AsianScientist (Jul. 23, 2018) – A consortium of research institutes in Singapore has established a collaboration with South Korea’s C&C Research Laboratories to develop innovative drugs. Under the agreement, scientists from both countries will work together to address diseases of significant clinical burden, namely, inflammatory skin disorders and major cancers including colorectal and liver cancers.
Singapore has one of the world’s highest burden of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and urticaria. At the same time, colorectal and liver cancer are among the top four cancers in Singapore that affect both men and women. Novel therapies for these diseases are urgently needed.
Hence, researchers in Singapore and South Korea are collaborating to investigate and develop a collection of small molecule modulators from C&C Research Laboratories. Novel biomarkers for patient identification and stratification will also be identified to synergize with the development of innovative therapeutics.
In Singapore, the multi-party effort involves the Skin Research Institute of Singapore, the Institute of Medical Biology, the Genome Institute of Singapore, the Singapore Immunology Network and the National Skin Centre (NSC).
“The focus on skin diseases is particularly strategic, as this represents a great unmet medical need for which there has been little innovation over the past decade. We plan to make a difference very quickly,” said Dr. Benjamin Seet, executive director of the Biomedical Research Council at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
“C&C believes that the collaboration schemes we have established with A*STAR, together with NSC, are the best ways to deliver clinical candidates more quickly and effectively,” said Dr. Tatsumi Yamazaki, co-representative director, C&C Research Laboratories.
———
Source: Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
