* The collaboration will combine Circio's circVec and Tcelltech's nanoSMAR
technologies to generate next-generation in vivo CAR-T and TCR-T cells with
enhanced and more durable expression
* The collaboration is part of Circio s strategy to test circVec across
multiple modalities and delivery technologies to create novel highly
differentiated in vivo CAR-T therapies
Oslo, Norway, and Mannheim, Germany 24 June 2026 -- Circio Holding ASA (OSE:
CRNA), a biotechnology company developing novel circular RNA expression
technology for gene and cell therapy, and Tcelltech GmbH, a biotechnology
company developing non-viral, episomal DNA vector technology for the
engineering of T cells, today jointly announce a research collaboration to
combine Circio s circVec circular RNA expression technology with Tcelltech s
double-stranded, non-integrating nanoSMAR vector platform for the development
of next generation engineered T-cell therapies.
Engineered T-cell therapies such as CAR-T have transformed the treatment of
certain cancers. However, ex vivo manufacturing remains complex and the shift
towards in vivo approaches currently relies on viral vectors that have
significant safety concerns. By integrating the technologies developed by
Circio and Tcelltech, the parties aim to engineer T-cells with enhanced and
sustained CAR/TCR expression, without the need for viral vectors. The aim is
to develop novel in vivo cell therapies that are safer and more durable than
current in vivo approaches.
"The combination of Tcelltech's non-viral, episomal nanoSMAR DNA vector
platform with Circio's circVec expression technology holds great promise for
the development of in vivo gene delivery systems that are non-disruptive to
target cells, maintain high expression levels, and enable straightforward,
cost-effective manufacturing. Furthermore, the exceptionally large cargo
capacity of nanoSMAR vectors---beyond what is achievable with viral
approaches---enables the design of complex, and sophisticated constructs
incorporating multiple payload genes and regulatory elements," said Dr.
Richard Harbottle, Head of Vector Technology and Manufacturing at Tcelltech.
Under the collaboration, Circio and Tcelltech will combine Circio's circVec
circular RNA expression technology with Tcelltech's non-viral, high-cargo
capacity nanoSMAR vector platform and evaluate the combination in engineered T
cells through a staged research program. An initial proof-of-concept phase
will compare how strongly and how durably the different technology
combinations drive gene expression in primary human T cells, followed by a
functional phase in which CD19-directed CAR T cells are generated and tested
for their ability to kill tumor cells.
"In vivo T cell therapy is one of the most exciting frontiers for our circVec
technology and is a rapidly advancing approach that could make these therapies
more scalable and accessible," said Dr. Victor Levitsky, Chief Scientific
Officer of Circio. "Tcelltech s universal nanoSMAR platform is a promising and
differentiated delivery technology for T-cells, which we expect will act
synergistically with circVec-enhanced payload expression. This collaboration
fits into Circio s broad business development strategy of testing circVec
across multiple modalities and delivery systems to identify the optimal
technology combination and identify the most promising therapeutic avenues."
About Tcelltech
Tcelltech GmbH - founded by a team of clinicians and scientists from the
German Cancer Research Center DKFZ - has developed technology platforms,
nanoSMAR and selecTCR, which can overcome some of the fundamental challenges
and limitations, like manufacturing complexity and cost or suitable target
identification and targeting moiety generation, currently prohibiting the
success of immunotherapies for a larger number of patients. A clinical study
targeting glioblastoma with a TCR cell therapy manufactured ex vivo with a
nanoSMAR-based DNA vector is planned in 2026.
We are working towards in vivo cell therapies and believe that our platforms
will significantly improve immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases.
About Circio
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 50-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.
For further information, please contact:
Erik Digman Wiklund, CEO
Phone: +47 413 33 536
Email: erik.wiklund@circio.com
Lubor Gaal, CFO
Phone: +34 683 34 3811
Email: lubor.gaal@circio.com