WESTBOROUGH, Mass.,
March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a
biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and
commercializing innovative therapies addressing major unmet medical
needs using RNA-targeted technologies, today announced that it has
been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on
its unique self-delivering RNAi compounds (sd-rxRNA®), for the
treatment of fibrosis. The patent covers the use of sd-rxRNAs
targeting CTGF, including RXI‑109, for the treatment of fibrotic
disorders. U.S. Patent Number 8,664,189, will expire in 2029. The
Notice of Allowance was released on January
14, 2014 for this patent.
"This is an important step in solidifying our patent portfolio
which greatly enhances the value proposition of RXi
Pharmaceuticals," said Dr. Geert
Cauwenbergh, President and CEO of RXi Pharmaceuticals. He
added that, "This issued patent deepens our ability to broadly
protect our proprietary and novel technology platform, which
includes our anti-fibrotic compounds, reinforcing the potential for
future commercial and business development opportunities."
About RXI-109
RXi Pharmaceuticals' first clinical program involves RXI‑109, a
self-delivering RNAi compound (sd‑rxRNA®) developed for the
reduction of dermal scarring. RXI‑109 is designed to reduce the
expression of CTGF, a critical regulator of biological pathways
involved in fibrosis, including scar formation in the skin. The
first clinical trials with RXI‑109 showed excellent safety and
tolerability with ascending single and multiple doses, as well as
dose dependent effects on the Connective Tissue Growth Factor
protein and on the mRNA that controls production of this
protein.
RXi's sd‑rxRNA oligonucleotides are designed for therapeutic use
and have drug-like properties, such as high potency, target
specificity, serum stability, reduced immune response activation,
and efficient cellular uptake. These hybrid oligonucleotide
molecules combine the beneficial properties of conventional RNAi
and antisense technologies. This allows sd‑rxRNAs to achieve
efficient cellular uptake and potent, long-lasting intracellular
activity.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a
biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and
commercializing innovative therapies based on its proprietary,
self-delivering RNAi platform. Therapeutics that use RNA
interference, or "RNAi," have great promise because of their
ability to down-regulate the expression of a specific gene that may
be over-expressed in a disease condition. Building on the
pioneering work of scientific founder and Nobel Laureate Dr.
Craig Mello, a member of the RXi
Scientific Advisory Board, RXi's first RNAi product candidate,
RXI‑109, targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to reduce
dermal scarring (fibrosis), entered into human clinical trials in
June 2012. For more information, please visit
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 future expectations, planned and future development of RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation's products and technologies.
Forward-looking statements about expectations and development plans
of RXi's products involve significant risks, and uncertainties:
risks that RXi may not be able to successfully develop its
candidates, or that development of RNAi-based therapeutics may be
delayed or not proceed as planned, or that we may not develop any
RNAi-based product; risks that the development process for our
product candidates may be delayed, risks related to development and
commercialization of products by our competitors, risks related to
our ability to control timing and terms of collaborations with
third parties, and the possibility that other companies or
organizations may assert patent rights preventing us from
developing our products. Actual results may differ from those
contemplated by these 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.
Contacts
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Tamara McGrillen, 508-929-3646
tmcgrillen@rxipharma.com
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SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation