RXi Pharmaceuticals Secures European Patent for Novel RNAi Platform

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 2, 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 it has been granted a patent from the European Patent Office (EPO) for the composition of matter for its self-delivering RNAi platform (sd-rxRNA®). The Patent (EP 2 340 310 B1), titled "Reduced Size Self-Delivering RNAi Compounds" broadly covers the composition of RXi's sd-rxRNA platform and is not scheduled to expire until 2029.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130917/NE80755LOGO

"We are pleased that our novel platform has been recognized with the granting of this patent by the European Patent Office," said Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, President and CEO of RXi Pharmaceuticals. He added that, "The issuance of this patent not only expands and strengthens our intellectual property estate, it further increases the value proposition of both our Dermatology and Ophthalmology Franchises and positions the Company better for numerous strategic partnering opportunities."

About RXi's Intellectual Property Estate

The Company has been diligent and proactive with its approach to broadly protect its valuable corporate assets by securing patent protection for its RNAi platform and immunotherapy agent, Samcyprone™. Our RNAi portfolio currently includes 73 issued patents broadly covering the composition and methods of use of our self-delivering platform technology as well as uses of our sd-rxRNAs targeting CTGF for the treatment of fibrotic disorders.  These patents cover RXI-109 for the treatment of dermal and ocular fibrosis, new RNAi compounds and their use as therapeutics and/or cosmetics, chemical modifications of RNAi compounds that improve the compounds' suitability for therapeutic uses (including delivery) and compounds directed to specific targets (i.e., that address specific disease states).

The Samcyprone™ portfolio includes one issued patent and three patent applications. The patent and patent applications cover both the compositions and methods of use of Samcyprone™ for the treatment of warts, human papilloma virus (HPV) skin infections, skin cancer (including melanoma) and immunocompromised patients.

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
[email protected] 

SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Related Links

http://www.rxipharma.com