Boston, MA 05/02/2014 (wallstreetpr) – RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (NASDAQ:RXII) announced obtaining positive results from the evaluation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels of protein after injecting RXI-109 intravitreaously in cynomolgus monkeys’ eyes.
The treatment involving the intravitreal injection of the RXI-109 was a part of a study of amount of dosage to establish RXi Pharmaceuticals’ franchise. RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (NASDAQ:RXII) focuses primarily on finding, developing and distributing novel treatment options catering major unaddressed or unsatisfied medical requirements with the use of RNA based technologies.
Findings
In this case, the biotech company determined the levels of CTGF proteins by immunohistochemistry procedures one week after the injection and quantified with the help of digital image examination of stained slides. The intravitreal injection of RXI-109 caused a decline in the levels of CTGF proteins depending on the dosage levels in the retina. Sectional images of whole eye were obtained in the study. Additionally, the study also helped in determining the levels of CTGF proteins in the cornea. It was noted that these levels also fell in a similar dosage dependent way in the cornea tissue.
Future Lead
In this context, RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (NASDAQ:RXII)’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, said that the outstanding results obtained with the study provide a major boost to the company’s newly established ophthalmology franchise’s value. He further added that the data’s importance is manifold. Firstly, he said, the results confirm that with RXI-109, the levels of CTGF proteins are lowered in a dosage dependent pattern in the retina of the cynomolgus monkeys, who are non- human primates. Secondly, the results also highlight that intravitreal injection assists in migration of compounds to the cornea which, as a result, bring down the levels of CTGF proteins in the cornea tissue as well. He said that this knowledge brings forth the possibility and lead to form topical variations of RXI-109 to fight corneal scarring, which is common after infection or trauma and may eventually cause blindness.
