Building next generation RNA therapeutics

circVec is our unique, proprietary technology for in situ circRNA production, which enables enhanced and durable expression of proteins compared to conventional vectors.

The circVec platform is a modular genetic cassette designed for efficient biogenesis of multifunctional circRNAs in human cells. circVec can be tailored for any DNA-vector system, enabling delivery to and circRNA expression in targeted cells or tissues. The modular design allows for the incorporation of a variety of functionalities into the circRNA, opening the opportunity to create highly targeted medicines with potential applications in a variety of therapeutic settings ranging from oncology and vaccines to rare disease.

Target development areas:

Oncology – circAde

Circio is the first company to make significant advances in the delivery of circRNA to solid tumors. The circAde approach is based on Circio´s clinically validated adenoviral vector system, with first generation mRNA vector ONCOS-102 having demonstrated strong immune responses and clinical efficacy in several solid tumor types. Learning from the broad clinical and translational experience with ONCOS-102, the circAde vector system has been engineered for robust in situ expression of circRNA directly in cancer cells with multiple parallel functionalities for optimal anti-cancer and immune-stimulatory activity.

Circio projects that the first circAde candidate will be ready to enter the clinic in 2025

Vaccines – circVac

circRNA allows for prolonged antigen expression, making them highly attractive for development of vaccines against infectious disease and cancer. circVac is our proprietary vector-based platform for antigen expression and robust immune stimulation.  circVac vaccines are expected to stimulate more durable immune responses than current mRNA-based approaches, and offer important advantages for vaccine handling and dosing.

Circio aims to establish pre-clinical proof-of-concept for the circVac platform during 2023.

Rare disease

Rare diseases caused by specific genetic defects are a major unmet medical need of increasing focus in drug development. Using the circVec approach, Circio is exploring the applicability of the technology in a range of vectors relevant for gene therapy in rare disease. The increased stability and prolonged protein expression offered by circRNA makes it a particularly promising therapeutic modality for protein replacement therapy in monogenic diseases – potentially circumventing the need for genome integration, which is a major limitation and safety concern for current gene therapy approaches.