MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a biotechnology company
focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies
primarily in the areas of dermatology and ophthalmology,
today announced that it has been granted a Notice of Allowance
from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for both
the composition and methods of use of RXi's self-delivering
(sd-rxRNA®) platform technology. The patent is scheduled to expire
in 2029.
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This patent, a continuation of our core sd-rxRNA platform
patent, broadly covers the overall structure and modifications of
our self-delivering technology in addition to covering an
alternative delivery strategy wherein a hydrophobic conjugate is
not utilized.
"We have been diligent and proactive with our approach to
broadly protect our valuable corporate assets," said Dr.
Geert Cauwenbergh, President and CEO
of RXi Pharmaceuticals. He added, "We are very pleased to receive
this notice of allowance from the USPTO for expanded protection of
our novel platform. This opens up additional business development
and partnering opportunities with our sd-rxRNA platform as we
vigorously pursue these initiatives to build shareholder
value."
About RNAi
Therapeutics that use RNA interference, or "RNAi," have great
promise because of their ability to "silence," or down-regulate,
the expression of a specific gene that may be overexpressed in a
disease condition. Building on the pioneering work of RXi's
Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr.
Craig Mello, the Company's first
RNAi product candidate, RXI-109 (an sd-rxRNA compound) is the
Company's first clinical development candidate. RXI-109 silences
Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF), which plays a key role in
tissue regeneration and repair and is initially being developed to
reduce or inhibit scar formation in the skin and in the eye.
RXI-109 is currently being evaluated in Phase 2a clinical trials in
dermatology and a Phase 1/2 trial is planned to initiate this year
in ophthalmology.
About sd-rxRNA®: Novel RNAi Compounds with Built-In Drug-Like
Properties
sd-rxRNA compounds are novel RNAi compounds with enhanced
properties for therapeutic use including: efficient spontaneous
cellular uptake, stability in vivo, reduced potential for
immune stimulation, and potent, long-lasting intracellular
activity. All cell types tested (primary, neuronal and
non-adherent) internalize sd-rxRNA compounds uniformly and
efficiently, resulting in potent and long lasting silencing.
Efficient cellular uptake is observed both in vitro and
in vivo, including tissues like skin, retina, lung, spinal
cord and liver.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a
biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing
innovative therapeutics primarily in the areas of dermatology and
ophthalmology that address high-unmet medical needs. Our discovery
and clinical development programs are based on siRNA technology as
well as immunotherapy agents. These compounds include, but are not
limited to, our proprietary, self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®)
compounds for the treatment of dermal and ocular scarring. It also
includes an immunomodulator, Samcyprone™, a proprietary topical
formulation of diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), for the treatment of
disorders such as alopecia areata, warts, non-malignant skin tumors
and cutaneous metastases of melanoma.
RXi's robust pipeline, coupled with an extensive patent
portfolio, provides for product and business development
opportunities across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas. We are
committed to being a partner of choice for academia, small
companies, and large multinationals. We welcome ideas and proposals
for strategic alliances, including in- and out-licensing
opportunities, to advance and further develop strategic areas of
interest. Additional information may be found on the Company's
website, www.rxipharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements
about: our ability to successfully develop RXI-109, Samcyprone™ and
our other product candidates (collectively "our product
candidates"); the future success of our clinical trials with our
product candidates; the timing for the commencement and completion
of clinical trials; our ability to enter into strategic
partnerships and the future success of these strategic
partnerships; and our ability to deploy our sd-rxRNA® technology
through partnerships, as well as the prospects of these
partnerships to provide positive returns. Forward-looking
statements about expectations and development plans of RXi's
product candidates and partnerships involve significant risks and
uncertainties, including the following: risks that we may not be
able to successfully develop and commercialize our product
candidates; risks that product development and clinical studies may
be delayed, not proceed as planned and/or be subject to significant
cost over-runs; risks related to the development and
commercialization of products by competitors; risks related to our
ability to control the timing and terms of collaborations with
third parties; and risks that other companies or organizations may
assert patent rights preventing us from developing or
commercializing our product candidates. Additional risks are
detailed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption "Risk
Factors." Readers are urged to review these risk factors and to not
act in reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual
results may differ from those contemplated by our forward-looking
statements. RXi does not undertake to update forward-looking
statements to reflect a change in its views, events or
circumstances that occur after the date of this release.
Contact
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Tamara McGrillen
508-929-3646
tmcgrillen@rxipharma.com
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SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation