Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American: SYN), a late-stage clinical company developing therapeutics that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients, announced today a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a ratio of one (1) share of common stock for every thirty-five (35) shares of common stock, effective August 10, 2018. The Company's common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on August 13, 2018. The reverse stock split was authorized by the Company's Board of Directors on July 31, 2018. Pursuant to the laws of the State of Nevada, the Company's state of incorporation, the Company's Board of Directors has the authority to effect a reverse stock split without shareholder approval if the number of authorized shares of common stock and the number of outstanding shares of common stock are proportionally reduced. The Company will file a certificate of amendment to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Nevada to effect the reverse stock split. The Company's common stock will continue to trade on the NYSE American under the stock ticker "SYN" but will trade under the new CUSIP number 87164U 201.

As a result of the reverse split, each thirty-five (35) pre-split shares of common stock outstanding will automatically combine into one (1) new share of common stock without any action on the part of the holders, and the number of outstanding common shares will be reduced from 132,969,743 shares to 3,799,136 shares.

The reverse stock split is being effected to meet the per share price requirements of the NYSE American, the Company's current listing exchange. If the Company's common stock were to fall below $0.20 per share on a 30-trading-day average, it may become subject to the continued listing evaluation and follow-up proceedings set forth in Section 1009 of the NYSE American Company Guide, which could, among other things, result in noncompliance with certain NYSE American continued listing standards.

No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to a fractional share because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the 1 (one) for thirty-five (35) reverse split ratio, will automatically be entitled to receive an additional fractional share of the Company's common stock to round up to the next whole share.

The Company's transfer agent, Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc., which is also acting as the exchange agent for the reverse split, will send instructions to stockholders of record who hold stock certificates regarding the exchange of their old certificates for new certificates, should they wish to do so. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts or "street name" are not required to take action to effect the exchange of their shares.

About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American: SYN) is a late-stage clinical company developing therapeutics that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients. The Company's lead candidates poised for Phase 3 development are: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection (CDI), overgrowth of pathogenic organisms and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and (2) SYN-010 which is intended to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms in the gut microbiome to treat an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). The Company's preclinical pursuits include an oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to treat both local GI and systemic diseases as well as monoclonal antibody therapies for the prevention and treatment of pertussis, and novel discovery stage biotherapeutics for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.