ViRx@Stanford, a leading biosecurity and pandemic preparedness initiative, and Fifty1 AI Labs, a subsidiary of Fifty1 Labs, Inc. (OTC: FITY), an innovative AI-driven drug repurposing company,  announced a strategic partnership under the "BE READI!" initiative. This collaboration will leverage Fifty1's advanced AI platform to repurpose existing drugs into potent antiviral therapies, addressing urgent viral threats and enhancing global health security.

The partnership positions the collaboration within ViRx's "BE READI!" (Biosecurity & Pandemic Preparedness Initiative), emphasizing proactive measures to safeguard global health against emerging pandemics. By harnessing Fifty1's AI capabilities, the initiative will accelerate drug repurposing, enabling rapid development of antiviral treatments that can be deployed swiftly—critical in scenarios where vaccine rollout may take up to a year.

This alliance launches a series of exploratory AI-driven projects designed to expand the antiviral toolkit. Drawing lessons from the devastating impacts of past pandemics, including approximately 10 million deaths from COVID-19 and 50-100 million from the 1918 influenza, the partnership pivots toward future readiness, aiming to mitigate similar or greater mortality in potential outbreaks.

"ViRx's mission to equip the world with early antiviral defenses perfectly complements Fifty1's AI-accelerated, 'safe by design' drug repurposing platform," said Paul Arora, CEO of Fifty1 Labs, Inc. "Together, we're not just responding to threats—we're staying ahead of them, combining scientific rigor with innovative speed to protect lives."

Backed by Stanford's world-class SyneRx antiviral hub, which received a US$69 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) as part of the Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers, ViRx brings institutional strength, global labs, and an expert advisory network. SyneRx focuses on developing outpatient antiviral cocktails against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses of pandemic potential. Fifty1's cross-disciplinary AI team adds translational agility, with expertise in repurposing off-patent compounds to create cost-effective, efficient therapies.

"This partnership exemplifies how AI can revolutionize antiviral drug discovery, from target identification to clinical prediction," said ViRx Senior Scientist Ed Mills, "By mobilizing Fifty1's platform alongside our global resources, we're building a scalable model that starts at Stanford and extends to international hubs, ensuring rapid, equitable access to life-saving therapeutics."

Together, ViRx and Fifty1 are forging a global, scalable framework for pandemic response. From Stanford's innovation ecosystem to worldwide collaborations—including deputy directors in Vietnam, Israel, Brazil, and Mongolia—the initiative integrates AI and repurposed therapeutics to protect future generations, resonating with stakeholders seeking high-impact, sustainable solutions.