RXi Pharmaceuticals Bolsters Protection for its Novel Self-Delivering RNAi Platform with Notice of Allowance from USPTO

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies primarily in the areas of dermatology and ophthalmology, today announced that it has been granted a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for both the composition and methods of use of RXi's self-delivering (sd-rxRNA®) platform technology. The patent is scheduled to expire in 2029.

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This patent, a continuation of our core sd-rxRNA platform patent, broadly covers the overall structure and modifications of our self-delivering technology in addition to covering an alternative delivery strategy wherein a hydrophobic conjugate is not utilized.

"We have been diligent and proactive with our approach to broadly protect our valuable corporate assets," said Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, President and CEO of RXi Pharmaceuticals. He added, "We are very pleased to receive this notice of allowance from the USPTO for expanded protection of our novel platform. This opens up additional business development and partnering opportunities with our sd-rxRNA platform as we vigorously pursue these initiatives to build shareholder value."

About RNAi

Therapeutics that use RNA interference, or "RNAi," have great promise because of their ability to "silence," or down-regulate, the expression of a specific gene that may be overexpressed in a disease condition. Building on the pioneering work of RXi's Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello, the Company's first RNAi product candidate, RXI-109 (an sd-rxRNA compound) is the Company's first clinical development candidate. RXI-109 silences Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF), which plays a key role in tissue regeneration and repair and is initially being developed to reduce or inhibit scar formation in the skin and in the eye. RXI-109 is currently being evaluated in Phase 2a clinical trials in dermatology and a Phase 1/2 trial is planned to initiate this year in ophthalmology.

About sd-rxRNA®: Novel RNAi Compounds with Built-In Drug-Like Properties

sd-rxRNA compounds are novel RNAi compounds with enhanced properties for therapeutic use including: efficient spontaneous cellular uptake, stability in vivo, 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 tissues like skin, retina, lung, spinal cord and liver.

About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapeutics primarily in the areas of dermatology and ophthalmology that address high-unmet medical needs. Our discovery and clinical development programs are based on siRNA technology as well as immunotherapy agents. These compounds include, but are not limited to, our proprietary, self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) compounds for the treatment of dermal and ocular scarring. It also includes an immunomodulator, Samcyprone™, a proprietary topical formulation of diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), for the treatment of disorders such as alopecia areata, warts, non-malignant skin tumors and cutaneous metastases of melanoma.

RXi's robust pipeline, coupled with an extensive patent portfolio, provides for 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
[e-mail] 

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