005, †P<0.1. Greatest improvement in Cohort 2, which had lowest weekly no. CSBMs at baseline

 

 

Parameter Cohort 1 Cohort 2 Cohort 3 Study RCT EXT RCT EXT RCT EXT SYN - 010 Dose Placebo 42 mg 21 mg 42 mg 42 mg 42 mg Enrolled , n 22 17 22 20 19 17 Withdrew, n 2 2 2 2 2 1 Reported SAE, n 0 0 0 0 0 0 Reported TEAE, n 1 2 2 2 2 2 Treatment Emergent Adverse Event (TEAE; Relationship to Treatment)¹ RCT, weeks 1 - 4s 01 Gastroenteritis (unlikely) 04 Headache (probable) 05 Intermittent rectal bleeding (unrelated) 07 Elevated GGT (probable) 08 Elevated AST creatine kinase (possible) EXT , weeks 5 - 12 02 Diarrhea (unrelated) ² 03 Elevated ALT AST ALP LDH GGT (unlikely)³ 05 Proctitis (unrelated) 06 First degree AV block (unrelated) Leg cramp (possible) Headache (possible) 09 Elevated creatine kinase (unrelated) 10 Elevated creatine kinase (unrelated) ¹Numbers are masked Subject ID; TEAEs were all of mild or moderate intensity. ²Commenced after last dose of study drug. ³Resulted in withdrawal from the study. SYN - 010 Very Well - Tolerated in Phase 2a Studies 37

 

 

Decreased rescue laxative use consistent with increased SBMs SYN - 010 Groups Used Less Rescue Mediation ¹Rescue medication use was reported by subjects each day in an electronic diary. ²Nominal P values for Fisher’s exact test vs Pl acebo. 38

 

 

SBMs and CSBMs increased when methane is reduced Lower Methane Correlated with Increased BMs ¹Correlation line represents least - squares linear regression modeling. ²Weekly no. CSBMs at Week 12 (mean ± SD) for all subjects completing the EXT (n=48): 1.54 ± 1.52 39

 

 

SYN - 010 No Meaningful or Persistent Systemic Effects Consistent with reduced systemic exposure to lovastatin β - hydroxyacid • Plasma trough levels of lovastatin species measured during the RCT were low and variable¹ • ≥50% of patients had undetectable plasma trough levels of each analyte on days 7, 28 • No significant changes were observed in mean ALT or creatine kinase over the 12 - week period • Liver and muscle markers known to be modulated by lovastatin formulations used to lower cholesterol • Small, transient reductions in lipid parameters observed at week 1 • Not different to Placebo at week 4 and not different to baseline at week 12 40 ¹Wacher V (2016) Am J Gastroenterol 111 (Suppl 1) :S256. Changes in cholesterol, LDL - C, and triglycerides did not correlate with SYN - 010 dose, or with changes in body weight, changes in breath methane, or plasma trough levels of either lovastatin lactone or lovastatin β - hydroxya cid. 40

 

 

• FDA recommended a first Phase 2/3 adaptive clinical trial (~$25M) • Single daily doses of Placebo, SYN - 010 21 mg or SYN - 010 42 mg for 12 weeks • Both low - and high - breath methane patients to be included • FDA required additional studies (~$45M) • Second 12 - week phase 3 study with 4 - week randomized withdrawal (per guidance) • Food effects study measuring plasma and stool levels in IBS - C patients • Pediatric study (to be agreed) • Pharmacokinetic study vs reference listed drug for 505(b)(2) pathway • 52 week safety study per ICH E1 guidelines • New FDA meeting to be requested after completion of Phase 2b clinical trial • Ideally propose a single dose to simplify Phase 3 program, reduce development cost and time EOP2 meeting with FDA after Phase 2a Study (July 2016) SYN - 010 Prior Regulatory Interactions IBS - C is the predominant IBS subtype diagnosed in children, with few current treatment options. FDA acknowledged in EOP2 meeting minutes that Mevacor® safety data would be supportive for potential SYN - 010 505(b)2 registratio n pathway. 41

