Synergy Pharmaceuticals’ Chairman and CEO, Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Awarded Honorary Degree by the University of Missouri – St. Louis

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SGYP), today announced its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary S. Jacob, will be recognized and awarded with the honorary degree, Doctor of Science Honoris Causa, from his alma mater, the University of Missouri – St. Louis, at a commencement ceremony this Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Chairman and CEO, Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Photo: Business Wire)

Dr. Jacob is one of only six recipients voted by UMSL to be awarded with one of the highest honors the university bestows individuals. Honorary degree recipients are nominated and then selected by the committee based on rendered distinctive service, high achievement and commitment to excellence.

Dr. Jacob graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1969 from UMSL and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. In 1991, he received UMSL’s Distinguished Alumni Award and this year was named to the Chancellor’s Council. Dr. Jacob will receive his honorary degree at the 2 p.m. ceremony on May 17th in the Mark Twain Athletic and Fitness Center on campus.

About Synergy Pharmaceuticals

Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SGYP) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies based on the natural human hormone, uroguanylin, to treat gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. Uroguanylin is a natural hormone produced by humans in the small intestine and plays a key role in regulating the normal functioning of the digestive tract through its activity on the guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptor. The GC-C receptor is known to be a primary source for stimulating a variety of beneficial physiological responses. Synergy has created two unique analogs of uroguanylin – plecanatide and SP-333 – designed to mimic the natural hormone’s activity on the GC-C receptor and target a variety of gastrointestinal conditions. Plecanatide is currently in two pivotal phase 3 clinical trials for chronic idiopathic constipation and has successfully completed a phase 2b dose-ranging study in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. SP-333 is currently in phase 2 development for opioid-induced constipation and is also being explored for ulcerative colitis. For more information, please visit www.synergypharma.com.

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