RXi Pharmaceuticals Bolsters Strength of Dermatology Intellectual Property Estate Following Granting of Patent From USPTO

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) therapeutic platform, announced today that it was granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the methods of use of sd-rxRNAs targeting Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) for the treatment or prevention of fibrotic disorders, including skin fibrosis (USPTO Patent #: 9,963,702 B2). This patent includes RXI-109 and its use in dermal scarring, for which the safety and efficacy was shown in a recent Phase 2 clinical trial with statistically significant outcomes for improved visual appearance for RXI-109 treated scar over control. The patent is set to expire in 2031.

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"Robust clinical data and strong IP are key elements to successful pharmaceutical development and commercialization," said Dr. Gerrit Dispersyn, Chief Development Officer of RXi Pharmaceuticals. He added that, "Additional data on the results of our recent clinical study with RXI-109 in dermal scarring will be presented next week at the International Investigative Dermatology Conference. These data, in combination with the granting of this patent, supports RXi's ongoing discussions with potential partners for our Dermatology Franchise, including RXI-109."

About RXi's Dermatology Franchise

RXi announced in January 2018 that it would exclusively focus on developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its self-delivering RNAi therapeutic platform.  As such, it is actively seeking to partner or out-license both its Dermatology and Ophthalmology Franchises.

Each of these Franchises is comprised of a number of preclinical and clinical-stage assets broadly covered by a robust intellectual property estate. To obtain more information about these assets, contact RXi's Director of Business Development, Dr. James Cardia at [email protected]

 About RXi Pharmaceuticals

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) therapeutic platform. The Company's discovery and research efforts are focused on developing sd-rxRNA therapeutic compounds to be used with an Adoptive Cell Transfer (ACT) approach. This process uses immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes that are isolated from the patient or retrieved from allogeneic immune cell banks, and then expanded and in some cases processed to express tumor-binding receptors. Our approach introduces a new and important step in ex-vivo processing of the immune cells where sd-rxRNA is used to eliminate the expression of immunosuppressive receptors or proteins from the therapeutic immune cells, making them less sensitive to tumor resistance mechanisms and thus improving their ability to destroy the tumor cells. Essentially, we aim to maximize the power of our sd-rxRNA therapeutic compounds by weaponizing therapeutic immune effector cells to attack cancer and ultimately provide patients battling terminal cancers with a powerful new treatment option that goes beyond current treatment modalities.

For additional information, visit 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 expectation regarding closing of the offering, our ability to successfully develop RXI-109, Samcypronetm, RXI-762, RXI-804 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
Tel: +1 508-929-3646
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation