RXi Pharmaceuticals, TransDerm Form Research Collaboration

As per 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.

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.

Noah Beerman, president and CEO of RXi Pharmaceuticals, said: “We have made excellent progress in the delivery of our novel rxRNA compounds in a variety of systemic and local applications, including intradermal delivery.

“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.”

Roger Kaspar, founder and CEO of TransDerm, said: “We are excited to work with RXi to explore using their self-delivery technology for development of therapeutics to treat skin disorders including pachyonychia congenital. 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.”