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<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">FORM 8-K</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">CURRENT REPORT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;May
1, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">Nevada</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">1-12584</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">13-3808303</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">(Commission File No.)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">3985 Research Park Drive, Suite 200, Ann
Arbor, Michigan 48108</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Address of principal executive offices)&nbsp;&nbsp;(Zip
Code)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including
area code:&nbsp;(734) 332-7800</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">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:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Item 4.02&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Non-Reliance on Previously
Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(b)
On May 1, 2012, Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (&ldquo;the Company&rdquo;) was informed by Berman &amp; Company, P.A.
(&ldquo;Berman &amp; Company&rdquo;), its independent registered accounting firm, that during a regular Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspection of Berman &amp; Company, the PCAOB issued a comment that the audit opinion
included in the Company&rsquo;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 was issued by a partner at
Berman &amp; Company who was not authorized under the PCAOB rules to issue the opinion or act as the Company&rsquo;s named
engagement partner with respect to the Form 10-K audit or subsequent interim reviews after the original engagement partner
rotated off of the account under the Securities and Exchange Commission&rsquo;s (&ldquo;SEC&rdquo;) independence rules as it
pertains to partner rotation (S-X <FONT STYLE="color: black">Rule 2-01 -- Qualifications of Accountants). </FONT>The Company
has been advised by Berman &amp; Company that there are no changes to report to the previously filed December 31, 2011
financial statements, notes to financial statements or any other of the Company&rsquo;s subsequent Form 10-Q filings with the
SEC. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">The Company has since received a written
confirmation of the original audit opinion for the year ended December 31, 2011, from a licensed CPA at Berman &amp; Company who:
(i) was the manager of the Company&rsquo;s December 31, 2011 audit, (ii) was recently made a partner of the firm, (iii) had performed
most of the audit work on the December 31, 2011 audit after the original audit partner rotated off of the account and (iv) will
serve as the Company&rsquo;s engagement partner on a going forward basis.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">The Company received funds from the exercise
of warrants earlier this week but will not be issuing any shares under any of its outstanding registration statements on Form S-3
until such time as it receives guidance from the SEC whether the issue disclosed herein affects the Company&rsquo;s ability to
continue to issue securities thereunder. The Company has sought guidance from the SEC staff regarding this matter and intends to
file a waiver request to the extent it becomes necessary.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">The Chairman of the Company&rsquo;s Audit
committee as well as the Company&rsquo;s Chief Financial Officer have discussed with Berman &amp; Company the subject matter giving
rise to this Report on Form 8-K.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Item 9.01&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements
and Exhibits.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">(a) &ndash; (c)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">N/A</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; padding-right: 0.8pt">7.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Letter from Berman &amp; Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="width: 19%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 81%; padding-right: 0.8pt">SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">Date: May 3, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">By: <U>&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ C Evan Ballantyne&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Evan Ballantyne</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer </TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 17%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Exhibit</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Number</B></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 83%; border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 2.4pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">7.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify">Letter from Berman &amp; Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v311789_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17319}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Synthetic Biologics, Inc.", "cik": "0000894158", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "133808303", "state-of-incorporation": "NV", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12584", "film-number": "12810774"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3985 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE,", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "ANN ARBOR", "state": "MI", "zip": "48108", "phone": "(734) 332-7800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3985 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE,", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "ANN ARBOR", "state": "MI", "zip": "48108"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ADEONA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.", "date-changed": "20081027"}, {"former-conformed-name": "PIPEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.", "date-changed": "20061214"}, {"former-conformed-name": "SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICALS INC", "date-changed": "19970730"}]}
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):  May
1, 2012
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
Nevada
1-12584
13-3808303
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File No.)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
3985 Research Park Drive, Suite 200, Ann
Arbor, Michigan 48108
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip
Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including
area code: (734) 332-7800
(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:
¨
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))
Item 4.02    Non-Reliance on Previously
Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review
(b)
On May 1, 2012, Synthetic Biologics, Inc. ("the Company") was informed by Berman & Company, P.A.
("Berman & Company"), its independent registered accounting firm, that during a regular Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspection of Berman & Company, the PCAOB issued a comment that the audit opinion
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 was issued by a partner at
Berman & Company who was not authorized under the PCAOB rules to issue the opinion or act as the Company's named
engagement partner with respect to the Form 10-K audit or subsequent interim reviews after the original engagement partner
rotated off of the account under the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") independence rules as it
pertains to partner rotation (S-X
Rule 2-01 -- Qualifications of Accountants).
The Company
has been advised by Berman & Company that there are no changes to report to the previously filed December 31, 2011
financial statements, notes to financial statements or any other of the Company's subsequent Form 10-Q filings with the
SEC.
The Company has since received a written
confirmation of the original audit opinion for the year ended December 31, 2011, from a licensed CPA at Berman & Company who:
(i) was the manager of the Company's December 31, 2011 audit, (ii) was recently made a partner of the firm, (iii) had performed
most of the audit work on the December 31, 2011 audit after the original audit partner rotated off of the account and (iv) will
serve as the Company's engagement partner on a going forward basis.
The Company received funds from the exercise
of warrants earlier this week but will not be issuing any shares under any of its outstanding registration statements on Form S-3
until such time as it receives guidance from the SEC whether the issue disclosed herein affects the Company's ability to
continue to issue securities thereunder. The Company has sought guidance from the SEC staff regarding this matter and intends to
file a waiver request to the extent it becomes necessary.
The Chairman of the Company's Audit
committee as well as the Company's Chief Financial Officer have discussed with Berman & Company the subject matter giving
rise to this Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01    Financial Statements
and Exhibits.
(a) – (c)
N/A
(d)  Exhibits.
7.1     Letter from Berman & Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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.
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.
Date: May 3, 2012
By:
/s/ C Evan Ballantyne
Name:   C. Evan Ballantyne
Title:     Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
7.1
Letter from Berman & Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission.