Altamira Therapeutics Announces Collaboration on Circular RNA Delivery

Altamira Therapeutics Ltd. recently announced it has entered into a collaboration agreement with an undisclosed company to evaluate the potential use of Altamira’s proprietary CycloPhore platform for the delivery of circular RNA payloads under development by the partner company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Altamira and its collaboration partner intend to test in vitro and in vivo the use of CycloPhore nanoparticles. The partner will, under certain conditions, have the option to negotiate with Altamira a license agreement to develop and commercialize circRNA nanoparticles with their proprietary RNA payload.

“We are very excited to enter in this first collaboration to explore the utility of our CycloPhore platform,” said Covadonga Pañeda, PhD, Altamira’s Chief Operating Officer. “CycloPhore was launched only recently specifically for delivery of circular RNA, which has been emerging as a highly promising approach for RNA drug development. For instance, circular mRNA could allow for lower dosing and less frequent administrations than linear mRNA. We look forward to working with our new partner who has strong expertise in circular RNA and the ambition to develop truly life changing therapeutics.”

CycloPhore is a versatile platform for safe and effective delivery of circRNA (circular messenger ribonucleic acid) into target cells. It is based on the xPhore technology, comprising a patented 21-amino acid peptide that can engage any type of RNA in rapid self-assembly into a nanoparticle. The nanoparticle has a size, charge, and other physical features that allow it to escape hepatic clearance and thus to reach other target tissues than the liver. xPhore protects the RNA payload from degradation in circulation and allows for rapid cellular uptake, while enabling pH-dependent endosomal escape and cytoplasmic delivery.

Altamira Therapeutics is developing and supplying peptide-based nanoparticle technologies for efficient RNA delivery to extrahepatic tissues (xPhore platform). The versatile delivery platform is suited for different RNA modalities, including siRNA, mRNA and circRNA, and made available to pharma or biotech companies through out-licensing. The company has two proprietary flagship programs based on xPhore and siRNA payloads: AM-401 for KRAS driven cancer and AM-411 for rheumatoid arthritis, both in preclinical development beyond in vivo proof of concept. In addition, Altamira holds a 49% stake (with additional economic rights) in Altamira Medica AG, which owns its commercial-stage legacy asset Bentrio, an OTC nasal spray for allergic rhinitis. Further, the Company is in the process of partnering / divesting its inner ear legacy assets. Founded in 2003, Altamira is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, with its main operations in Basel, Switzerland. For more information, visit https://altamiratherapeutics.com/.