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Apriori Bio and A Star Partner to Develop Universal Sarna Influenza Vaccine

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 12:59 GMT by News-Medical.Net

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Apriori Bio and A Star Join Forces to Build the Next‑Generation Sarna Influenza Vaccine

In a move that could reshape the influenza‑vaccination landscape, biotechnology firm Apriori Bio has announced a strategic partnership with A Star, a global vaccine manufacturer, to develop a new generation of Sarna influenza vaccines. The collaboration aims to combine Apriori’s cutting‑edge “Sarna” platform with A Star’s established production capabilities to deliver a broader, more effective, and easier‑to‑manufacture influenza vaccine for both seasonal and pandemic use.

Who Are the Players?

Apriori Bio is a Canadian‑based biotech startup that has rapidly gained attention for its novel protein‑based immunotherapy platform. The company’s Sarna technology centers on engineered antigenic proteins that can be tailored to invoke robust immune responses while minimizing adverse reactions. Earlier this year, Apriori announced a promising pre‑clinical study of its Sarna‑based flu candidate in mice, showing cross‑reactive protection against several H1N1, H3N2, and even avian H5N1 strains.

A Star, meanwhile, is a leading vaccine producer headquartered in the United Kingdom (though it operates manufacturing plants across Europe and Asia). The company has a long track record of producing high‑quality influenza vaccines for the NHS and for commercial distribution worldwide. A Star’s reputation for adhering to the strictest GMP standards and its flexible manufacturing pipeline make it an ideal partner for taking Apriori’s laboratory successes to the clinic.

What Is “Sarna” and Why Does It Matter?

The article explains that the Sarna platform uses a modular protein‑assembly approach. By grafting conserved influenza antigens onto a stable scaffold, the platform can present the immune system with a more “universal” view of the virus. This strategy is intended to overcome one of the biggest obstacles in flu vaccine design: antigenic drift—the gradual change in viral surface proteins that makes seasonal vaccines only partially effective year after year.

Sarna’s developers claim that their platform can elicit high titers of neutralising antibodies against multiple hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes while also boosting T‑cell responses that provide cross‑protective immunity. If successful, the Sarna‑based vaccine could reduce the need for yearly reformulation, lower the risk of severe flu outbreaks, and even offer a pre‑emptive shield against potential pandemic strains.

The Collaboration in Detail

The partnership agreement—publicly released on Apriori’s investor relations portal—sets out a series of milestones that will guide the project through pre‑clinical, regulatory, and clinical phases. Key points include:

Apriori will supply the Sarna antigen and early‑stage manufacturing process, while A Star will take charge of scale‑up, fill‑and‑finish, and distribution. The companies also plan to share intellectual property rights on any new technologies that arise during the collaboration, ensuring that both benefit from downstream royalties and licensing deals.

The article also notes that the partnership is backed by a combined investment of $75 million, with Apriori providing $30 million in equity and A Star committing $45 million in manufacturing and regulatory capital. This financial backing is critical because the next‑generation influenza vaccine space is highly capital‑intensive and regulated.

Market Context and Competitive Landscape

The article links to a recent MarketWatch piece that discusses the growing demand for universal flu vaccines. According to that analysis, the global influenza vaccine market is expected to surpass $7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The key drivers are an aging population, rising incidence of flu‑related complications, and heightened public awareness after the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Apriori and A Star’s collaboration positions them well against other players pursuing similar goals. The article briefly mentions rivals such as FluGen, GSK, and Sanofi, all of whom are developing either broadly protective hemagglutinin‑based subunit vaccines or mRNA‑based candidates. Apriori’s Sarna platform is distinguished by its protein‑scaffold approach, which could theoretically be easier to manufacture in existing facilities compared to newer mRNA technologies that require more specialised infrastructure.

Potential Public‑Health Impact

If the Sarna‑based vaccine reaches the market, the implications could be far-reaching:

• Higher efficacy: Cross‑reactive protection against a wider range of influenza strains would reduce the number of annual flu seasons in which vaccines are only partially effective.
• Simplified logistics: A universal vaccine would eliminate the need for yearly vaccine reformulation, easing supply‑chain pressures and reducing storage costs.
• Pandemic preparedness: By incorporating antigens from potential pandemic strains, the vaccine could serve as a first line of defense against a future outbreak, thereby shortening the timeline from virus emergence to vaccine deployment.

The article quotes Dr. Maria Sanchez, a vaccinologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who praises the collaboration’s potential: “Combining a proven manufacturing backbone with an innovative antigen platform could very well bring a universal flu vaccine closer to reality.”

What’s Next?

The article concludes by summarising the immediate next steps. Apriori Bio will complete a set of safety studies in animal models over the next six months, while A Star will expand its GMP facilities to accommodate the Sarna platform’s production needs. A joint steering committee, composed of scientists from both companies and regulatory advisors, will monitor progress against the milestones laid out in the agreement.

In the meantime, stakeholders—ranging from public‑health agencies to vaccine‑seeking populations—will be watching closely to see whether this partnership can overcome the scientific, regulatory, and logistical challenges that have stalled universal flu vaccine development for decades.

Final Thoughts

By uniting Apriori Bio’s Sarna technology with A Star’s manufacturing excellence, the partnership signals a promising step toward a more effective and resilient influenza vaccination strategy. While the road to market remains long and fraught with uncertainty, the combination of a novel antigen platform, substantial funding, and a clear regulatory roadmap gives this collaboration a realistic chance of delivering a game‑changing product that could protect millions worldwide against one of the most stubborn respiratory viruses of our time.