Circio expanding its R&D operations in Stockholm to accelerate circVec development

• Circio has expanded into novel laboratory facilities at Novum Labs, in connection with the Karolinska Institute campus in Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden
• Circio to join the Life Science Cluster Flemingsberg, an emerging life science hub in Southern Stockholm
• The expansion is an important strategic move to enable Circio to accelerate pre-clinical circVec development following recent strong data in AAV gene therapy and in vivo CAR cell therapy

Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, 7 July 2025 – Circio Holding ASA (OSE: CRNA), a biotechnology company developing powerful circular RNA technology for next generation nucleic acid medicine, today announces that it has expanded its laboratory operations in Stockholm, Sweden. The move follows Circio’s recent generation of promising circVec circular RNA expression data in the fields of gene and cell therapy. This expansion will enable Circio to further accelerate pre-clinical development towards its first therapeutic candidates.

Circio’s recently published series of data demonstrate a clear and significant advantage for circVec expression in tissue-specific AAV gene therapy and DNA-format in vivo cell therapy. These results are generating growing interest among a broad life science and industry audience. This has triggered a need for novel laboratories as a platform to support increased research activity and external collaborations.

“This brand-new state-of-the-art laboratory and office space at Novum Labs will substantially expand our footprint and provide an excellent platform for future growth,” said Ola Melin, COO of Circio. “The new link to the Flemingsberg Life Science Cluster and close connection to the Karolinska institute provides access to high quality infrastructure, equipment and competencies. This will be critical as we accelerate our pre-clinical development towards establishing therapeutic circVec candidates to advance towards the clinic.”

“Adding the Circio team to the Life Science Cluster Flemingsberg will be another important milestone for our rapidly expanding R&D hub,” said Pernilla Boström, COO of Flemingsberg Science Foundation. “Circio brings unique world-leading expertise in the areas of RNA biology, delivery technology and bioinformatics, and will add scientific strength and know-how for the cluster. We are convinced that Novum Labs will provide a great base for Circio for years to come, and that the partnership will create substantial mutual benefit to support the growth of both organizations.”

Novum Labs, managed by Hemsö, provides scientific and office space, including research equipment infrastructure, for life science companies in the early growth phase. The facilities will enable Circio to increase its current R&D productivity, with flexibility for further expansion in the future. Circio will use the increased capacity to progress development of its circVec AAV gene therapy and in vivo cell therapy programs, with the aim to generate in vivo disease model validation during the second half of 2025 and select its first therapeutic candidate during 2026.

About Circio

Building circular RNA expression systems for enhanced gene and cell therapies

Circio Holding ASA is a biotechnology company developing powerful circular RNA vector expression technology for next generation nucleic acid medicine.

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 cassette design for efficient biogenesis of multifunctional circRNA inside cells. The circVec platform has applications in multiple therapeutic settings, including genetic medicine, cell therapy and chronic disease. It has demonstrated 70-fold increased RNA half-life and up to 15-fold enhanced protein expression vs. conventional mRNA vector systems in vivo, and has the potential to become a new gold-standard protein expression technology. The circRNA R&D activities are being conducted by the wholly owned subsidiary Circio AB in Stockholm, Sweden.

About Flemingsberg Science Foundation

Flemingsberg Science Foundation is a neutral actor in the regional development of southern Stockholm, with the mission to promote and lead the advancement of knowledge-intensive activities in Flemingsberg. As one of Sweden’s leading innovation clusters in life science, health, and creativity, Flemingsberg Science constantly strives to create a dynamic and collaboration-rich environment. The goal of Flemingsberg Science foundation is to develop Flemingsberg into one of Sweden’s most significant centers for education, research, and creativity by the year 2050.

The Flemingsberg Science Foundation was established in 2011 with the mission to promote collaboration between academia, industry, and society in Flemingsberg. Behind the foundation are Region Stockholm, Huddinge Municipality, Botkyrka Municipality, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Södertörn University, and the Red Cross University College.