Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent application 17/150,614 for two of its INTASYL Compounds, RXI-185 and RXI-231. The compounds treat age-related skin disorders including photo-aging and dermal hyperpigmentation, targeting the down-regulation of the Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) and Tyrosinase (TYR) proteins.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a known contributor to skin cancer and aging, inducing the hyperactivity of MMP1 which increases collagen breakdown and reduces collagen synthesis. RXI-185 is a potent silencer of MMP1 expression in the skin, interrupting UVR induced collagen breakdown, thereby, improving and/or slowing the progression for skin thickening, elasticity and wrinkles. Various dermal pigmentation conditions including melasma and lentigines are notoriously difficult to treat.

RXI-231 has been shown to penetrate the epidermal-dermal junction where tyrosinase-producing melanocytes reside and reduces the levels of tyrosinase (TYR). The Phio patent portfolio now consists of 81 issued patents, 77 of which cover its INTASYL siRNA gene silencing technology. INTASYL drugs precisely target specific proteins that reduce the body's ability to fight cancer, without the need for specialized formulations or drug delivery systems.