Press Information
June 3, 2010
PHILIPS AND RXi PHARMACEUTICALS SIGN AGREEMENT TO JOINTLY
RESEARCH INNOVATIVE IMAGE-GUIDED THERAPY CONCEPTS BASED ON RNAi
Eindhoven, the Netherlands and Worcester, Massachusetts, USA – Royal Philips
Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq:
RXII), a US-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced that they have
entered into a joint research agreement to explore the benefits of combining proprietary
technologies from both companies for the targeted delivery of experimental therapeutics
based on RNA interference (RNAi).
Compounds based on RNAi represent a promising new class of drugs for the targeted
treatment of a number of diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Currently, however, one of the greatest challenges in developing RNAi-based
therapeutics is finding ways to deliver them to their target while keeping them fully
active. The joint research program between Philips and RXi will address this challenge
by exploring, in preclinical studies, the possibility of using RXi’s sd-rxRNA™ (selfdelivering rxRNA™) in conjunction with Philips’ ultrasound technology to achieve the
targeted delivery and monitoring of RNAi-based compounds in cells.
“As part of Philips’ holistic care cycle approach to patient care, we are constantly
exploring novel concepts for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of diseases. Our
decision to jointly research RNAi-based therapies with RXi is driven by our belief that
patient care will ultimately benefit from the combination of novel drugs and advanced
medical imaging technologies,” said Henk van Houten, senior vice president of Philips
Research and head of the healthcare research program. “The development of
ultrasound techniques that could non-invasively trigger the delivery of new drug formats
such as RNAi therapeutics at a targeted location opens up exciting possibilities for
advancing personalized medicine.”
"The most important technological challenges that need to be addressed in order to
realize the promise of RNAi-based approaches to treating various human disorders are
efficient and safe delivery of the RNAi compounds to the targeted organs, and uptake of
these compounds by relevant cells,” said Noah D. Beerman, President and CEO at RXi.
“By combining RXi’s proprietary sd-rxRNA molecules, which have unique properties of
‘self delivery’, and Philips’ ultrasound technologies, we will be working together to
achieve targeted and specific delivery to relevant organs and tissues, which could
potentially boost the efficacy of RNAi-based disease treatments.”
Diseases, as well as their potential cures, are associated with specific processes at a
cellular and molecular level. RNAi technology is a breakthrough in understanding how
genes are turned on and off and represents a new approach to drug development.
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Therapeutics that leverage this breakthrough technology can potentially target the cause
of specific diseases by silencing harmful genes and preventing disease-causing proteins
being produced.
To realize this potential, it is important to first optimize RNAi compounds in a way that
confers them with the required drug properties and second to enhance their delivery to
cells that express these harmful genes. RXi’s proprietary rxRNA molecules are
chemically modified to provide them with important properties such as stability in
biological fluids, low stimulatory effect on the immune system and high target specificity.
Philips’ image-guided ultrasound-mediated drug delivery platform offers researchers a
unique approach to investigating the delivery of various therapeutic molecules across
blood vessel barriers and facilitating their uptake in cells. It capitalizes upon Philips’
existing expertise in medical imaging technologies for diagnosis, therapy planning and
minimally-invasive medical procedures.
Each company will contribute proprietary technologies, resources and expertise to test
novel approaches for the targeted delivery of RXi’s sd-rxRNA compounds in appropriate
preclinical models using ultrasound-mediated drug delivery under image guidance. The
preparation and research will be conducted at Philips’ Life Tech research facilities at the
High Tech Campus in Eindhoven (The Netherlands), which are dedicated to R&D at the
interface of life sciences and medical technologies, and at RXi’s research and
development facilities in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
For further information, please contact:
Philips Research
Steve Klink
Communications Department
Tel.: +31 40 27 43703
Mobile: +31 6 10888824
E-mail: [email protected]
RXi Pharmaceuticals
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 508 929 3615
E-mail: [email protected]
Susan A. Noonan – Investor Contact
S.A. Noonan Communications
Tel: +1 212 966 3650
E-mail: [email protected]
Eric Goldman – Media Contact
Rx Communications Group
Tel: +1 917 322 2563
E-mail: [email protected]
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified
health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely
innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates
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technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer
insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the
Netherlands, Philips employs more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries
worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in
cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and
new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and
pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming,
portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at
www.philips.com/newscenter
About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
RXi Pharmaceuticals is a discovery-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing the
development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA
interference (RNAi) for the treatment of human diseases. RXi has a comprehensive
therapeutic platform that includes both novel RNAi compounds and advanced delivery
methods that can potentially be applied for local and systemic applications, against
targets that may be undruggable by other modalities. RXi uses its proprietary version of
RNAi compounds -- rxRNA -- that provide an advanced alternative to conventional small
interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and define the next generation of RNAi technology. These
include rxRNAoriTM, rxRNAsoloTM, and sd-rxRNA (or "self-delivering" RNA), which are
distinct from, and potentially convey significant advantages over, classic siRNA's. RXi
Pharmaceuticals believes it is well positioned to compete successfully in the RNAi
therapeutics market based on the strength of its next generation therapeutic platform,
experienced management team, accomplished Scientific Advisory Board, including Dr.
Craig Mello, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of RNAi, and its broad
intellectual property position in RNAi chemistry and delivery. http://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 collaboration with Royal Philips
Electronics will not be successful, 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 contemplated by these forwardlooking 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.
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