 

 

SYN - 010 Comparison to Other IBS - C Products Parameter SYN - 010 Linaclotide Lubiprostone Plecanatide Tenapanor Company Synthetic Biologics Allergan / Ironwood Takeda / Sucampo Synergy Ardelyx Brand -- Linzess® Amitiza® Trulance™ -- Current Status Phase 2b Market Market Market Phase 3 Clinical Trial (No. Weeks) Phase 2a Open Label EXT (8) ¹ Phase 3 (12)² Phase 3 (12)³ Phase 3 (12)⁴ Phase 2b (12)⁵ Dose 42 mg q.d. 290 µg q.d. 8 µg b.i.d. 3 mg q.d. 50 mg b.i.d. Subjects on Drug (Placebo) 54 ( -- ) 806 (798) 325 (180) 728 (733) 84 (89) Response Drug (Placebo), % Subjects CSBM Response 55.8 ( -- ) 48.2 (26.1) -- 40.9 (31.4) 60.7 (33.7) Abdominal Pain Response 62.7 ( -- ) 49.5 (36.0) 36.7 (25.2) 36.8 (27.3) 65.5 (48.3) Overall Response 39.2 ( -- ) 33.6 (17.4) 26.3 (15.3) 25.7 (15.9) 50.0 (23.6) Bloating Response 72.5 ( -- ) 43.2 (26.8) 32.0 (25.1) Improved 59.5 (41.6) Diarrhea Incidence 1.9 ( -- ) ⁶ 19.3 (2.8) 4.9 (3.3) 4.3 (1.0) 11.2 (0.0) Nausea Incidence 0.0 ( -- )⁷ No data 9.3 (5.5) No data 3.4 (1.1) ¹Study not prospectively powered for formal statistical evaluation of clinical endpoints. ² Chey W (2012) Am J Gastroenterol 107: 1072 - 12 and Rao (2012) Am J Gastroenterol 107: 1714 - 24. ³Chang W (2016) Aliment Pharmacol Ther 44: 1114 - 22; calculations used SBMs as CSBMs not reported. ⁴ Brenner D (2018) Am J Gastroenterol 113: 735 - 45. ⁵Chey W (2017) Am J Gastroenterol 112: 763 - 74. ⁶ One case of diarrhea, not drug related. ⁷Prucalopride (2 mg q.d.) showed high rates of nausea (14%), diarrhea (13%) and headaches (19%) compared to placebo (7%, 5%, 9%) in Phase 3 trials of CIC; MOT EGR ITY prescribing CSBM Response: increase of ≥1 CSBM per week vs baseline in ≥50% of weeks Abdominal Pain Response: a ≥30% decrease vs baseline in weekly average worst abdominal pain score in ≥50% of weeks Bloating Response: a ≥30% decrease vs baseline in weekly average bloating score in ≥50% of weeks Overall Response: a CSBM Response and an Abdominal Pain Response in the same week in ≥50% of weeks 42

 

 

SYN - 010 effects on IBS - C symptoms in high - and low - breath methane producers SYN - 010 Phase 2b/3 Adaptive Clinical Trial (FDA) Treatment Period EOS | | | | | | | | - 17 - 14 1 8 22 29 57 85 Screen | - Diary Baseline - | DAY Pretreatment SYN - 010 21 mg q.d. (n=280) SYN - 010 42 mg q.d. (n=280) Placebo q.d. (n=280) Multicenter study (up to 150 sites) with an optional interim futility analysis to be conducted when 50% the patients have com ple ted 12 weeks of the study Complete spontaneous bowel movements ( CSBMs ), worst abdominal pain score (0 - 10), worst abdominal bloating score (0 - 4), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale) and laxative use are recorded by patients each day using an e - PRO device. Primary endpoint = Proportion of Overall Responders during the 12 - week Treatment Period • Male or female 18 - 65 years • IBS - C symptoms (Rome III) for ≥6 months • High (≥5 ppm) and low (<5 ppm) breath CH 4 in each arm • Weekly abdominal pain score ≥3.0 during Pretreatment • <3 CSBMs and ≤5 SBMs per week during Pretreatment Daily reporting of stool frequency, stool consistency, abdominal pain, bloating, laxative use; weekly PAC - SYM Clinic Visits Breath CH 4 H 2 CO 2 EQ - 5D - 5L PK sample 43

