Sarawak starts study for Covid-19 antibody drug spin-off

 

Sarawak through its infectious disease centre (SIDC) is embarking on a study that could lead to a potential spin-off in the development of diagnostic kits and antibody drugs against Covid-19, Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg said.

He said the study on longitudinal serology on vaccinated individuals in Sarawak will be the immediate project for SIDC through its collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) Institute of Health and Community Medicine.

“This study will monitor the specific neutralising antibodies against Covid-19 over a two-year period,” he said when speaking at the launch of SIDC and Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) in Kuching today.

He said information obtained from the study would not only be important to determine the efficacy of the current vaccination programme but would also allow the government to make informed decisions on the need for booster doses and the type of vaccines to be given.

“The simultaneous launching today of the SRDC and SIDC offices will pave the way to research excellence in Sarawak, leading to a vibrant bioeconomy, capitalising on our diverse cultures and natural resources,” he said.

Abang Johari said SRDC had initiated collaborations with the Australian National Phenome Centre, Singapore National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Amili Pte Ltd (Singapore), Cambridge Sparks, Unimas and Swinburne Sarawak in areas of biomedical sciences and human capital development.

“These will add to our current existing list of collaborators, including with Cambridge Academic of Therapeutic Sciences, University of Cambridge,” he said.

The establishment of the SIDC was approved by Sarawak cabinet in February this year and placed as a research facility under the purview of the SRDC with the goals of protecting Sarawak by improving research in infectious disease.

The centre will be equipped with Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories to allow research and development on BSL-3 infectious agents and subsequently, product testing to ensure commercialisation of research and development output.

“The research facilities available will bring together talents regionally and internationally and attract global biomedical companies to ensure Sarawak is prepared for future challenges,” he added.

- Bernama