CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synlogic, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical stage company applying synthetic biology to probiotics to develop novel, living medicines, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.

“2019 is an exciting year for Synlogic as we continue to advance out platform and programs,” said Aoife Brennan, M.B., Ch.B. Synlogic’s president and chief executive officer. “Data expected mid-year from clinical trials of SYNB1020 and SYNB1618, in patients with hyperammonemia and phenylketonuria, respectively, will guide our plans for future development of our Synthetic Biotic medicines in these areas and additional rare metabolic diseases. We are also exploring new applications of our platform as we advance our first immuno-oncology program toward submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and into clinical studies. Furthermore, with our increased capability to manufacture clinical trial material, we are now in a position to advance our programs through development as expeditiously as possible.”

2019 Priorities
Pipeline

• Presentation of top-line data from Phase 1b/2a study of SYNB1020 in patients with cirrhosis and elevated blood ammonia expected by mid-year. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to assess safety and tolerability, the ability of orally administered SYNB1020 to lower blood ammonia as well as its effect on several exploratory measures associated with hyperammonemia in this population. These data will provide valuable information for both platform development and the development path for Synlogic’s hyperammonemia program.
• Presentation of top-line data from study to evaluate SYNB1618 in patients with PKU expected by mid-year. The second part of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to assess safety and tolerability of orally administered SYNB1618 in a single dose (N=4) and multiple dose cohort (N=10) of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). Additional endpoints of the study will explore the production of biomarkers of SYNB1618 activity that are expected to provide information as to the differences in pharmacodynamics of the Synthetic Biotic medicine in patients versus healthy volunteers.
• Advancement of SYNB1891 immuno-oncology program candidate to enable filing of an IND application in the second half of the year. SYNB1891 is an intra-tumorally administered Synthetic Biotic medicine engineered to produce cyclic di-AMP (CDA), an agonist of the STING pathway, that is designed to serve as a dual innate activator of the immune system as a potential treatment for solid tumors.
• Continued progress and refinement of manufacturing and process development. Synlogic is developing and manufacturing solid oral Synthetic Biotic formulations suitable for Phase 2 clinical trials and beyond.
• Advancement of new research programs to expand product pipeline.
• Presentation and publication of data at major scientific and medical meetings. Synlogic is committed to publishing and presenting data that demonstrate the breadth of Synlogic’s Synthetic Biotic platform.
• Advancement of collaboration. On March 6, 2019, Synlogic announcedthat its collaboration with AbbVie to develop a Synthetic Biotic medicine for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had advanced into lead optimization triggering a milestone payment to Synlogic. The two companies will work together to develop and enable the selection of a suitable candidate for entry into IND-enabling studies.

Corporate

• Continued strengthening of Synlogic’s leadership. In February 2019, Synlogic announced the appointment of Patricia N. Hurter, Ph.D.,Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical and Preclinical Sciences at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,to its board of directors. Synlogic is also conducting a search to fill the position of Chief Medical Officer vacated by Dr. Brennan.
• Continued exploration of additional strategic opportunities. Synlogic expects to develop additional strategic collaborations to expand the reach of the Synthetic Biotic platform.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Results
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Synlogic reported a consolidated net loss of $11.9 million, or $0.47 per share, compared to a net loss of $11.7 million, or $0.74 per share, for the corresponding period in 2017.

Research and development expenses were $8.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $7.7 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in compensation-related expenses associated with increased headcount and increases in expenses related to the lease of a larger facility at 301 Binney Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which Synlogic occupied in January 2018.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $4.0 million compared to $4.3 million for the corresponding period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in professional fees such as audit, legal and tax services, partially offset by increases in compensation-related expenses associated with increased headcount and increases in expenses related to the lease of Synlogic’s facility at 301 Binney Street.

Revenue was $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Revenue is associated with the payments received for services performed under the Synlogic’s collaboration with AbbVie to develop a Synthetic Biotic medicine for the treatment of IBD.

As of December 31, 2018, Synlogic had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $122.7 million.

Full Year 2018 Financial Results
For the year ended December 31, 2018, consolidated net loss was $48.4 million, or $2.03 per share, compared to a consolidated net loss of $40.4 million, or $6.00 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenues were $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2017. Total operating expenses were $53.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $43.3 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to compensation-related expenses associated with increased headcount, increased expenses related to the lease of Synlogic’s facility at 301 Binney Street and increased external costs associated with development of Synlogic’s Synthetic Biotic programs, including process and formulation development, pre-clinical and clinical studies.

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 leverages the tools and principles of synthetic biology to genetically engineer beneficial microbes to perform or deliver critical functions missing or damaged due to disease. Synthetic Biotic medicines are designed to act locally and have a systemic effect to address disease in patients. Synlogic’s two lead programs, SYNB1020 and SYNB1618, are orally administered and target hyperammonemia as a result of liver damage or genetic disease, and phenylketonuria, respectively. Synlogic is also developing SYNB1891 as an intratumorally-administered Synthetic Biotic medicine for the treatment of cancer. In addition, the company is leveraging the broad potential of its platform to create additional Synthetic Biotic medicines for the treatment of liver disease, as well as inflammatory and immune disorders including Synlogic’s collaboration with AbbVie to develop Synthetic Biotic-based treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For more information, please visit www.synlogictx.com.