 

 

IBS - C patients with low breath CH 4 but high gut CH 4 should also benefit from SYN - 010¹ Why Include Low Breath Methane Patients? ¹Kim G (2012) Dig Dis Sci 57: 3213 - 8 ; the population prevalence of IBS - C patients with low breath CH 4 but constipating gut CH 4 has not been established. Breath CH 4 Detectable (≥3 ppm) M. smithii (copies/g wet stool)¹ Elevated Gut CH 4 Healthy ~10 4 ~10 6 Constipated 44

 

 

Pending Patent Applications • Formulations • Methods of Use in Specific Patient Populations • Clinical Dosing Expires 2035 Patented and Pending Methods of Treatment Treat Constipation with SYN - 010 in Screened Patients Expires 2034 Patented Methods of Treatment Broadest Indication Expires 2023 Extensive patent portfolio, multiple protection strategies SYN - 010 Patent Position Principal intellectual property licensed from Cedars - Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA) ~60 Granted Patents and ~25 Pending Applications (US & International) 45

 

 

SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Preventing aGVHD and VRE

 

 

Allogeneic HCT, Antibiotics and Adverse Outcomes Shono Y (2016) Sci Transl Med 8: 339ra71. Taur Y (2012) Clin Infect Dis 55: 905 - 14. Tavadze M (2014) Bone Marrow Transp l ant 49: 1310 - 16. Dubberke ER (2010) Clin Transplant 24: 192 - 8. Dubberke ER (2017) Transplant Dir 3: e145. D’Souza A (2017) Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 23: 1417 - 21. Preparation Engraftment - 10 HCT 14 30 Days Relative to HCT 100 Prophylaxis Levofloxacin Metronidazole Rifaximin Acute GVHD (40 - 60%) 47 Post - Engraftment First Line Piperacillin/ Tazo Cefepime Carbapenem (CN) Second Line Carbapenem Vancomycin Aminoglycosides Chemotherapy ± WB Radiation ± T - cell  CDI (10 - 30%) Recurrent CDI (20 - 30%) VRE Bacteremia (6 - 16%) Pre - Engraft 10.6% 100 day 40 - 70% 3 - year VRE New Colonization (~40%)  Gut barrier function  Microbiome diversity Conditioning Antibiotics GI Effects Broad spectrum (anti - anaerobic) β - lactam antibiotics  Loss of gut Clostridiales, overgrowth by Enterococci  Increased aGVHD, VRE bacteremia, CDI, mortality

 

 

SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Addressing a Global Problem

 

 

Antibiotic use worldwide Antibiotics can Damage the Microbiome β - Lactam Antibiotics Some of the worst intestinal microbiome damaging agents ~64% of the World’s antibiotics ~57% of US antibiotics 100’s of millions of patients 49 IV, PO Cephalosporins IV, PO Penicillins IV Carbapenems 49.6B Doses ALL Antibiotics 77.3B Doses IV Cephalosporins IV Penicillins 7.5B Doses Data extracted from IMS Health 2017; doses in standard units. Macrolides, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines make up the majo rit y of the remaining non - β - lactam antibiotics N S NH 2 N O CH 3 O NH N S O S O N N NH O O CH 3 NaO

 

 

N S NH 2 N O CH 3 O NH NH S O S N N NH O O CH 3 NaO O OH N S NH 2 N O CH 3 O NH N S O S O N N NH O O CH 3 NaO SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Proprietary oral formulation of an antibiotic - degrading enzyme • Enteric - protected, oral formulation of a proprietary class A, β - lactamase (P3A) • First generation enzyme (P1A) was successfully evaluated in over 250 subjects in European Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials with ampicillin and piperacillin/tazobactam • Limited activity against cephalosporins • P3A was modified from the first generation enzyme (P1A) to expand activity to include cephalosporins Tarkkanen A (2009) Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 53: 2455 - 62. Pitout JD (2009) Curr Opin Investig Drugs 10: 838 - 44. Kaleko M (2016) Anaerobe 41: 58 - 67 ACTIVE INACTIVE SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Ceftriaxone 50

 

 

Clostridium difficile Gram positive, spore - forming bacterium • Exists as toxigenic and non - toxigenic species in the colon • Up to 15% of healthy adults have asymptomatic C. difficile colonization¹ , ² • Readily transmitted by contact with spores • Symptomatic C. difficile infection ( CDI ) is due to secretion of an enterotoxin (toxin A; TcdA ) and a cytotoxin (toxin B; TcdB ) • Toxins can cause diarrhea and inflammation • Serious complications of CDI include pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, colon perforation, sepsis and death ¹Furuya - Kanamori L et al. (2015) BMC Infect Dis 15 :516. ²Donskey CJ et al. (2015) Infect Dis Clin N Am 29: 13 – 28 A major cause of CDI is disruption to the gut microbiome by antibiotics 51

 

 

606,058 CDI patients in the USA in 2014 ~7 extra days spent in the hospital by CDI patients² $5.4B added cost to healthcare and community in 2014 44,500 CDI - attributable deaths (7%) Epidemiological and economic burden of CDI in the USA from a modeling approach¹ Clostridium difficile Infection is Costly ¹Desai K (2016) BMC Infect Dis (2016) 16: 303. Overnight stays in the hospital contributed 78% of the total direct and indirect costs of CDI cases in healthcare facilities and 52% of costs for CDI cases originating in the community. ²van Kleef E (2014) J Hosp Infect 88 :213 - 7 >1 in 5 experience at least one CDI recurrence 52

 

 

• AMR is a serious global threat - world leaders are taking action • Governments recognize the need to expedite drug review timelines • Leaders in industry and academia are developing action plans • Worldwide concern over potential Antibiotic Armageddon ¹ • Failure to address AMR may result in 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050, costing $100 trillion in economic output² • Synthetic Biologics is pioneering therapeutics to prevent the emergence of AMR • Awarded CDC contract to evaluate the ability of ribaxamase to prevent AMR³ Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 53 Declaration on Combatting Antibiotic Resistance – 2016 HHS ¹ European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases https://www.escmid.org/ ²https://www.antimicrobialsworkinggroup.org/antimicrobial - resistance/ ³CDC Advanced and Innovative Solutions to Improve Public Health Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 2016 - N - 17812. 53

 

 

Dog Toxicology & PK Phase 1a SYN - 004 Single Dose Phase 2a SYN - 004 + ceftriaxone IV SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Development Pig Microbiome Protection Phase 2a SYN - 004 + ceftriaxone IV + PPI Phase 1b SYN - 004 Multiple Dose • Safe and well tolerated in dogs ( NOAEL 57 mg/kg/day )¹ • Degraded ceftriaxone in the chyme ( no effect on plasma levels ) • Protected the pig gut microbiome from β - lactam antibiotics • Prevented emergence of antimicrobial resistance genes² , ³ • Healthy subjects ( up to 300 mg q6h x 7 days )⁴ • Oral doses well tolerated with few AEs • Negligible systemic bioavailability • Was not immunogenic • Healthy subjects with functioning ileostomies⁵ • Degraded ceftriaxone in the chyme • Did not alter ceftriaxone plasma levels • Degradation of ceftriaxone was unaltered by PPI ¹Kokai - Kun JF et al. (2016) Int J Toxicol 35: 309 - 16. ²Kaleko M et al. (2016) Anaerobe 41: 58 - 67. ³Connelly S et al. (2017) J Appl Microbiol ePub Feb 28 . ⁴Roberts T et al. (2016) Clin Drug Investig 36: 725 - 34. ⁵Kokai - Kun JF et al. (2017) Antimicrob Agents Chemother 61: e02197 - 16 54

