TraffikGene S.L., a new biotechnology company spun out from the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), has been officially established following seven years of research at the Centre for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS). The company was created through the Xunta de Galicia's Ignicia Proof of Concept programme to commercialise TraffikGene®, a proprietary delivery platform designed to transport genetic medicines directly to the cells where they are needed.
The technology has been developed with the support of strategic institutional partners, including USC and the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN).
TraffikGene is based on proprietary peptide carriers capable of encapsulating and delivering a wide range of genetic cargo—including messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), DNA and gene-editing proteins—to specific tissues, including those that remain difficult to reach through systemic administration. Compared with existing delivery technologies, the platform offers a simpler manufacturing process while reducing toxicity.
"Establishing the company marks a major milestone for our team. It brings us one step closer to translating this technology into real-world applications and, ultimately, to the patients who may benefit from it," says Marisa Juanes, a member of the founding scientific team and the company's Chief Technology Officer.
The technology originated in the CiQUS research group led by Javier Montenegro, an Oportunius researcher funded by the Regional Government of Galicia, together with Marisa Juanes, Irene Lostalé-Seijo and Alberto Fuertes, who have been involved in the project since its inception. USC will grant the company an exclusive licence to the underlying intellectual property and patent portfolio.
"USC's participation in this new company reflects our commitment to knowledge transfer and to supporting innovative technology-based ventures," says Rosa Crujeiras, Rector of the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, who also highlighted the role of the University's Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office throughout the process.
To date, TraffikGene has secured more than €3.5 million in non-dilutive funding, including support from the European Innovation Council through its Pathfinder and Transition programmes, as well as the Ignicia Proof of Concept programme funded by the Xunta de Galicia through the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN).
"Projects such as TraffikGene perfectly illustrate Galicia's commitment to supporting high-impact strategic technologies, knowledge transfer and science-based entrepreneurship that strengthens the region's innovation ecosystem," says Carmen Cotelo, Director of the Galician Innovation Agency.
According to Alberto Fuertes, this support made it possible to generate the first preclinical proof-of-concept results in relevant animal models while strengthening the team with strategic profiles closer to the biopharmaceutical industry. Reflecting this transition, Mark Mayhew, who brings more than two decades of business development experience in the pharmaceutical sector and has advised the project throughout its final academic stage, has been appointed Chair of the company's Board of Directors.
TraffikGene has also recently signed its first international collaboration agreement with the Norwegian biotechnology company Circio, highlighting the growing commercial interest in next-generation gene delivery technologies.
Now operating as an independent company, TraffikGene's next priorities include establishing new co-development partnerships with strategic collaborators and raising a seed investment round, which is already underway. In parallel, the company will continue advancing its own RNA-based therapeutic programmes towards preclinical development.
"This is the right time to make the transition from academia to industry," says Javier Montenegro. "The project has matured significantly within the academic environment, where we have worked with an entrepreneurial mindset and benefited from highly competitive funding that has been instrumental in bringing this technology closer to real-world applications."
The CiQUS holds the CIGUS recognition by the Xunta de Galicia, that accredits the quality and impact of its research, and receives financial support from the European Union through the Galicia FEDER Program 2021-2027.