SINGAPORE TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIES FOR HFMD

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, April 3 (Bernama) - Singapore is partnering with a Swiss company
to develop human monoclonal antibodies that could combat one of the viruses
responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in the city-state.

The Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) of the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR) Friday signed a two-year agreement with Swiss
company Cytos Biotechnology Ltd (Cytos) to develop the antibodies that would
destroy Enterovirus 71 (EV71), one of the common viruses responsible for causing
HFMD.

A*STAR says the collaborative research is especially timely for Singapore
which has seen seasonal outbreaks of this highly infectious disease that largely
afflicts young children.

It says there is currently no specific treatment available for HFMD.

In a statement here, A*STAR said under the agreement, SIgN would provide the
immunological expertise required for the research while Cytos would share with
SIgN its proprietary technology for the isolation of fully human monoclonal
antibodies.

The sharing of expertise between public sector research and development and
industry could significantly cut down the time needed to develop such targeted
antibodies, and could accelerate the process of finding effective treatment
approaches for HFMD, the agency said.

HFMD was made a legally notifiable disease in Singapore during the
EV71-associated outbreak in 2000 that caused more than 70 deaths in children
across Asia, including seven deaths in children in the republic.

Last year, the number of reported HFMD cases in Singapore reached an
all-time high of over 9,000, resulting in the closure of many pre-schools and
childcare centres.

The Singapore Health Ministry's record also showed that there was a higher
circulation of the EV71 strain which has been known to cause infections to the
brain, heart and lungs.

-- BERNAMA