 

 

Prevention of CDI in patients receiving IV ceftriaxone to treat a LRTI SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Clinical Trial ¹ LRTI clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe lower respiratory tract infection. ²Ceftriaxone in - patient IV dosing regimen and length of dosing were determined by local standard - of - care ³84 sites were opened; however, only 54 sites enrolled patients: 5 sites in North America and 49 sites in Europe ⁴ VRE vancomyin - resistant enterococci; ESBL - GNB extended spectrum β - lactamase Gram negative bacteria Treatment Period 1 Follow - up 2 Screen³ Day 1 5 - 14 days 72 h 6 Weeks Ribaxamase Cohort n = 206 Placebo Cohort n = 206 Ceftriaxone (IV)² SYN - 004 (Oral, 150 mg q6h) Ceftriaxone (IV)² Placebo (Oral, q6h) Primary endpoint: • % Patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) from Day 1 to 4 - week Follow - up Secondary endpoints include: • % Patients with CDI from Day 1 to the 2 - and 6 - week Follow - up • % Patients with C. difficile - negative diarrhea (AAD) from Day 1 to the 2 - , 4 - and 6 - week Follow - up Exploratory microbiome endpoints: • Change in stool colonization by C. difficile , VRE, ESBL - GNB • Changes in fecal microbiome and bacterial resistance genes from T0 to T1 and T2  Clinic visit. T 0 T 1 T 2 = rectal swabs for colonization and fecal samples for microbiome analysis T 0 2 4 6 T 1 T 2 55

 

 

Ribaxamase caused a 71.4% reduction in CDI (achieved primary endpoint) SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Trial Results ¹Patients are determined to have CDI (also called C. difficile associated diarrhea or CDAD) if they have diarrhea and the stool sample is positive for C. difficile toxin A and/or B (or their respective genes, tcdA and/or tcdB) using the local site laboratory results (approved ELISA or NAA T a ssay) ²Confirmatory analyses at a central lab identified CDI in 8 Placebo and 2 ribaxamase treated subjects at week 4 (P=0.0268*) *P - values are based on one - sided z - test (Chi - square) for the comparison of ribaxamase to Placebo 56

 

 

Ribaxamase caused a 43.9% reduction in new colonization by VRE SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Trial Results ¹ VRE = Vancomyin - resistant enterococci; new colonization means patient samples were negative at screening (T 0 ) but positive at either T 1 (72h) or T 2 (Week 4) so T 2 (Week 4) data are cumulative and include T 1 . ²New C. difficile colonization is not the same as CDI and may be asymptomatic; none of the subjects who developed CDI in this study were colonized with C. difficil e at baseline or had CDI prior to ribaxamase therapy. ³P - values are based on one - sided z - test (Chi - square) for the comparison of ribaxamase to Placebo 57

 

 

Trend to decreased diarrhea overall in ribaxamase treatment groups SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Trial Results ¹ CDI (also called C. difficile associated diarrhea or CDAD) means the diarrhea stool sample is positive for C. difficile toxin A and/or B (or their respective genes, tcdA and/or tcdB ); if negative, the diarrhea is categorized as AAD (antibiotic associated diarrhea) ²Sites reported diarrhea if the patients had 3 or more unformed stools (6 or 7 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale) per 24 hour p eri od ²P - values are based on one - sided z - test (Chi - square) for the comparison of SYN - 004 to Placebo 58

 

 

SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Protected the Gut Microbiome ¹Shannon Index and Chao1 represent α - diversity, a measure of the microbial community composition within a sample ²Size of each ball is relative to the standard error of the sample group 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 Shannon Diversity Chao1 Diversity 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 8 8.1 8.2 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 Shannon Diversity Chao1 Diversity Placebo Ribaxamase T0 T1 T1 CRO Treatment Recovery CRO Treatment T0 Recovery T2 T2 Compared to T0, patients receiving ribaxamase demonstrated significantly better maintenance and recovery of microbial diversity at T1 and T2 versus Placebo Lower diversity Higher diversity Higher diversity Lower diversity 59

 

 

Parameter Placebo Ribaxamase Dose Ceftriaxone IV infusion, days 8.4 ± 2.9 8.5 ± 3.1 Ceftriaxone, total g received 17.7 ± 6.9 18.9 ± 9.1 Study drug exposure, days 11.0 ± 3.3 11.0 ± 3.5 Demographics Subjects, n (% Female) 206 (38.8%) 206 (35.4%) White/Caucasian, n (%) 205 (99.5%) 206 (100%) Age , years 69.7 ± 9.4 68.8 ± 9.4 BMI, kg/m² 26.9 ± 5.4 26.5 ± 5.3 Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) Subjects with at least 1 TEAE, n (%) 91 (44.2%) 84 (40.8%) Drug - related TEAE, n (%) 1 (0.5%) 5 (2.4%) Subjects with at least 1 SAE, n (%) 21 (10.2%) 33 (16.0%) Drug - related SAE, n (%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Subjects with Fatal TEAE, n (%) 5 (2.4%) 11 (5.3%) Cancer COD 2 (1.0%) 2 (1.0%) Respiratory COD 2 (1.0%) 3 (1.5%) Cardiac COD 1 (0.5%) 6 (2.9%)¹ , ² All subjects were hospitalized for treatment of moderate to severe lower respiratory tract infection ( LRTI ); data are mean ± SD unless indicated. SAE Serious Adverse Even. COD cause - of - death. ¹One subject died on Study day 1. ²Non - fatal cardiovascular TEAEs were not different for SYN - 004 (3) and Placebo (4). SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Safety Difference in cardiac fatal AEs is attributable to a disparity in underlying health and comorbidities 60

 

 

• Patients with one or more of these 3 factors accounted for: • 79% of patients in the Placebo group ‒ 100% of Fatal AEs in the Placebo group (5/5) • 78% of patients in the SYN - 004 group ‒ 82% of Fatal AEs in SYN - 004 group (9/11) ‒ 5 of 6 Cardiac Fatal AEs in the SYN - 004 group • Percentage of patients with ALL 3 risk factors was 2.3 - times higher in the SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) treatment group compared to Placebo • Accounted for 4 of 6 cardiac fatal AEs in the SYN - 004 group Fatal AEs Associated with Key Cardiac Risk Factors ¹Plasma glucose >7.8 mmol/L at Screening. ²Blood urea nitrogen ( BUN ) >8.2 mmol/L at Screening. COPD =chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reported in patient history. RESPIRATORY RENAL METABOLIC COPD ± Cor pulmonale GLUCOSE Elevated¹ BUN Elevated² *ALL 3* 61

 

 

• The increased number of cardiac fatal AEs in the SYN - 004 treatment group was attributable to a random disparate distribution of cardiac risk factors that predisposed patients in the SYN - 004 group to worse clinical outcomes • “No support for a reasonable possibility of a causal relationship between the exposure to SYN - 004 and the occurrence of the reported fatal AE was identified in any of the cases reviewed in this subset. ” ‒ United BioSource Corporation (UBC)¹ • There is no mechanistic rationale for why a non - absorbed enzyme, confined to the intestinal tract, would adversely impact cardiovascular parameters • No SAEs or cardiovascular signals were observed in Phase 1 or Phase 2a clinical trials • Synthetic Biologics takes patient safety very seriously and will continue to prioritize and expand safety monitoring in Phase 3 clinical trials² SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 2b Safety Summary ¹United BioSource Corporation. “Safety Evaluation of the Findings from the SYN - 004 Phase 2b Study (Protocol SB - 2 - 004 - 005)”. 30 M ay 2017 ²Delaying antibiotic treatment to enable stratification and randomization of patients by risk factor prior to study drug admi nis tration is infeasible (if not unethical) as the patients present with an acute infection and need to be treated with antibiotic immediat ely . 62

