Synthetic Biologics Reaches License And Option Deals With Cedars-Sinai Medical

(RTTNews) - Synthetic Biologics Inc. (SYN) announced that it entered into worldwide license and option agreements with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the development of new treatment approaches to target non-bacterial intestinal microorganism life forms known as archaea that are associated with intestinal methane production and chronic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, obesity and type 2 diabetes, through its newly formed subsidiary, Synthetic Biomics, Inc.

Cedars-Sinai investigators have discovered that eradicating archaea and inhibiting intestinal methane production may treat the underlying cause of major diseases not typically considered forms of infectious diseases.

Ongoing efforts include formulating and clinically testing non-antibiotic FDA-approved oral drug candidates for ultimate product registration via potential expedited pathways. Such candidates are intended for the specific eradication of gastrointestinal archaea and prevention of their recolonization, with the goal of having little or no impact on a patient's normal bacterial microflora.

The Company licensed and optioned from Cedars-Sinai a portfolio of intellectual property comprised of several U.S. and international patents and pending patent applications for various fields of use, including C-IBS, obesity and diabetes.

"We are pleased to initiate this exciting new anti-infective approach to treat these major archaea-implicated disease indications with Cedars-Sinai along with Dr. Pimentel's leadership," said Jeffrey Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics Inc. "