Ring raises $117m to fund development of anellovectors

“Virome” focused gene therapy vector firm Ring Therapeutics has raised $117 million in a funding round, attracting backing from venture capital funds and existing investors.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts biotech announced completion of the series B fundraising round in July, explaining it will use the proceeds to further develop its range of vectors that are based on anelloviruses.

Image: iStock/MarianVejcik

CEO Tuyen Ong said. “With this funding, and the partnership of an exceptional group of investors joining us on this exciting journey, we are well positioned to deliver on the promise of Ring’s platform to unlock the full potential of gene therapy and deliver precision medicines.”

Anelloviruses are part of the human virome, which is the term used to describe viruses that exist and replicate harmlessly in all people.

Alternative vectors

Ring’s idea is to use these viruses instead of existing vector systems, including those based on adenoviruses.

One of the potential advantages is specificity according the firm, which says that because specific anelloviruses are found in specific tissues, they make ideal potential vectors for the delivery of targeted gene therapies.

Additionally, according to the firm, because the vectors carry circular single-stranded DNA molecules that do not integrate with a person’s existing DNA they overcome “some of the key challenges and limitations of current viral gene therapy platforms.”

This contrasts with gene therapies that use adeno-associated virus-based vectors, which can only be administered once because they elicit immune response.

Ring also says the vectors can also be re-dosed, which “could lead to gene therapies and nucleic acid medicines that could potentially be given multiple times over the course of a person’s life without causing an adverse immune response.”

Ring aims to develop a library of anellovectors for external and internal clinical programs focused on therapeutic areas like oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, CNS, rare diseases and pulmonary disorders.