MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a clinical-stage RNAi company developing innovative therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs, announced today the initiation of a consumer/functional testing program with RXI-231, a cosmetic ingredient based on sd-rxRNA® that targets tyrosinase (TYR). The cosmetic product that will be tested is a gel formulation designed to aid in the reduction of pigmentation and thereby improving skin appearance. The consumer testing program will evaluate the use and consumer acceptability of RXI-231.
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“We are very pleased to begin consumer testing with our novel products,” said Dr. Gerrit Dispersyn, Chief Development Officer. He added that “This is an exciting opportunity for us to evaluate the capabilities of our technology for the use in the consumer care space. We anticipate the duration of the combined studies under this program to be approximately 3-4 months enabling us to report results in Q4 of this year.”
Three studies are planned under this program. The first two studies in volunteers are performed to determine irritation and sensitization potential of the gel product containing RXI-231 when applied to the skin. The RXI-231 gel is intended to improve the appearance of existing areas of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Therefore, a third study will investigate the potential of the product to improve the appearance of skin pigmentation induced by UV exposure.
RXI-231 targets TYR, a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin. Initial results with RXI-231 lead to a visible reduction of pigmentation in 3-dimensional reconstituted human epidermal culture. Further testing has shown a decrease in melanin content in primary human melanocytes lasting for at least one week after a single dose. RXi has developed a gel formulation that allows the cosmetic ingredients to penetrate into the skin layers where the melanin producing cells reside. The Company completed the manufacture of a large batch of RXI-231 containing gel product for this consumer testing study.
About RXi’s Consumer Care Products
RXi’s consumer care products are intended to affect the appearance of the skin. The Company has selected tyrosinase and collagenase as targets for its self-delivering RNAi platform because they are relevant for consumer product development. Two sd-rxRNA compounds, RXI-231 and RXI-185, are currently in development as cosmetic ingredients to improve the appearance of pigmentation and improve the appearance of wrinkles or skin laxity, respectively.
Both RXI-231 and RXI-185 are part of RXi’s partnering and business growth initiatives providing multiple development opportunities for non-therapeutic skin health.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a clinical-stage company developing innovative therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs. Building on the pioneering discovery of RNAi, scientists at RXi have harnessed the naturally occurring RNAi process which can “silence” or down-regulate the expression of a specific gene that may be overexpressed in a disease condition. RXi developed a robust RNAi therapeutic platform including self-delivering RNA (sd-rxRNA) compounds that selectively block the expression of any target in the genome, thus providing applicability to many therapeutic areas. Our current programs include cell-based immunotherapy, dermatology, and ophthalmology. RXi’s extensive patent portfolio provides for multiple product and business development opportunities across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas and we actively pursue research collaborations, partnering and out-licensing opportunities with academia and pharmaceutical companies. 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
tmcgrillen@rxipharma.com
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SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
