Synthetic Biologics, a biotechnology company developing novel anti-infective biologics and drugs targeting specific pathogens that cause serious infections and diseases, has expanded its Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) created to support development of SYN-010, the company's statin-class candidate intended to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms on constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS).

The C-IBS CAB, chaired by Mark Pimentel, M.D., director of the GI Motility Program and Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, is strengthened by the addition of four new members. The valuable guidance provided by the C-IBS CAB has focused the clinical development of SYN-010, which is anticipated to initiate a phase II clinical trial in C-IBS during the first half of 2015 under a corporate Investigational New Drug (IND) application, with top line data expected in mid-2015.

William Chey, M.D., is a professor of medicine, director of the GI Physiology Laboratory, and co-director of the Michigan Bowel Control Program at the University of Michigan. Chey's clinical and research interests include: diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation and fecal incontinence; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); and "H. pylori" infection.

Gail M. Comer, M.D., a board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist, has more than 16 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having spent seven years at Abbott Laboratories as a medical director, six years in clinical development at Wyeth Research as senior medical director, senior director of the BioTherapeutics Research Unit at Pfizer. She also was the chief medical officer at Synergy Pharmaceuticals before starting her own consulting business. Comer has focused primarily on gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders.

Anthony J. Lembo, M.D., is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also is the director of the GI Motility Laboratory at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's (BIDMC) Division of Gastroenterology in Boston, Mass.

Philip Schoenfeld, M.D., MSEd, MSc, is professor of medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, director of the University's Gastrointestinal Epidemiology Training Program and staff physician in UM's Specialized Functional Bowel Disorder Program. He currently is associate editor of gastroenterology, past associate editor (Colon) for the American Journal of Gastroenterology, past chair of the AGA's Education Committee, past chair of the AGA's Clinical Practice Section.