A*Star and RVAC Medicines to set up joint lab to develop mRNA vaccines

THE Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and mRNA platform firm RVAC Medicines have signed a master research collaboration agreement to build capabilities to manufacture mRNA vaccines in Singapore.

Under the agreement, they will set up a joint laboratory at A*Star’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) to develop a preclinical manufacturing platform to generate novel raw materials and potentially clinical-grade assets. These will be used to develop mRNA vaccines and therapeutics targeting infectious diseases and other conditions with unmet needs.

The collaboration seeks to enable local ecosystem innovators and global manufacturers to access the manufacturing platform and aid in preclinical asset development, both A*Star and RVAC said in a joint press release.

It will leverage A*Star’s BTI’s “deep expertise in processing technologies and analytical sciences for biotherapeutics, and the strong translational research in biomedical technologies” across its multiple research institutes, they said. The collaboration will also utilise RVAC’s “extensive” capabilities in mRNA, vaccine and drug delivery technologies, as well as knowledge and expertise in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development (R&D), clinical development, and commercialisation.

Founded in June 2021, RVAC develops mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases such as Covid-19. It is incubated by Singapore-based healthcare asset management firm CBC Group and has a team of more than 80 scientists and industry veterans, as well as R&D centres in Boston and Shanghai.

Dr Sean Fu, chief executive officer of RVAC, said: “Combined with A*Star’s knowledge and experience, this partnership has the potential to continue the advancement of mRNA as a new class of medicines.”

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Professor Ng Huck Hui, assistant chief executive of A*Star’s Biomedical Research Council, noted how public-private partnerships are “key enablers in translating science into impact”.

“A*Star’s multidisciplinary R&D capabilities in infectious diseases, artificial intelligence, analytics and protein engineering, coupled with RVAC’s expertise, will advance the development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics and contribute to better health outcomes for Singapore and beyond,” he said.