PCI Biotech, RXi Pharma Extend Research Collaboration

PCI Biotech, a cancer-focused biopharmaceutical company, and RXi Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focused on developing novel RNAi therapeutics for significant unmet needs, are extending their preclinical research collaboration initiated April 7, 2015.

This extension is supported by a new preclinical research collaboration agreement that reflect RXi's recently completed acquisition of MirImmune and PCI Biotech's focus in oncology. In brief, the preclinical research collaboration will evaluate technology compatibility and synergy based on in vivo studies. The companies will evaluate results achieved from this research collaboration and then explore the potential for a further partnership.

"I'm very pleased to announce the extension of the existing research agreement," said Per Walday, chief executive officer, PCI Biotech. "Our collaboration with RXi has been most fruitful and demonstrated a clear positive technological synergy that could realize significant value when applied to the emerging field of immuno-oncology. We look forward to exploring synergies between fimaNAc and RXi's innovative RNAi-based compounds in the extended collaboration focusing on immuno-oncology opportunities."

Geert Cauwenbergh, president and chief executive officer, RXi Pharmaceuticals, said, "Our collaboration with PCI Biotech over the last two years has been mutually very beneficial for our companies. We will learn how the PCI technology can even further enhance the time and the concentration our sd-rxRNA compounds can reside and be active in the immune cells. In the immuno-oncology space, where everybody talks about potency and safety of combinations, this continued and more focused collaboration could advance this therapeutic area significantly."