ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 11, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- 

Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (SYN-NYSE Amex), a developer of synthetic DNA-based therapeutics and innovative disease-modifying medicines for serious illnesses, announced today that to improve its corporate governance and strengthen the Board, it has split the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and appointed Jeffrey J. Kraws to serve as its independent, non-executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kraws has served on the Company's Board of Directors since January 2006, and will continue to serve on the Compensation and Nominations Committees.