Genflow Biosciences PLC (LSE:GENF, OTCQB:GENFF) has said it expects 2026 to be a decisive year as it pushes forward its gene therapy programmes in both human and animal health.
The company, which is developing treatments based on SIRT6, a gene linked to healthy ageing, said it is moving closer to clinical trials in advanced stages of metabolic liver disease and progressing new work in eye disorders.
At the same time, it is preparing to release first efficacy data from a trial in older dogs designed to assess muscle function and healthspan.
Genflow said that by integrating its human and veterinary pipelines it is building a “comprehensive platform capable of delivering meaningful innovations in longevity and age-related disease”.
It is also seeking non-dilutive funding, including support from the Wallonia region of Belgium to advance its lead drug GF-1002.
The company has repositioned GF-1002 to target patients with advanced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, where scarring of the liver leaves few treatment options other than transplantation.
Genflow said the therapy’s antifibrotic properties could help prevent progression to cancer, and while the patient group is smaller, the commercial opportunity is significant.
In ophthalmology, the company is pursuing therapies for corneal disease and glaucoma.
Current glaucoma drugs focus on reducing eye pressure, but Genflow’s approach seeks to protect the optic nerve itself, an area with potential for what it called a “paradigm shift” in treatment.
The global glaucoma market is expected to reach as much as $14 billion by the early 2030s.
Its animal health work centres on a trial of GF-1004, a naked DNA construct tested in ageing dogs.
Early findings confirmed the therapy’s safety and ease of use, and the company said results on muscle strength and broader health indicators are expected within months.
Discussions are under way with leading animal health groups about commercial applications.
For the six months to June 30, Genflow reported cash reserves of £279,445, virtually unchanged from the end of last year, supported by £869,000 of fundraising.
The business remains debt free, while administration expenses fell to £983,000 from £1.3 million a year earlier, reflecting lower research and development costs.