RXi Pharmaceuticals and Thera Neuropharma have entered into an exclusive license agreement for RXi’s novel and proprietary sd-rxRNA platform to develop therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.

Thera will be responsible for all research, development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization activities for the licensed products. The initial focus of the agreement will be on sd-rxRNA compounds targeting superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) for use in developing innovative treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Furthermore, there are potential synergies between RXi’s SOD1 sd-rxRNA compounds and Thera’s small molecule regenerative therapeutics (SMRT), to target multiple factors involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. During the past several months, the companies have jointly filed provisional patents on the mechanism of action of the combined compounds for the management of neurodegenerative diseases associated with SOD1.

“We are pleased to announce this licensing deal with Thera for our SOD1 targeting sd-rxRNA compounds,” said Geert Cauwenbergh, president and chief executive officer, RXi Pharmaceuticals. “Building on the early work that was done at RXi in collaboration with Robert Brown, chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, we are happy to provide Thera with access to our robust self-delivering RNAi technology platform to develop therapeutics targeting SOD1.”

Antonella Favit-VanPelt, president and chief executive officer, Thera Neuropharma, said, “We are excited about the opportunity to leverage RXi’s and Thera’s technologies and strengthen significantly our development efforts in CNS. Tackling ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases with RNA-based and small molecule therapeutic approaches dramatically increase the possibility to bring tangible and decisive therapeutic interventions to ALS patients and others with incurable neurodegenerative disorders.”