SYNB1020

SYNB1020 was a clinical-stage, live biotherapeutic product developed by Synlogic. It consisted of a genetically engineered strain of the non-pathogenic bacterium *Escherichia coli* Nissle, designed to be orally administered. The engineered bacteria were intended to treat hyperammonemia by consuming ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract and converting it into the amino acid L-arginine. [3, 8] It was investigated for conditions such as urea cycle disorders (UCD) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with cirrhosis. [5] Development of SYNB1020 was discontinued in August 2019 after a Phase 1b/2a study in patients with cirrhosis showed that although the drug was well-tolerated, it failed to lower blood ammonia levels compared to placebo. [1, 2, 4]