<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950135-09-000375
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20090115
<ITEMS>5.02
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20090122
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090122
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORP
<CIK>0001390478
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2834
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-33958
<FILM-NUMBER>09539093
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>60 PRESCOTT  STREET
<CITY>WORCESTER
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01605
<PHONE>508-767-3861
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>60 PRESCOTT  STREET
<CITY>WORCESTER
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01605
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b73737rpe8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>e8vk</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE<BR>
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;15, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><FONT style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION</FONT></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Delaware
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">001-33958
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">20-8099512</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction of
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">of incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">File Number)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">60 Prescott Street, Worcester, MA 01605<BR>
<DIV style="margin-top: 1px"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</FONT></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (508)&nbsp;767-3861</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (<I>see </I>General Instruction A.2. below):
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>






<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">Signature</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">Index to Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="b73737rpexv99w1.htm">EX-99.1 Press Release issued by RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation on January 22, 2009</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>






<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(d)&nbsp;On January&nbsp;15, 2009, the board of directors (the &#147;Board&#148;) of RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
(the &#147;Company&#148;) appointed Dr.&nbsp;Rudolph Nisi as a Class&nbsp;I director with a term expiring at the 2011
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, filling a vacancy that was created when the Board
voted to increase the size of the Board to six members in accordance with the Company&#146;s by-laws.
The appointment of Dr.&nbsp;Nisi as director was not pursuant to any agreement or understanding between
Dr.&nbsp;Nisi and any third party. At the time of his appointment to the Board, Dr.&nbsp;Nisi was not
appointed to serve on any committee of the Board.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A copy of the press release issued in connection with appointment of Dr.&nbsp;Nisi is being filed
as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">99.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Press Release issued by RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation on January&nbsp;22, 2009.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "Signature" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Signature</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left">RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Date: January&nbsp;22, 2008
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Stephen J. DiPalma</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Name:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Stephen J. DiPalma</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Title:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "Index to Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Index to Exhibits</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">99.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Press Release issued by RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation on January&nbsp;22, 2009.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b73737rpexv99w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION ON JANUARY 22, 2009
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>exv99w1</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>RXi Pharmaceuticals Appoints Rudolph Nisi, M.D. to Board of Directors</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Worcester, MA, January&nbsp;22, 2009 &#151; </B>RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: RXII), a
biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of proprietary
therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), today announced that Rudolph Nisi, M.D. has been
appointed to the Company&#146;s Board of Directors, effective as of January&nbsp;15, 2009.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Dr.&nbsp;Nisi is a prominent cardiologist, the Chairman of the Board and an attending physician at
Westchester Square Medical Center and has been a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Cornell
University Medical College for over 10&nbsp;years. Dr.&nbsp;Nisi is also a member of the Board of Directors
of Tempra Technology, Inc., and was the Chairman of the Board of Medco Research, a company he
founded that was later acquired by King Pharmaceuticals.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Tod Woolf, Ph.D., President and CEO noted, &#147;Dr.&nbsp;Nisi is an excellent addition to our Board. He has
biotech experience, has developed a marketed drug and has extensive experience in healthcare as a
practicing physician and hospital board member. He will contribute significantly to our company
and the applications of our technology to medicine.&#148;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>About RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">RXi Pharmaceuticals is a discovery-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and
potential commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi) for the
treatment of human diseases. RXi Pharmaceuticals&#146; rxRNA&#153; compounds are distinct from the siRNA
compounds used by many other companies developing RNAi therapeutics and are very active and potent
(10-100pM activity in cell culture) based on the company&#146;s internal research, in addition to being
nuclease resistant and readily manufactured. RXi Pharmaceuticals believes it is well positioned to
compete successfully in the RNAi-based therapeutics market with its accomplished scientific
advisors, including Dr.&nbsp;Craig Mello, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize for his co-discovery of
RNAi; a management team that is experienced in developing RNAi products; and a strong early
intellectual property position in RNAi chemistry and delivery. www.rxipharma.com
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Forward-Looking Statements</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">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&#146;s products and
technologies. These forward-looking statements about future expectations, plans and prospects of
the development of RXi Pharmaceutical Corporation&#146;s products and technologies involve significant
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including 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 <I>and </I>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.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>CONTACT:</B><BR>
RXi Pharmaceuticals<BR>
Donna Falcetti<BR>
508-929-3615<BR>
ir@rxipharma.com

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">or

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Investors<BR>
SAN Group<BR>
Susan Noonan<BR>
212-966-3650<BR>
susan@sanoonan.com

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">or

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Media<BR>
Rx Communications Group<BR>
Eric Goldman<BR>
917-322-2563<BR>
<u>egoldman@rxir.com</u>

</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
