Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (SYN)

The initiation of monocloncal antibody (mAb) development for the treatment of pertussis is the second of three infectious disease indications Synthetic Biologics intends to pursue as part of its August 2012 collaboration with Intrexon Corporation.

To further the development of this potential mAb therapy for pertussis, Synthetic Biologics has entered into an agreement with The University of Texas at Austin to license the rights to certain research and pending patents related to pertussis antibodies. These research efforts are being conducted at the Cockrell School of Engineering in the laboratory of Assistant Professor, Jennifer A. Maynard, Ph.D., the Laurence E. McMakin, Jr. Centennial Faculty Fellow in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. Dr. Maynard brings to the project her expertise in defining the key neutralizing epitopes of pertussis toxin to optimize the potential efficacy of antibody therapeutics

Acting as the body's army, antibodies are proteins, generally found in the bloodstream, that provide immunity in detecting and destroying pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria and their associated toxins. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can also be designed and produced as therapeutic agents, utilizing protein engineering and recombinant production technologies. The mAbs being developed under the Synthetic Biologics’ collaboration with Intrexon are intended to supplement a patient's own immune system by providing the means to specifically and rapidly neutralize and/or clear specific pathogens and toxins of interest in a process known as “passive immunity”. Many pathogens that cause infectious diseases are innately resistant to, or over time have developed increased resistance to, antibiotics and other drugs. Synthetic Biologics intends to utilize Intrexon’s comprehensive suite of proprietary mAb design and recombinant protein production technologies to efficiently create potent candidate mAbs, SYN-001, for human testing and use to specifically treat Acinetobacter.

Many infectious diseases are innately resistant to, or over time have developed increased resistance to, antibiotics and other drugs. In August 2012, Synthetic Biologics announced a second worldwide exclusive channel collaboration with Intrexon Corporation. Using Intrexon’s comprehensive suite of proprietary technologies and processes, Synthetic Biologics intends to develop and commercialize a series of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for the treatment of certain infectious diseases not adequately addressed by existing therapies.

Effirma™ for Fibromyalgia

Synthetic Biologics has partnered the development of Effirma^™ (flupirtine), a centrally-acting investigational oral drug, for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with Meda AB. Effirma is a selective neuronal potassium channel opener that also has NMDA receptor antagonist properties. Effirma is a non-opioid, non-NSAID, non-steroidal, analgesic. Preclinical data and clinical experience suggest that Effirma should also be effective for neuropathic pain since it acts in the central nervous system via a mechanism of action distinguishable from most marketed analgesics. Effirma is especially attractive because it operates through non-opiate pain pathways, exhibits no known abuse potential, and lacks withdrawal effects. In addition, no tolerance to its antinocioceptive effects has been observed. One common link between neuroprotection, nocioception and Effirma may be the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid glutamate system, a major receptor subtype for the excitotoxic neurotransmitter, glutamate. Effirma has strong inhibitory actions on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-mediated neurotransmission. Flupirtine was originally developed by Asta Medica (subsequently acquired by Meda AB) and has been approved and is marketed by Meda AB in Europe since 1984, as well as other countries, for the treatment of pain. It has never been approved by the FDA for any indication.

On May 6, 2010, Synthetic Biologics and Pipex, its wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a sublicense agreement with Meda AB, a multi-billion dollar international pharmaceutical company, pursuant to which Meda AB assumed all future development costs and may commercialize flupirtine for fibromyalgia in the United States. As consideration for such sublicense, Synthetic Biologics received an up-front payment of $2.5 million and is entitled to milestone payments of $5 million upon the FDA’s acceptance of the New Drug Application (NDA) for flupirtine for fibromyalgia and $10 million upon FDA approval of such NDA. Pursuant to the sublicense agreement, Synthetic Biologics will also receive a 7% royalty on net sales of flupirtine for fibromyalgia in the United States, Canada and Japan, with such royalties being shared equally with Synthetic Biologic’s licensor, McLean Hospital, a Harvard teaching hospital.

Flupirtine is approved and marketed by Meda AB and its distributors in Europe and other countries for indications other than fibromyalgia and has been prescribed to millions of patients worldwide. Synthetic Biologics believes that such substantial human experience with flupirtine should greatly assist the FDA in its evaluation of the safety of flupirtine upon review of an NDA of flupirtine for fibromyalgia. According to Meda’s 2010 Annual Report, flupirtine for fibromyalgia is currently in Phase II development.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by widespread pain and stiffness throughout the body, often accompanied by severe fatigue, insomnia and mood symptoms. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia affects an estimated 3-6% of the population worldwide, including an estimated 10 million patients in the U.S.

There are presently three FDA products approved for this indication in the United States – Lyrica^®, Cymbalta^® and Savella^®. Flupirtine is differentiated from these products in that it employs a unique mode of action.