 

 

Prevention of CDI in patients receiving IV β - lactam antibiotics SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Phase 3 Clinical Trial (FDA) β - lactam AbX = penicillins (piperacillin/tazobactam, ampicillin/sulbactam) and cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefepime, cefoperazone ); IV dosing regimen and hospital length of stay determined by local standard - of - care and some patients may continue IV AbX off - site after hospital discharge. Index infection = infection with suspected anatomical site, incl. lower respiratory tract, complicated urinary tract, surgical site, and intraa bdo minal infections. CDI Clostridium difficile infection. VRE vancomycin resistant enterococci. Treatment Period 1 Efficacy Phase 2 Screen | ≥3 days | 72 h | 1 3 No. of months from the end of SYN - 004 Treatment SYN - 004 Group (n≈2,000) Placebo Group (n≈2,000) β - lactam AbX (IV) SYN - 004 (Oral, 150 mg q6h) β - lactam AbX (IV) Placebo (Oral, q6h) Primary endpoints: • % Patients with CDI from Day 1 until end of Efficacy Phase (1 month); P - value close to 0.001 ) • Non - inferiority in mortality from Day 1 until 3 months after the last SYN - 004 dose ( RR=1.3 ) Secondary endpoints: • % Patients with new colonization by C. difficile or VRE from Day 1 until the end of Study Drug • % Patients whose index infection was adequately treated by the prescribed IV β - lactam antibiotic as assessed by the investigator Exploratory endpoints: • Healthcare utilization measures including potential CDI recurrence • Changes in fecal microbiome and bacterial resistance genes    Clinic visit: fecal swabs (colonization) and fecal samples (microbiome analysis) Survival Phase Twice weekly q24h 63

 

 

Pending Patent Applications • Methods of Manufacture • Clinical Dosing, Formulation • Methods of Treatment Expires 2035/6 Patented other β - Lactamase Composition of Matter & Uses Expires 2035 Patented ribaxamase Composition of Matter Expires 2031 Extensive patent portfolio, multiple protection strategies SYN - 004 (ribaxamase) Patent Position Intellectual property owned outright by Synthetic Biologics, Inc. ~60 Granted Patents and ~55 Pending Applications (US & International) 64

 

 

SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) DR Protecting the microbiome from ORAL β - lactam antibiotics

 

 

Designed to prevent oral β - lactam antibiotics from reaching the colon SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) DR for Oral β - Lactams SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) Treat Systemic Infection Stomach Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cecum Colon Ribaxamase enzyme released into the lower small intestine degrades β - lactam antibiotic β - lactam β - lactam β - lactam β - lactam β - lactam β - lactam β - lactam 66

 

 

Prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea ( AAD ) in children SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) DR Potential Indication Kuehn (2015) J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 20: 90 – 104. Tähtinen PA (2011) N Engl J Med. 364: 116 - 26. Ferreira JB (2006) Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 72: 104 - 11 67 Amoxicillin 2 - 18% Amoxicillin + Clavulanate 20 - 70% Diarrhea Diarrhea SYN - 007

 

 

SYN - 007 (ribaxamase) DR Status • Preclinical proof - of - concept achieved in dog models • Patent applications filed • Potential to expand preclinical evaluation to oral cephalosporins (cefuroxime, cefaclor ) • Same enzyme as phase 3 product SYN - 004; anticipate limited requirement for preclinical toxicology • Potential to rapidly advance to Phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate SYN - 007 dose • Confirm absence of effects on amoxicillin pharmacokinetics • Measure effects on microbiome in stool samples • Undertake age de - escalating Phase 2/3 clinical trial in children with infections • Primary endpoint reduction in AAD (use PRO diaries to ensure rigorous reporting) • Ensure no adverse impact on amoxicillin cure rates • Development work required • Finalize formulation and pediatric delivery • CMC process development and GMP manufacture Opportunity for innovation, manufacturing and rapid advance to the clinic 68 AAD antibiotic associated diarrhea

