Taking samples for COVID-19 tests in June (Source: AFP/VNA)Singapore (VNA) – The final phase of the clinical trial for aCOVID-19 antibody developed by Singapore biotechnology company Tychan began onDecember 11.
The antibody can potentially help patients with thecoronavirus to recover faster, while slowing the progression of the infection.
Some 1,305 patients who have tested positive for the viruswill take part voluntarily in the clinical trials.
If the clinical trials are successful, the antibody will besubmitted for review by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and otherregulatory agencies as a new drug.
In October, HSA gave Tychan the green light to startfinal-stage trials.
A six-week phase one trial in June with 23 healthyvolunteers yielded good outcomes in terms of safety, said Tychan co-founder OoiEng Eong.
Singapore has recently approved Advanced MedTech Holdings’COVID-19 kit for use in testing saliva from deep within the throat, as thecountry looks to ramp up testing to help re-open its borders and resume moreeconomic activity.
The test is the first of its type to receive approval fromthe HAS.
Singapore has made testing a pillar of its strategy togradually re-open its borders that have been largely shut for most of 2020./.
VNA
