RXi and EyeGate have announced a collaboration focused on non-invasive ocular delivery of RNAi therapeutics. Both companies will contribute technology, expertise and resources to the partnership.

The companies will explore the use of EyeGate's iontophoresis technology to deliver RXi's sd-rxRNA compounds to the eye in preclinical models. Iontophoresis technology is a method of drug delivery that uses a low-level electrical current to deliver a drug across the ocular surface into the eye. Once in the eye it is believed that the sd-rxRNA compounds will enter the retinal cells and silence disease causing genes.

President and CEO of RXi, Noah D. Beerman, explained: "In pre-clinical studies, our sd-rxRNA (or self-delivering rxRNA) compounds have shown effective gene silencing in the retina following intraocular injection. Combining our RNAi technology with EyeGate's unique, non-invasive ocular delivery system (EyeGate II), provides us with the potential opportunity to develop novel treatments for many ocular diseases and to improve treatment options."

Stephen From, president and CEO of EyeGate Pharma, added: "Our collaboration with RXi will enable us to expand the drug delivery options for the EyeGate II delivery system into RNAi therapeutics, developing new uses and markets for the device"