 

 

SYN - 006 (carbapenemase) Preventing Carbapenem Resistance Enterococci (CRE)

 

 

• Carbapenems are potent β - lactam antibiotics • Carbapenems are typically second - line therapy for febrile neutropenia ( FN ) in the USA but are first - line therapy for FN in China • Carbapenems and clindamycin were associated with more CDI than other antibiotics in randomized clinical trials and carbapenem resistance is a growing global concern • SYN - 006 is an enteric - protected oral formulation of a class B metallo - β - lactamase enzyme ( P2A ) • Degrades carbapenems (ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem) in addition to cephalosporins and penicillins • Advancing SYN - 006 has potential therapeutic and strategic benefit • Broader spectrum β - lactamase activity expands use • Significant interest in China due to increasing rates of fatal CRE bacteremia Next - generation antibiotic degrading enzyme with broader spectrum of activity SYN - 006 (carbapenemase) Freifeld AG (2011) Clin Infect Dis 52: e56 - e93. Han L (2018) Front Immunol 9: 669. Vardakas KZ (2016) Int J Antimicrob Agents 48: 1 - 10. Meletis G (2016) Ther Adv Infect Dis. 3: 15 - 21. CRE: carbapenem resistant enterococci. 70

 

 

SYN - 006 (carbapenemase) Strategy • Preclinical proof - of - concept achieved in dog and pig models • Protected the gut microbiome without altering systemic ertapenem and meropenem PK¹ , ² • Patent applications filed • Potential to rapidly advance to Phase 1 clinical trials • Confirm absence of effects on IV carbapenem pharmacokinetics • Measure effects on microbiome in stool samples • Phase 2/3 studies directed to prevention of aGVHD, CRE colonization/bacteremia • CRE bacteremia rates are increasing worldwide • Development work required • Finalize formulation and dosing regimen • CMC process development and GMP manufacture Opportunity for innovation, manufacturing and rapid advance to the clinic 71 Kaleko M (2017) IDWeek 2017, San Diego, CA. Connelly (2016) ASM Microbe 2016, Boston, MA. Potter RF (2016) Drug Resist Updat 29: 30 – 46. CRE carbapenem resistant enterococci

 

 

• Potential clinical indication recommended by China KOL • Hematologist and Vice Chair of a National Committee evaluating infectious complications in cancer • Carbapenems are first - line treatment for febrile neutropenia (FN) in hematologic cancer patients in China (PIP/TAZO 2 ƒ ) • Clinical site performs ~600 HCTs p.a. (30 - 40% allogeneic); complicated post - transplant care structure¹ • Clinical site administers chemotherapy to 1,000 - 2,000 patients p.a. who have hematologic malignancies but don’t get HCT (60 - 70% get FN)² • Infection by CRE is a recognized and increasing health threat in China • KOL estimated CRE infection rate is 10 - 20% in non - HCT chemotherapy patients • Very poor prognosis/high mortality in patients with CRE bacteremia • CRE is a specific area of interest for China CDC • Strong potential China - first/China specific rationale for development funding • Prevention of CRE in China could be a parallel path to prevention of aGVHD indication in USA • Further detailed diligence on CRE colonization vs bacteremia and potential SYN - 006 benefit is underway Prevention of CRE in cancer chemotherapy patients SYN - 006 (carbapenemase) China Clinical Strategy ¹HCT patients spend 20 days in hematology ward then sent to a separate hospital for post - HCT care and follow - up ²Non - HCT chemotherapy patients who get a fever but don’t have neutropenia will be treated with a cephalosporin instead of a carb apenem 72