SHANGHAI, China, August 14, 2024 – CirCode Biomed, an innovative biotechnology company focusing on the development of Circular RNA therapeutics, today announced the first-in-human investigator initiated trial (IIT) of HM2002 initiated by Professor Zhao Qiang at Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the HM2002 in patients with ischemic heart failure undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current clinical interventions fail to effectively restore the function of damaged microvasculature, resulting in sustained ischemia in myocardial cells even after revascularization. In China, the mortality rate for IHD has continued to increase. Although traditional treatment methods include drug therapy, interventional angioplasty, and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) may improve the survival rate and quality of life for myocardial infarction patients, these approaches have limited effects on necrotic myocardium, especially in cases of diffuse coronary artery disease, where myocardial infarction has become the primary cause of heart failure. Therapeutic angiogenesis, also known as "molecular bypass" or "bio-bypass," offers a new treatment strategy for patients with IHD.

Multiple angiogenic proteins, including VEGF, HGF, FGF, etc., are being tested in multiple trials via various modalities, such as protein therapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy. HM2002 is a next generation gene therapy using circular RNA specifically designed for therapeutic angiogenesis.

"The first-in-human study of HM2002 was supported by the hospital's leadership and the Department of Scientific Research and Development,” said Professor Zhao Qiang. “Thanks to the hospital's policy for new clinical technologies and therapies, as well as its comprehensive research, academic, and ethical systems, our study can proceed as planned."

“Circular RNA is a novel class oftherapeutics,” said Dr. Chenxiang Tang, CEO of CirCode Biomed. “In preclinicalstudies, HM2002 demonstrated exceptional efficacy and excellent safety profile.Thanks to the trust and support from Ruijin Hospital and especially fromProfessor Qiang Zhao's team, HM2002 is on its way as the world's first circularRNA to deliver benefit to patients.”