Singapore firm develops Covid-19 vaccine, Malaysia inks jab deal with China
Singapore-based homegrown biotech company Hummingbird Bioscience said that it has developed its own Covid-19 treatment and it could become available in Singapore and beyond by early 2021.
The experimental antibody therapy, which works by “building a wall” around infected cells, aims to provide necessary treatment even as pharmaceutical giants make progress in vaccine development, the company’s co-founder told CNBC.
The treatment, dubbed Hummingbird 115, will offer a “really important option” within that arsenal, both in caring for patients before a vaccine is found and in treating those who do not respond well once one becomes available.
The news came as hopes of securing a coronavirus vaccine got a boost on November 16 when US-based pharma company Moderna said its experimental vaccine had proven 94.5 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19. It follows less than a week after US drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective.
In China, pharma company Sinovac said it has successfully tested its vaccine CoronaVac which triggered a quick immune response against the virus.
In Singapore, small-scale human trials of Hummingbird 115 began last month after the company received approval from health authorities. Those tests are expected to progress to larger phase three trials in Singapore and beyond by December as the company targets an early new year rollout of the treatment.
Malaysia, China agree on vaccine development cooperation
Meanwhile, Malaysia and China have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation over the development of and accessibility to a Covid-19 vaccine.
The agreement, which was signed virtually by science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin and his Chinese counterpart Wang Zhigang on November 18, aims to forge greater collaboration between both countries to combat the pandemic.
The agreement provides for Malaysia to be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccines developed by China, as well as knowledge sharing and access to scientific and technological capabilities to advance vaccine development in both countries, the ministry said.
Singapore-based homegrown biotech company Hummingbird Bioscience said that it has developed its own Covid-19 treatment and it could become available in Singapore and beyond by early 2021. The experimental antibody therapy, which works by “building a wall” around infected cells, aims to provide necessary treatment even as pharmaceutical giants make progress in vaccine development, the company’s co-founder told CNBC. The treatment, dubbed Hummingbird 115, will offer a “really important option” within that arsenal, both in caring for patients before a vaccine is found and in treating those who do not respond well once one becomes available. The news came as...
Singapore-based homegrown biotech company Hummingbird Bioscience said that it has developed its own Covid-19 treatment and it could become available in Singapore and beyond by early 2021.
The experimental antibody therapy, which works by “building a wall” around infected cells, aims to provide necessary treatment even as pharmaceutical giants make progress in vaccine development, the company’s co-founder told CNBC.
The treatment, dubbed Hummingbird 115, will offer a “really important option” within that arsenal, both in caring for patients before a vaccine is found and in treating those who do not respond well once one becomes available.
The news came as hopes of securing a coronavirus vaccine got a boost on November 16 when US-based pharma company Moderna said its experimental vaccine had proven 94.5 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19. It follows less than a week after US drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective.
In China, pharma company Sinovac said it has successfully tested its vaccine CoronaVac which triggered a quick immune response against the virus.
In Singapore, small-scale human trials of Hummingbird 115 began last month after the company received approval from health authorities. Those tests are expected to progress to larger phase three trials in Singapore and beyond by December as the company targets an early new year rollout of the treatment.
Malaysia, China agree on vaccine development cooperation
Meanwhile, Malaysia and China have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation over the development of and accessibility to a Covid-19 vaccine.
The agreement, which was signed virtually by science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin and his Chinese counterpart Wang Zhigang on November 18, aims to forge greater collaboration between both countries to combat the pandemic.
The agreement provides for Malaysia to be given priority access to Covid-19 vaccines developed by China, as well as knowledge sharing and access to scientific and technological capabilities to advance vaccine development in both countries, the ministry said.
