CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synlogic (Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical-stage company applying synthetic biology to probiotics to develop novel living medicines, today provided an overview of recent progress and outlined key objectives and anticipated milestones for 2018.
“For Synlogic, 2017 was a landmark year in which we made significant clinical progress with the completion of the first-in-human trial of our Synthetic Biotic platform,” said J.C. Gutiérrez-Ramos, Ph.D., Synlogic’s president and chief executive officer. “Importantly, this study in healthy volunteers provided the first ever demonstration of a dose-dependent effect on a systemic metabolite by an orally-administered living medicine which functions in the gut. We demonstrated that our Synthetic Biotic medicine was safe and well tolerated, and gained valuable experience in manufacturing, dosing and clinical evaluation of this new therapeutic modality. In 2018 we expect to present the full data from this study and further validate the platform with several clinical catalysts including the initiation of three clinical trials in our two lead programs for hyperammonemia and phenylketonuria.”
2018 Goals and Catalysts:
SYNB1020: An orally delivered, first-in-class, Synthetic Biotic medicine designed for treatment of elevated blood ammonia levels (hyperammonemia) in genetic urea cycle disorders (UCDs) or in chronic liver disease.
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Plan to present full data from Synlogic’s first-in-human clinical
study evaluating SYNB1020 in healthy volunteers at two medical
meetings in the first quarter of 2018:
- Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD) Annual Meeting – March 11-14, 2018, in San Diego, CA.
- International Conference on Ureagenesis Defects: Novel Models and Treatment Options – March 19-21, 2018, in Engadin, Switzerland.
- Initiation of Phase 1b/2a study in cirrhotic patients with elevated ammonia in the first quarter of 2018, with interim data expected by year-end. An Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enabling Synlogic to initiate this clinical trial.
- Initiation of second Phase 1b/2a study in UCD patients in mid-2018, with data expected in 2019.
SYNB1618: An orally delivered, Synthetic Biotic medicine designed for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Initiation of Phase 1 SAD/MAD study in healthy volunteers and PKU patients in the first half of 2018, with interim data expected in the second half of 2018.
Pre-clinical data and early pipeline programs
- Additional data to be presented at major scientific and medical meetings throughout the year demonstrating the breadth of Synlogic’s Synthetic Biotic platform in new indications, including data from the company’s research and preclinical immuno-oncology program.
Corporate
- Advancement of collaborations with AbbVie in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Ginkgo in neurological and liver disease.
- Continued exploration of additional strategic opportunities to expand the platform’s reach.
2017 Accomplishments and Highlights:
SYNB1020:
- Granted Fast Track Designation from the FDA in UCDs.
- Completed Phase 1 trial and reported top-line data from healthy volunteers. The study demonstrated safety and tolerability at doses up to 1.5 x 1012 CFU daily, as well as proof-of-mechanism with a statistically significant, dose-dependent effect on plasma nitrate in stable isotope tracer studies using 15NH4Cl. These data suggest that, functioning from the gut, SYNB1020 could potentially have a clinically meaningful effect in patients with elevated blood ammonia levels.
SYNB1618:
- Granted Orphan Drug Designation from FDA for treatment of PKU.
- Presented positive pre-clinical data at the International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (ICIEM) in support of further development of SYN1618 for the treatment of PKU, and SYN-MSUD for the treatment of Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).
Corporate
- Closed merger with Mirna Therapeutics and successfully listed on Nasdaq exchange under ticker symbol SYBX.
- Achieved first milestone in AbbVie collaboration to develop Synthetic Biotic-based treatments for IBD.
- Announced a strategic collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks to discover new living medicines to treat neurological and liver disorders.
- Grew organization to support increased clinical activity and expansion of development and manufacturing capabilities, including key hires in corporate development, human resources and legal departments which will support continued evolution of the company as it advances its platform of Synthetic Biotic medicines.
About Synthetic Biotic Medicines
Synlogic’s innovative new
class of Synthetic Biotic medicines leverages the tools and principles
of synthetic biology to genetically engineer probiotic microbes to
perform or deliver critical functions missing or damaged due to disease.
The company’s two lead programs target a group of rare metabolic
diseases – inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Patients with these
diseases are born with a faulty gene, inhibiting the body’s ability to
break down commonly occurring by-products of digestion that then
accumulate to toxic levels and cause serious health consequences. When
delivered orally, these medicines can act from the gut to compensate for
the dysfunctional metabolic pathway and have a systemic effect.
Synthetic Biotic medicines are designed to clear toxic metabolites
associated with specific metabolic diseases and have the potential to
significantly improve symptoms of disease for affected patients.
About Synlogic
Synlogic is pioneering the development of a
novel class of living medicines, Synthetic Biotic medicines, based on
its proprietary drug development platform. Synlogic’s initial pipeline
includes Synthetic Biotic medicines for the treatment of rare genetic
diseases, such as urea cycle disorders (UCD) and phenylketonuria (PKU).
In addition, the company is leveraging the broad potential of its
platform to create Synthetic Biotic medicines for the treatment of more
common diseases, including liver disease, inflammatory and immune
disorders, and cancer. Synlogic is collaborating with AbbVie to develop
Synthetic Biotic-based treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
For more information, please visit www.synlogictx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
“forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding
strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue,
projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. In addition, when or if used in this press
release, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar
expressions and their variants, as they relate to Synlogic may identify
forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements,
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of
Synlogic’s platform to develop therapeutics to address a wide range of
diseases including: inborn errors of metabolism, liver disease,
inflammatory and immune disorders, and cancer; the future clinical
development of Synthetic Biotic medicines; the approach Synlogic is
taking to discover and develop novel therapeutics using synthetic
biology; the potential of Synlogic’s technology to treat hyperammonemia
and phenylketonuria; the expected timing of Synlogic’s anticipated
clinical trial initiations; the advancement of our collaborations, and
the benefit of orphan drug status. Actual results could differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a
result of various factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the
preclinical development process; the ability of Synlogic to protect its
intellectual property rights; and legislative, regulatory, political and
economic developments, as well as those risks identified under the
heading “Risk Factors” in Synlogic’s filings with the SEC. The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect
Synlogic’s current views with respect to future events. Synlogic
anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views
to change. However, while Synlogic may elect to update these
forward-looking statements in the future, Synlogic specifically
disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements
should not be relied upon as representing Synlogic’s view as of any date
subsequent to the date hereof.
