Circio has entered a research collaboration with the University of Texas Medical Branch to evaluate circular RNA-based approaches for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, with an initial focus on viral pathogens that pose a risk to vulnerable populations.

The collaboration will explore whether Circio’s circVec technology can enable long-term protein expression following a single administration, with the aim of providing sustained passive protection against infection. Circio and UTMB said the work will focus on preclinical evaluation in both in vitro and in vivo infectious disease models.

UTMB brings established expertise in virology, vaccinology and infectious disease research, along with specialist laboratory facilities and experimental systems. Circio will be responsible for the design and technical validation of circular RNA expression vectors intended for infectious disease applications.

Victor Levitsky, CSO of Circio, said the collaboration allows the company to expand evaluation of its technology into infectious disease settings. “Our unique circVec technology modifies the core biological process of information flow from DNA to protein via highly stable circular RNA,” Levitsky said. “This collaboration will allow us to tap into the deep expertise and know-how at UTMB to design and test novel circVec candidates against dangerous viral pathogens.”

While RNA-based technologies are increasingly being explored across multiple disease areas, Circio said the collaboration is specifically aimed at understanding whether circular RNA expression could support prolonged protein production relevant to infectious disease prevention, potentially reducing the need for repeated dosing.

Alexander Bukreyev, virologist at UTMB, said there is growing interest in strategies that could provide longer-lasting protection against emerging and re-emerging viral threats. “There is growing interest in passive protection against viral infections that may cause new epidemics or pandemics associated with a high rate of severe disease and mortality,” Bukreyev said. “We are therefore very interested in collaborating with Circio on jointly developing and testing Circio’s circular RNA expression technology as a novel approach to addressing this urgent and important medical need.”

Under the terms of the agreement, UTMB will analyse the activity of circVec-based constructs against selected viruses, assessing their ability to drive sustained protein expression and biological effect. The institutions said the work will generate data to inform whether circular RNA approaches could complement existing infectious disease prevention and treatment strategies.

Antonio Bianco, senior vice president of health affairs and chief research officer at UTMB, said the collaboration supports the institution’s broader infectious disease research priorities. “This collaboration is an important component of our strategic commitment to develop and strengthen our infectious disease, gene and cell therapy programs at UTMB,” Bianco said. “We strongly believe that the circular RNA expression approach has significant potential to boost current prevention and treatment strategies for infectious diseases and beyond.”

Although Circio’s broader research activities also span cancer and gene therapy, the company said the current collaboration is centred on infectious disease, with outcomes expected to guide future development decisions based on preclinical performance.

The companies did not disclose financial terms of the collaboration.