WESTBOROUGH, Mass.,
May 22, 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 received the Notice of
Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office on its
novel, self-delivering RNAi platform (sd‑rxRNA®). The patent,
titled "Reduced Size Self-Delivering RNAi Compounds", broadly
covers both the composition and methods of use of RXi's
self-delivering platform technology. The patent, once issued,
will be scheduled to expire in 2029.
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This core patent, within RXi's intellectual property portfolio,
is the foundation for RXI's self-delivering platform. The patent
broadly protects RXi's sd‑rxRNA technology, which facilitates the
delivery of RNAi compounds to tissues and cells of interest in the
absence of a delivery vehicle. 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. This allows
sd‑rxRNAs to achieve efficient cellular uptake and potent,
long-lasting intracellular activity.
"We are pleased to have our novel technology recognized by the
United States Patent and Trademark Office," said Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, President and CEO of RXi
Pharmaceuticals. He added that, "This key patent is what
differentiates RXi's technology platform from the competition. It
provides us with a powerful advantage to deliver our RNAi compounds
without delivery vehicles, which are commonly used with the other
siRNA compounds in clinical development. The use of our proprietary
sd‑rxRNA technology platform may lead to improved tolerability and
thereby potentially broadening of the therapeutic window for these
compounds."
About RXi's Clinical Trials
RXi Pharmaceuticals' first clinical program involves RXI‑109, an
sd‑rxRNA compound, developed for the reduction of dermal scarring.
RXI‑109 is designed to reduce the expression of connective tissue
growth factor (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 CTGF protein and on the mRNA that
controls production of this protein.
Late last year the Company started its first Phase 2a study
(RXI-109-1301) in patients who had pre-existing hypertrophic scars
present on their lower abdomen. In this study, patients undergo
scar revision surgery, after which they are treated with RXI-109 on
one end of the scar and placebo on the opposite end of the scar.
Earlier this year, the Company announced the initiation of a second
Phase 2a study (RXI-109-1401) for RXI-109 treatment to prevent
recurrence of keloids in patients undergoing keloidectomy (removal
of keloid). In this study, two keloids of similar size and location
are selected for keloidectomy, and after removal, one site is
treated with RXI-109 and one with placebo for a direct in-patient
comparison.
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 specific genes that may be over-expressed in disease
conditions. Building on the pioneering work of scientific founder
and Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello,
a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board, RXi's first
RNAi product candidate, RXI‑109, entered into human clinical trials
in June 2012 and is currently in
Phase 2. RXI-109 targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to
reduce dermal scarring (fibrosis). 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: the risk that we may not
be able to successfully develop our 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 products; risks
that the development process for our product candidates may be
delayed, risks related to the development and commercialization of
products by our competitors, the risk related to our ability to
control the 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
SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation