Viromids: A Redosable Gene-Delivery Platform for Ocular Therapy

Overview

Viromids are next-generation gene delivery vectors inspired by the human virome. They enable repeat dosing, delivery of large genes, and lower manufacturing costs while maintaining exceptional purity and safety.

Problem addressed

To overcome the bottlenecks of current viral vectors, such as immune barriers preventing redosing and high costs, Viromids enables safe, repeatable, and affordable ocular treatments for patients everywhere.

Innovation

iPhagemids: Derived from filamentous bacteriophages; well-tolerated, non-inflammatory, and customizable for large genetic cargos.
Anellomids: Based on ubiquitous, non-pathogenic anelloviruses that offer lifelong immune tolerance, making them ideal for repeat dosing.

Key impact

Redosable delivery and broader eligibility: Overcomes immune barriers to allow for repeat dosing and access for more patients.
Expanded payload capacity: Able to deliver larger or multiple genes compared to traditional vectors.
Ultra-low-cost manufacturing: Uses simple fermentation-based scalability to improve global accessibility and equity.

Award

Gold Medal at the 9th China (Shanghai) International Invention & Innovation Expo
Grand Award at the 2025 Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong
Gold Medal with congratulations of Jury at the 2025 Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong
Gold Medal with congratulations of Jury at the 51st International Exhitbition on Inventions Geneva
Special Prize of “ LUCIAN BLAGA” University of SIBIU, ROMANIA at the 51st International Exhitbition on Inventions Geneva

Application

Precision genetic medicine for ocular diseases
Large-gene therapy and multi-gene delivery

Website

The InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) was established in 2020 as a research collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) in Canada. It is located at the Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong. It is one of the research laboratories under the "InnoHK Research Clusters" initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. CEVR is committed to developing technologies that prevent, detect, treat, and mitigate vision loss, driving ground-breaking research across three key areas: Preserving and Restoring Healthy Vision, Next-Generation Therapeutics, and Advanced Optometry Technologies. For further information, please visit www.cevr.hk.

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