RXi Pharmaceuticals, TransDerm collaborate on study of RXi's proprietary compounds in dermatology applications

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: RXII), a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), and TransDerm, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing nucleic acid skin delivery technologies and therapeutics for skin disorders, announced today that they will collaborate on studying the potential utility of RXi's proprietary compounds in dermatology models. Under the collaboration, the parties will explore the use of both existing and proprietary delivery approaches for dermatological applications. Each party will contribute technology and resources to the collaboration to evaluate and develop novel transdermal RNAi delivery. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

“As we refine the therapeutic focus for our unique technology, in addition to the development of our own proprietary technologies, including our 'self delivering' sd-rxRNA compounds, we will continue to collaborate on complementary delivery systems, to ensure the rapid progression of our compounds into clinical development.”

"We have made excellent progress in the delivery of our novel rxRNA™ compounds in a variety of systemic and local applications, including intradermal delivery," said Noah D. Beerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of RXi. "As we refine the therapeutic focus for our unique technology, in addition to the development of our own proprietary technologies, including our 'self delivering' sd-rxRNA compounds, we will continue to collaborate on complementary delivery systems, to ensure the rapid progression of our compounds into clinical development."

RXi also recently announced new preclinical data exemplifying the performance of the Company's proprietary sd-rxRNA™ compounds in an in vivo model of compromised skin. Data generated using a fluorescently-tagged sd-rxRNA compound demonstrate spontaneous cellular uptake into dermal cells and a significant, sustained and reproducible silencing of the targeted mRNA. The data presented establish the efficacy of locally administered sd-rxRNA in animal models and support the potential use of these novel compounds for clinical applications where direct or local administration is possible.

TransDerm was recently awarded a NIH Grand Opportunities (GO) grant to compare existing skin delivery technologies with the aim of using the most promising technologies in the clinic. "We are excited to work with RXi to explore using their self-delivery technology for development of therapeutics to treat skin disorders including pachyonychia congenita," said Roger L. Kaspar, Ph.D, Founder and CEO of TransDerm. "The RXi technology has significant delivery advantages over the siRNA used in our initial Phase 1b clinical trial and we are keen to return to the clinic as soon as possible."