MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) a biotechnology company
developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics
based on its proprietary self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®)
therapeutic platform today announced that it has entered into a
research collaboration with the Karolinska
Institutet in Stockholm,
Sweden. This collaboration will explore RXi's sd-rxRNA
compounds against targets involved in T cell and NK cell
differentiation and/or in the immune cell tumor-induced stress
response with the aim of producing anti-tumor adoptive cell therapy
grafts with improved functionality and persistence.
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This work will expand on the recently published results from the
Kiessling group demonstrating that an sd-rxRNA targeting PD-1 can
enhance TIL antitumor activity against melanoma cells in
vitro, further showing that ex vivo treatment with the
sd-rxRNA compounds was easily incorporated into a clinically
relevant rapid expansion protocol for TILs.1
Dr. Gerrit Dispersyn, Chief Development Officer of RXi
Pharmaceuticals, stated: "We are pleased to expand our
collaboration with Dr. Kiessling's group, to further harness their
expertise in oncology and to expand on the successful research they
have previously done with our sd-rxRNA technology platform in
immuno-oncology. The combination of their prior results and the
anticipated research results from this new collaboration are
critical elements for a rapid advancement of sd-rxRNA
immuno-oncology therapeutics into the clinic, further supported by
our prior clinical experience with sd-rxRNA in other
indications."
Rolf Kiessling, MD, PhD,
Senior Professor in Experimental Oncology at the Karolinska
Institutet, Senior Chief Physician at the Oncology clinic at
the Karolinska University Hospital and member of
RXi's Scientific Advisory Board stated: "Our results
to date provide direct clinical relevance for the use of sd-rxRNA
technology to improve ACT. In this collaboration, we look forward
to exploring using sd-rxRNA to modulate targets outside of
checkpoints to improve efficacy of immune effector cells such as T
cells and NK cells."
Immunotherapy of cancer has become increasingly important in
clinical practice over the recent decade. By activating the
patient's immune system, immunotherapy treatments have shown
remarkable promise in extending the lifespan of previously
untreatable cancer patients. Adoptive cell therapy is an emerging
immunotherapy approach which uses immune cells, such as
T-lymphocytes or NK cells that are isolated from the patient or
retrieved from allogeneic immune cell banks, and then expanded and
in some cases processed to express tumor-binding
receptors.
A new and important step in
this ex-vivo processing of the immune cells is in
development where self-delivering RNAi compounds (sd-rxRNA®) are
used to eliminate the expression of immunosuppressive receptors or
proteins from the therapeutic immune cells, thereby making them
less sensitive to tumor resistance mechanisms and improving their
ability to destroy tumor cells. In this way, sd-rxRNA
therapeutic compounds can be used to weaponize therapeutic immune
cells to attack cancer and ultimately provide patients battling
terminal cancers with a powerful new treatment option that goes
beyond current treatment modalities.
About RXi Pharmaceuticals
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII) is a
biotechnology company developing the next generation of
immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its self-delivering RNAi
(sd-rxRNA®) therapeutic platform. The Company's discovery and
research efforts are focused on developing sd-rxRNA therapeutic
compounds to be used with an Adoptive Cell Transfer (ACT) approach.
This process uses immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes that are
isolated from the patient or retrieved from allogeneic immune cell
banks, and then expanded and in some cases processed to express
tumor-binding receptors. Our approach introduces a new and
important step in ex-vivo processing of the immune cells where
sd-rxRNA is used to eliminate the expression of immunosuppressive
receptors or proteins from the therapeutic immune cells, making
them less sensitive to tumor resistance mechanisms and thus
improving their ability to destroy the tumor cells. Essentially, we
aim to maximize the power of our sd-rxRNA therapeutic compounds by
weaponizing therapeutic immune effector cells to attack cancer and
ultimately provide patients battling terminal cancers with a
powerful new treatment option that goes beyond current treatment
modalities.
For additional information, visit 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. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor
assurances of future performance. These statements are based only
on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the
future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections,
anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future
conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the
future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and
changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of
which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ
materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements
as a result of a number of important factors, including the safety
and efficacy of our product candidates, future success of our
clinical trials and scientific studies, our ability to enter into
strategic partnerships and the future success of these strategic
partnerships, the availability of funds and resources to pursue our
research and development projects and general economic conditions.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q include detailed risks under the caption "Risk Factors"
that may affect our business, results of operations and financial
condition. 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
Tel: +1 508-929-3646
Email: tmcgrillen@rxipharma.com
1Ligtenberg et al., Self-Delivering RNAi Targeting
PD-1 Improves Tumor-Specific T Cell Functionality for Adoptive Cell
Therapy of Malignant Melanoma, Molecular Therapy, Vol. 26 No
6 June 2018.
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SOURCE RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation