RXi Pharmaceuticals' Self-delivering rxRNAs Demonstrate Superior Drug Properties Compared to Classic RNAi Compounds in Animal Studies...
WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 15, 2009-- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: RXII), a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), today announced that it will be presenting new in vivo data on its self-delivering rxRNAT compounds at a number of upcoming scientific conferences, detailed below.
The presentations will include in vivo data showing dramatic improvements to the pharmacological properties of RNAi compounds when using the proprietary chemistries of RXi's self-delivering rxRNAT (sd-rxRNAT). The improvements increase the blood circulation time of such compounds allowing them to reach the desired tissues before they are degraded in serum or cleared by the kidneys. The improved drug-like properties of sd-rxRNAs could dramatically advance the field of RNAi therapeutics and the development of many novel disease treatments.
Delivery is a key factor in RNAi drug development and the vast majority of companies developing RNAi therapeutics, including RXi, have been trying to use delivery vehicles to deliver RNAi drugs to desired tissues and cells within the body. Historically, RNAi drug compounds not encapsulated by a delivery vehicle were typically cleared by the kidneys almost immediately. Through the creation and development of sd-rxRNAT compounds, RXi has addressed one of the major issues in RNAi drug development. Since sd-rxRNAT compounds do not require an additional delivery vehicle, they may potentially provide significant competitive advantages in efficacy, toxicity, ease of administration and manufacturing cost.
The conference presentations by management include the following events:
--Tod Woolf, Ph.D., President and CEO of RXi Pharmaceuticals, will present the data in his keynote presentation at the 2009 Life Science Regional Technology Symposium being held at the Woodbridge Hilton in Iselin, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 10:15 am ET.
--Dmitry Samarsky, Ph.D., Vice President of Technology Development for RXi will also be presenting the data at the Select Biosciences RNAi Europe conference in Berlin, Germany on September 18th at 10:45 am local time and at the Biologics Drug Delivery & Beyond conference in Boston, MA on Thursday September 24, 2009 at 4:15 pm ET.
About RNA Interference (RNAi)
Regarded as a revolutionary discovery in biology, RNA interference (RNAi) is a naturally occurring mechanism whereby short, double-stranded RNA molecules interfere with the expression of genes in living cells. This mechanism has the potential to be harnessed to "silence" or specifically block the production of disease-causing proteins before they are made. This technology can potentially be used to treat human diseases by "turning-off" genes that lead to disease in the first place. RXi Pharmaceuticals is using RNAi technology to develop RNA-derived molecules targeting disease-causing genes.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
RXi Pharmaceuticals is a discovery-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and potential commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi) for the treatment of human diseases. RXi has a comprehensive therapeutic platform that includes both RNAi compounds and delivery methods. RXi uses its own version of RNAi compounds -- rxRNAT -- that provide an advanced alternative to conventional small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and define the next generation of RNAi technology. rxRNAT compounds are designed specifically for therapeutic use and contain many of the properties needed to move RNAi based drugs into the clinic. RXi Pharmaceuticals believes it is well positioned to compete successfully in the RNAi-based therapeutics market with its accomplished scientific advisors, including Dr. Craig Mello, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of RNAi; a management team that is experienced in developing RNAi products; and a strong early intellectual property position in RNAi chemistry and delivery. 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 future expectations, plan and future development of RXi Pharmaceutical Corporation's products and technologies. These forward-looking statements about future expectations, plans and prospects of the development of RXi Pharmaceutical Corporation's products and technologies involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk that the development of our RNAi-based therapeutics may be delayed or may not proceed as planned and we may not be able to complete development of any RNAi-based product, the risk that the FDA approval process may be delayed for any drugs that we develop, risks related to development and commercialization of products by our competitors, risks related to our ability to control the timing and terms of collaborations with third parties and the possibility that other companies or organizations may assert patent rights that prevent us from developing our products. Actual results may differ materially from those RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation contemplated by these forward-looking statements. RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release.
SOURCE: RXi Pharmaceuticals
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