RXi Pharmaceuticals and EyeGate Pharma Announce Collaboration Focused on
Non-Invasive Ocular Delivery of RNAi Therapeutics

September 22, 2010
WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE <http://www.businesswire.com/> )--RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: RXII), a recognized leader in
RNAi-based therapeutics, and EyeGate Pharma, the leader in non-invasive
ocular drug delivery announced today that they will collaborate on the
ocular delivery of RNAi therapeutics. Each party will contribute technology,
expertise, and resources to the collaboration.

"The development of RNAi therapeutics to treat retinal disorders is a key
focus for our company, and we are excited to be collaborating with EyeGate
to explore new, patient friendly approaches for delivering RNAi therapeutics
to the eye," said Noah D. Beerman, President and CEO at RXi.  "In
pre-clinical studies, our sd-rxRNAT (or self-delivering rxRNAT) 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 (EyeGateR II), provides us with the
potential opportunity to develop novel treatments for many ocular diseases
and to improve treatment options."

The collaboration will explore the use of EyeGate's iontophoresis technology
to deliver RXi's sd-rxRNA compounds to the eye in preclinical models.
Iontophoresis 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
inside the eye, it is believed that RXi's sd-rxRNA compounds will have
access to retinal cells, and by virtue of their self-delivering properties,
enter these cells and silence disease causing genes. EyeGate's technology is
currently being studied in a Phase III trial with an anti-inflammatory
product (EGP-437). 

Stephen From, President and CEO of EyeGate Pharma, commented, "Collaborating
with RXi reflects our strategy to commercialize innovative products for the
ophthalmology community.  EyeGate is developing a unique ocular Delivery
System, the EyeGateR II, which is a non-invasive drug delivery technology
that eliminates ocular injections and the risks associated with them.  Our
collaboration with RXi will enable us to expand the drug delivery options
for the EyeGate IIR Delivery System into RNAi therapeutics, developing new
uses and markets for the device, as well as developing more patient friendly
treatments for retinal disease based on RXi's sd-rxRNAT technology."

About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation

RXi Pharmaceuticals is a recognized leader in RNAi-based therapeutic
discovery and development with a comprehensive therapeutic platform that
includes both RNA interference (RNAi) compounds and delivery methods.  The
company is leveraging this broad and integrated RNAi therapeutic platform to
build a pipeline of RNAi therapeutics for the treatment of a number of
disease areas, including its core focus of developing treatments for
anti-scarring and retinal disorders as well as a continued interest in
oncology and indications accessible by spinal cord delivery.  RXi
Pharmaceuticals believes it is well positioned to compete successfully in
the RNAi therapeutics market based on the strength of its next generation
therapeutic platform, experienced management team, accomplished Scientific
Advisory Board, including Nobel Laureate, Dr. Craig Mello, and its broad
intellectual property position in RNAi chemistry and delivery.
www.rxipharma.com

About EyeGate Pharma

Eyegate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on developing treatments for unmet
ocular medical needs by employing the EyeGateR II Ocular Drug Delivery
System, a non-invasive drug delivery technology. The EyeGateR II delivery
system is compatible with a wide range of therapeutics and has the potential
to address many anterior and posterior segment diseases. EyeGate Pharma is
the first company to demonstrate clinical significance using iontophoretic
drug delivery in the eye, and EyeGateR II has been studied in over 200
subjects (more than 500 treatments performed). The Company recently
completed randomized, double-masked Phase II clinical studies for both dry
eye and uveitis with its lead product candidate, EGP-437. It has initiated a
Phase III pivotal trial (ALLUVION) in dry eye patients.  EyeGate has ongoing
relationships with a number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies (e.g.,
GSK). For more information, please visit www.eyegatepharma.com
<http://www.eyegatepharma.com/> .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements about future expectations, plan
and future development of RXi Pharmaceutical Corporation's products and
technologies. These forward-looking statements about future expectations,
plans and prospects of the development of RXi Pharmaceutical Corporation's
products and technologies involve significant risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, including the risk that we may not achieve the goals of our
research collaborations or that our collaboration partners' technologies may
fail, the risk that the development of our RNAi-based therapeutics may be
delayed or may not proceed as planned and we may not be able to complete
development of any RNAi-based product, the risk that the FDA approval
process may be delayed for any drugs that we develop, risks related to
development and commercialization of products by our competitors, risks
related to our ability to control the timing and terms of collaborations
with third parties and the possibility that other companies or organizations
may assert patent rights that prevent us from developing our products.
Actual results may differ materially from those RXi Pharmaceuticals
Corporation contemplated by these forward-looking statements. RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation does not undertake to update any of these
forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or
circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

CONTACT:
RXi Pharmaceuticals
Donna Falcetti
508-929-3615
ir@rxipharma.com

or

Investors
S. A. Noonan Communications
Susan Noonan
212-966-3650
susan@sanoonan.com

or

Media
Rx Communications Group
Eric Goldman
917-322-2563
egoldman@rxir.com

EyeGate Contact
Stephen From
President & CEO
sdfrom@eyegatepharma.com
781-398-3820