Apriori Bio, a Flagship Pioneering company focused on creating variant-resilient vaccines, has announced a strategic research partnership with the ASTAR Infectious Diseases Labs (ASTAR IDL) to co-develop next-generation self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza. The collaboration pairs Apriori’s AI-powered Octavia platform — used for intelligent, forward-looking antigen design — with A*STAR IDL’s advanced saRNA delivery technology. The initial focus will be on developing improved H5 influenza vaccines designed to anticipate human infection and provide broader, more durable protection.

Craig Williams, CEO of Apriori Bio, said the partnership unites complementary strengths in vaccine design and RNA delivery to build stronger, longer-lasting immunity against rapidly evolving viruses like influenza. He emphasized that AI-driven antigen prediction is redefining what is possible in vaccine development.

A*STAR IDL’s executive director, Professor Lisa Ng, highlighted that the partnership reinforces a shared mission to translate deep scientific expertise into impactful, real-world health solutions, strengthening outbreak preparedness globally and in Singapore.

Apriori Bio’s chief scientific officer, Dr. Harry Kleanthous, noted that existing H5 vaccines often struggle to deliver robust single-dose immunity or broad protection. He said saRNA technology, combined with Octavia-generated antigen sequences, could overcome these challenges and enable the world’s first anticipatory H5 vaccine.

ASTAR Innovation and Enterprise’s assistant chief executive, Irene Cheong, added that the collaboration aligns with ongoing efforts between ASTAR and Flagship Pioneering to accelerate breakthrough health technologies and reinforce Singapore’s position as a biotechnological innovation hub.