RXi Pharmaceuticals Granted Patent in Japan for Lead Clinical Candidate RXI-109

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a clinical-stage RNAi company developing innovative therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs, today announced that it was granted a patent from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for the composition of matter of sd-rxRNAs targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) for the treatment or prevention of fibrotic disorders, including but not limited to skin fibrosis and proliferative retinopathy (Japanese Patent #: 6060071).  This patent includes the Company's lead clinical candidate RXI-109, an sd-rxRNA therapeutic compound, which is currently being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trials. The patent, once issued, will be set to expire in 2031.

"From our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials, we have reported preliminary results indicating that the use of RXI-109 after scar revision surgery had a visible, beneficial effect on the suppression of hypertrophic scarring, at three months following revision surgery. We have also shown RXI-109 to be safe and well-tolerated in the eye in our ongoing ocular trial. This patent increases our ability to protect our novel CTGF-targeting compounds which are based on our proprietary self-delivering RNAi platform," said Pamela Pavco, PhD, Chief Development Officer of RXi Pharmaceuticals. She added that, "The granting of this patent in Japan further strengthens RXi's intellectual property estate for future commercial and regional business development opportunities for RXI-109."

About RXi's Proprietary Self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA) Technology Platform

RXi's proprietary sd-rxRNA technology has many advantages over its competitors in the RNAi space.  Scientists at RXi have designed chemically-modified RNAi compounds with improved drug-like properties that are potent, stable and specific.  These proprietary compounds have built-in delivery properties and therefore do not require a delivery vehicle for local therapeutic applications.  The enhanced properties of sd-rxRNA include:  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.  sd?rxRNA compounds have the ability to selectively block the expression of any target in the genome, thus providing applicability to a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas.

About RXi Pharmaceuticals

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a clinical-stage company developing innovative therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs.  Building on the pioneering discovery of RNAi, scientists at RXi have harnessed the naturally occurring RNAi process which has the ability to "silence" or down-regulate the expression of a specific gene that may be overexpressed in a disease condition.  RXi developed a robust RNAi therapeutic platform including self-delivering RNA (sd-rxRNA®) compounds, that have the ability to highly selectively block the expression of any target in the genome, thus providing applicability to many therapeutic areas.  Our current programs include dermatology, ophthalmology and cell-based immunotherapy.  RXi's extensive patent portfolio provides for multiple product and business development opportunities across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas and we actively pursue research collaborations, partnering and out-licensing opportunities with academia and pharmaceutical companies.  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, Samcypronetm 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
[email protected]

SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation