* The collaboration will evaluate combining the circVec generation 5 construct
into POLARIS-101TM to address major unmet medical needs in genetic heart
disease
* Solid Biosciences proprietary, next-generation AAV capsid, POLARIS-101, was
engineered for enhanced cardiac and muscle tropism
* Circio s latest circVec generation 5 has demonstrated up to 200-fold
enhanced gene expression from AAV vectors in heart in vivo
Oslo, Norway, 11 November 2026 -- Circio Holding ASA (OSE: CRNA), a
biotechnology company developing novel circular RNA expression technology for
gene and cell therapy, today announces a research collaboration with Solid
Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: SLDB) to evaluate the combination of Circio's
circVec platform with Solid's proprietary, next-generation AAV capsid,
POLARIS-101TM, for targeted, systemic gene therapy for genetic heart disease.
Current gene therapy approaches for genetic heart disease often require high
systemic AAV doses associated with significant safety risks. Circio s circular
RNA gene expression platform, circVec, has demonstrated approximately 200-fold
enhanced gene expression from AAV vectors in the heart in vivo. Solid s
proprietary myotropic capsid, POLARIS-101, was engineered for enhanced cardiac
muscle targeting with reduced liver biodistribution, and has generated
encouraging early clinical safety data.
The parties aim to integrate these complementary technologies to evaluate
potential synergies. The combination could result in highly specific and
potent next generation gene therapies to address major unmet medical needs in
genetic heart disease, with the intent of reducing therapeutic dose levels and
improving safety.
"Solid Biosciences is at the forefront of AAV engineering, and their
engineered capsid, POLARIS-101, has shown impressive cardiac targeting in
pre-clinical models, in addition to encouraging clinical safety data. We
believe that circVec can build on POLARIS-101's strong tropism to further
amplify cardiac gene expression, potentially enabling next generation heart
gene therapies with enhanced potency and specificity," said Dr. Victor
Levitsky, CSO of Circio. "Combining circVec with POLARIS-101 is a
strategically and scientifically highly relevant opportunity for Circio, and
we look forward to working with Solid s team of AAV experts. This R&D
collaboration adds further to our strategy of testing circVec in multiple
therapeutic applications, and broadens the development opportunities in
genetic heart disease."
In the collaboration, Circio will generate circVec constructs based on its
latest generation 5 design, which Solid will package using its proprietary
POLARIS-101 AAV capsid and dual plasmid manufacturing platform. The parties
will jointly characterize and test the combined AAV vectors in vitro and in
vivo. If successful, potential therapeutic candidates will be further
evaluated and progressed into pre-clinical development. The collaboration is
part of Circio s R&D strategy to test circVec with complementary,
state-of-the-art delivery solutions to design next generation therapy vectors
with improved performance and specificity for heart, eye and CNS tissues.
For further information, please contact:
Erik Digman Wiklund, CEO
Phone: +47 413 33 536
Email: erik.wiklund@circio.com
Neil Hunter -- Hunter PR
Phone: +44 782 125 5568
Email: neiljameshunter@gmail.com
About Circio
Building circular RNA expression systems for enhanced gene and cell therapies
Circio Holding ASA is a biotechnology company developing novel circular RNA
expression technology for gene and cell therapy.
Circio has established a unique circular RNA (circRNA) vector expression
technology for next generation RNA, DNA and viral therapeutics. The
proprietary circVec platform is based on a modular genetic construct designed
for efficient biogenesis of multifunctional circRNA inside target cells. The
circVec platform has applications in multiple therapeutic settings, including
genetic medicine, cell therapy and chronic disease. It has demonstrated
75-fold increased RNA half-life and up to 60-fold enhanced protein expression
vs. conventional mRNA-based viral and non-viral vector systems, with the
potential to become a new gold-standard gene expression technology. The
circVec R&D activities are being conducted by the wholly owned subsidiary
Circio AB in Stockholm, Sweden.
gy. The\
circVec R&D activities are being conducted by the wholly owned subsidiary\
Circio AB in Stockholm\, Sweden.\