Synergy Pharmaceuticals to Begin Trading on The NASDAQ Global Market

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SGYP), a developer of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, today announced that its common stock has been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "SGYP." Trading on The NASDAQ Global Market is expected to commence on February 12, 2013. The Company's units and warrants will continue to trade on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols "SGYPU" and "SGYPW," respectively.

About Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Synergy is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. Synergy's lead proprietary drug candidate, plecanatide, is a synthetic analog of the human gastrointestinal hormone uroguanylin, and functions by activating the guanylate cyclase C receptor on epithelial cells of the GI tract. Synergy completed a positive Phase I study of plecanatide in healthy volunteers, and positive Phase IIa and Phase IIb/III clinical trials in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Detailed positive findings from a recently completed Phase IIb/III clinical trial will be presented at a major scientific meeting this year. Synergy is also developing plecanatide for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), having initiated the first trial in IBS-C patients in late 2012. Synergy's second GC-C agonist, SP-333, is in clinical development to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, and has just completed its first Phase I trial in healthy volunteers. More information is available at http://www.synergypharma.com.

CONTACT: Media Contact:
         Janet Skidmore
         Office: 215-658-4915
         Mobile: [phone]
         [e-mail]
         
         Investor Contact:
         Danielle Spangler
         The Trout Group
         [e-mail]
         [phone]