UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 12, 2019

SYNLOGIC, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-37566

26-1824804

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

301 BinneySt., Suite 402

Cambridge, MA

02142

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 401-9975

Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.


Item 2.02       Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On March 12, 2019, Synlogic, Inc. (the “Company”) announced its financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.  

Item 9.01       Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (d)     Exhibits

                    The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

                    99.1      Press Release dated March 12, 2019


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

SYNLOGIC, INC.

 

Date: March 12, 2019

By:

/s/ Todd Shegog

Name:

Todd Shegog

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

Synlogic Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

– Ended 2018 with approximately $123 million in cash and investments, which provides runway through 2020 –

– Clinical trial readouts expected in mid-2019 from two Synthetic Bioticmedicines and first IND application expected from Synlogic’s immuno-oncology platform in second half of 2019 –

– Company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 am ET today –

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 2019--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


Corporate

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.

Conference Call & Webcast Information
Synlogic will host a conference call and live webcast today at 8:00 a.m. ET today, Tuesday, March 12, 2019. To access the live webcast, please visit the “Event Calendar” page within the Investors and Media section of the Synlogic website. Alternatively, investors may listen to the call by dialing +1 (844) 815-2882 from locations in the United States or +1 (213) 660-0926 from outside the United States. The conference ID number is 2181868. For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors and Media section of the Synlogic website.


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.

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: cancer, rare metabolic diseases, liver disease, and inflammatory and immune disorders; 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 cancer, hyperammonemia, and phenylketonuria; and Synlogic’s ability to develop and manufacture Synthetic Biotic formulations. 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 and clinical 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.


               
Synlogic, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)
(in thousands except share and per share data) For the three months ended For the year ended
December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
 
Revenue $ 111 $ 111 $ 2,520 $ 2,444
 
Operating expenses
Research and development 8,867 7,736 38,034 30,341
General and administrative   3,952     4,293     15,716     12,927  
Total operating expenses   12,819     12,029     53,750     43,268  
Loss from operation (12,708 ) (11,918 ) (51,230 ) (40,824 )
Other income(expense), net   777     221     2,795     447  
Net loss $ (11,931 ) $ (11,697 ) $ (48,435 ) $ (40,377 )
 
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted $ (0.47 ) $ (0.74 ) $ (2.03 ) $ (6.00 )
Weighted-average common shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted   25,269,396     15,871,223     23,882,685     6,724,641  
 

         
Synlogic, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Data

(unaudited)
(in thousands)

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments $ 122,729 $ 87,025
Fixed assets 14,841 9,783
Other assets   2,770   2,891
Total assets $ 140,340 $ 99,699
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities $ 8,341 $ 9,027
Long-term liabilities   7,901   5,634
Total liabilities   16,242   14,661
Total stockholders' equity   124,098   85,038
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 140,340 $ 99,699
 

CONTACT:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Synlogic
Courtney Heath
Phone: 617-872-2462
Email: courtney@scientpr.com

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Synlogic
Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D.
Phone: 617-207-5509
Email: liz@synlogictx.com