Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/261272.asp
Singapore News // Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tiny step ahead for dengue antiviral drug development:
A DENGUE antiviral drug may well go where no dengue treatment has gone before ? for clinical trials, possibly next year.
.
The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) will decide next week if an antiviral treatment for dengue will go into the last phase before human tests, said its head of corporate research, Professor Paul Herrling on Sunday.
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If successful, human trials will be next, Prof Herrling said at the 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Kuala Lumpur.
.
The drug, developed at the Biopolis-based institute, is the first dengue treatment to reach this advanced state of development since the institute set up operations in Singapore five years ago.
.
However, even at this late stage, the failure rate is ?still about 90 per cent?, Prof Herrling reminded soberly. Drug development typically takes 15 years.
.
Dengue is a focus of the NITD, which has been trying to develop a vaccine for it. However, that the disease has four strains has complicated development efforts.
.
An antiviral, in contrast, will prevent the virus from producing more genetic material.
.
Singapore is currently in the middle of dengue season. As at 4pm yesterday, there have been 2,771 reported cases this year.
Tan Hui Leng in Kuala Lumpur
huileng@mediacorp.com.sg
Singapore News // Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tiny step ahead for dengue antiviral drug development:
A DENGUE antiviral drug may well go where no dengue treatment has gone before ? for clinical trials, possibly next year.
.
The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) will decide next week if an antiviral treatment for dengue will go into the last phase before human tests, said its head of corporate research, Professor Paul Herrling on Sunday.
.
If successful, human trials will be next, Prof Herrling said at the 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Kuala Lumpur.
.
The drug, developed at the Biopolis-based institute, is the first dengue treatment to reach this advanced state of development since the institute set up operations in Singapore five years ago.
.
However, even at this late stage, the failure rate is ?still about 90 per cent?, Prof Herrling reminded soberly. Drug development typically takes 15 years.
.
Dengue is a focus of the NITD, which has been trying to develop a vaccine for it. However, that the disease has four strains has complicated development efforts.
.
An antiviral, in contrast, will prevent the virus from producing more genetic material.
.
Singapore is currently in the middle of dengue season. As at 4pm yesterday, there have been 2,771 reported cases this year.
Tan Hui Leng in Kuala Lumpur
huileng@mediacorp.com.sg