RXi Pharmaceuticals to Present an Update on its Consumer Health Programs at the Society for Investigative Dermatology 75th Annual Meeting

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 4, 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 will present new data from the Company's consumer health development program, based on its proprietary self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) technology, at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) 75^th Annual Meeting.  The SID mission is to advance and promote the sciences relevant to skin health and disease through education, advocacy and scholarly exchange of scientific information. This annual meeting is being held May 11-14, 2016 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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RXi's consumer health compounds are intended to affect the appearance of the skin. As a consumer health product, no preventative or therapeutic claims can be made.  However, these compounds may be developed more rapidly than therapeutics and, therefore, the path to the market may be shorter and less expensive. 

On Thursday, May 12, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MST, data will be presented on the Company's ongoing work with its sd-rxRNA® compounds that target tyrosinase (TYR), a key enzyme in the synthesis of melanin. RXI-231 is in development as a cosmetic ingredient that may improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and pigmentation. These data may be viewed on Poster 651 entitled, "Self-delivering RNAi compounds for Reduction of Hyperpigmentation," during the Pigmentation and Melanoma session.

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MST, data will be presented on the Company's ongoing work with its sd-rxRNA® compounds that target collagenase (MMP1), a key enzyme involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix. RXI-185 is in development as a cosmetic ingredient that may improve the appearance of wrinkles or skin laxity. These data may be viewed on Poster 582 entitled, "Potent Self-delivering RNAi Compounds Targeting MMP1 Reduce UVR Induced MMP1 Upregulation," during the Photobiology session.

The Company has selected collagenase and tyrosinase as targets for our self-delivering RNAi platform because they are relevant for both consumer health and therapeutic development. The Company has identified additional sd-rxRNA compounds like RXI-231 (TYR) and RXI-185 (MMP1) that are available to move forward on a separate therapeutic development path.  For example, selected reduction of MMP1 may be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, corneal erosions, endometriosis and possible cancer metastasis. The inhibition of tyrosinase can play a key role in the management of diseases such as cutaneous hyperpigmentation disorders and possibly melanoma.

Both posters will be available under the "Investors – Presentations & Posters" section of the Company's website, www.rxipharma.com approximately 1 hour following each presentation.

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
[email protected] 

SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Related Links

http://www.rxipharma.com