Circio is preparing to advance its circular RNA gene therapy platform towards clinical development after raising approximately NOK 620 million ($65 million) in new funding during the first half of 2026.

The Norwegian biotechnology company is developing circVec, a circular RNA expression technology designed for gene and cell therapy applications. Circio is now targeting clinical entry for a lead circVec gene therapy candidate in 2029.

The company said the new funding will support the next stage of development as it moves its technology from preclinical research towards the clinic.

As part of this transition, Circio is strengthening its board with additional expertise in RNA and gene therapy. The company’s Nomination Committee has proposed Dinah Sah, who has experience in RNA and AAV gene therapy development, as a new board director, subject to shareholder approval. Robert Burns, who has served on the board and R&D committee of Circio and its predecessor companies for more than 15 years, has also been proposed for re-election.

The appointments are intended to add translational expertise as Circio works towards making development decisions for its lead programme and preparing for clinical development.

Circular RNA technology targets AAV gene therapy challenges

Circio’s circVec platform is designed to enable circular RNA expression and is being developed as a potential technology for gene and cell therapy applications.

The company is focused on the potential for circVec to address some of the challenges associated with current AAV gene therapy approaches. AAV vectors are used to deliver genetic material to target cells, but therapeutic development can be affected by factors including the amount of vector required and unwanted expression outside the intended target tissues.

Dinah Sah said: “The circVec platform has significant potential to enable much lower doses of AAV gene therapy; retaining similar pharmacology in target tissues, while reducing off-target expression and cellular stress responses.”

The potential to achieve similar pharmacological effects using lower AAV doses could be relevant to the development of next-generation gene therapies, particularly where reducing vector exposure could help address safety or tolerability considerations.

Sah added that the technology could have applications beyond AAV gene therapy, with the company positioning circVec as a versatile platform that may also be relevant to other drug classes.

Circio targets clinical entry in 2029

The move towards clinical development represents a significant next stage for Circio, which has spent recent years developing its circular RNA technology and establishing its potential applications in gene and cell therapy.

The company said its lead therapeutic candidate is now being advanced towards clinical entry, with the 2029 target marking a longer-term development milestone for the programme.

Damian Marron, chairman of Circio, said the company wanted to strengthen its board with “deep translational expertise in the RNA and gene therapy fields” as it moves into its next phase of development.

The focus on translational expertise reflects the challenges involved in moving a therapeutic platform from preclinical research into human clinical studies. This stage requires decisions around candidate selection, manufacturing, safety, dosing and clinical development strategy, alongside the continued assessment of whether preclinical findings can translate into meaningful therapeutic effects.

For Circio, the next phase will therefore focus on advancing its lead circVec programme while continuing to assess the broader potential of its circular RNA expression technology.

The company is also proposing the re-election of Robert Burns, who has been involved with Circio and its predecessor companies since 2010. His continued involvement is intended to retain experience and knowledge of the company’s science and development programmes as it moves towards clinical development.

With approximately NOK 620 million raised during the first half of 2026, Circio now has additional funding to support the development of its platform and lead candidate.

The company will need to demonstrate that the potential advantages of circVec identified in preclinical research can translate into a viable clinical programme. Its planned progression towards clinical entry in 2029 will therefore represent an important test of the platform’s potential as it moves from technology development towards therapeutic application.