Singapore-based firm to start human trials for potential coronavirus drug

Singapore will embark on human clinical trials next week with 23 healthy individuals for a potential treatment for Covid-19.

The phase one trial will be conducted by the SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit and take about six weeks, said the drug's developer, Singapore-based biotechnology firm Tychan, yesterday.

The initial trial is meant to determine the safety and tolerability of TY027, a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins that are created in the laboratory, and can be specially designed and engineered to target viruses.

TY027 is being explored for its ability to slow down the progression of Covid-19 and speed up recovery, and its potential to provide temporary protection against infection, the company said.

If phase one is successful, Tychan will seek approval for the antibody to be administered to a larger population of volunteer patients in subsequent trials.

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