MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a
clinical-stage RNAi company developing innovative therapeutics in
dermatology and ophthalmology that address significant unmet
medical needs, announced today that the Company has generated new
data demonstrating corneal delivery of a fluorescent analog of
RXI-109, the Company's most advanced clinical compound, currently
in human clinical trials for dermal scarring and subretinal
fibrosis associated with late stage AMD. Topical
administration to the eye of the Company's novel self-delivering
RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) technology formulated in a gel resulted in
delivery throughout the cornea in the presence of a corneal wound
in vivo.
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"These findings further highlight the utility of our sd-rxRNA
platform and provide evidence of the potential development of
topical oligonucleotide based therapeutics for front of the eye
indications," said Pamela Pavco,
Ph.D., RXi's Chief Development Officer. She further added, "We know
that corneal wounds can lead to scar formation and impaired vision.
These data broaden the market potential for RXI-109 and open new
avenues for collaboration."
As previously released, this data will be presented at ARVO on
Sunday, May 1, 2016 and the poster
will be available under the "Investors – Presentations &
Posters" section of the Company's
website, www.rxipharma.com.
About RXi's Proprietary Self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®)
Platform
Building on the pioneering work of Dr. Craig Mello, Nobel Laureate and RXi's Scientific
Advisory Board Chairman, scientists at RXi developed novel sd-rxRNA
compounds where drug-like properties are built into the RNAi
compound itself. These proprietary compounds are novel RNAi
compounds with enhanced properties for therapeutic use
including: efficient spontaneous cellular uptake, stability,
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 into tissues such as skin
and retina following local administration, and liver following
systemic delivery. RXI-109, an sd-rxRNA compound is designed
to silence connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which plays a
key role in tissue regeneration and repair. RXI-109 is currently
being evaluated in two clinical trials. A Phase 1/2 clinical
study, RXI-109-1501, is underway to evaluate the safety and
clinical activity of RXI-109 to prevent the progression of retinal
scarring, a harmful component of numerous retinal diseases. In
addition, a Phase 2 clinical trial, RXI-109-1402, is currently
evaluating RXI-109 as a treatment to reduce the recurrence of
hypertrophic scars following scar revision surgery. Over 100
subjects have been treated with RXI-109 by intradermal injection in
all trials to date. Multiple intradermal injections were well
tolerated at all dose levels. RXI-109 was shown to cause a
dose-dependent silencing of CTGF messenger RNA and protein levels
in the treated areas of the skin compared to placebo and
preliminary results from Phase 2a studies indicate a clinical
effect on scar appearance.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a
clinical-stage RNAi company developing innovative therapeutics in
dermatology and ophthalmology that address significant unmet
medical needs. Building on the pioneering work of RXi's
Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr.
Craig Mello, our discovery and
clinical development programs are based on our proprietary RNAi
(sd-rxRNA) platform and Samcyprone™, a topical immunomodulator. Our
clinical development programs include RXI-109, an sd-rxRNA, for the
treatment of dermal and ocular scarring, and Samcyprone™ for the
treatment of such disorders as warts, alopecia areata,
non-malignant skin tumors and cutaneous metastases of
melanoma. RXi's robust pipeline, coupled with an extensive
patent portfolio, provides for multiple 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