5 Key Clinical Trials in Singapore

Clinical Trials in Singapore: A Booming Industry

Singapore is fast becoming a global hub for clinical trials, with a growing number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies conducting studies in the country. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• A highly skilled and experienced workforce
• A robust regulatory environment
• A strong infrastructure
• A supportive government

As a result of these factors, Singapore is now home to over 500 clinical trials, with more than 10,000 patients participating in these studies. This has led to the development of new drugs and treatments, which have improved the lives of millions of people around the world.

Top 5 Clinical Trials in Singapore

Here are five of the most important clinical trials that are currently being conducted in Singapore:

1. A Phase III Trial of a New Drug for Treating Alzheimer's Disease

This trial is being conducted by Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company. The drug being tested is called gantenerumab, and it is a monoclonal antibody that targets the amyloid-beta protein. Amyloid-beta is a protein that forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, and it is believed to be a major cause of the disease.

The trial is enrolling 1,800 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The patients will be randomized to receive either gantenerumab or a placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the change in cognitive function over 18 months.

2. A Phase II Trial of a New Drug for Treating Parkinson's Disease

This trial is being conducted by AbbVie, an American pharmaceutical company. The drug being tested is called ABBV-953, and it is a small molecule that targets the alpha-synuclein protein. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that forms Lewy bodies in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, and it is believed to be a major cause of the disease.

The trial is enrolling 150 patients with early Parkinson's disease. The patients will be randomized to receive either ABBV-953 or a placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the change in motor function over 12 months.

3. A Phase I Trial of a New Gene Therapy for Treating Cancer

This trial is being conducted by Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company. The gene therapy being tested is called CAR-T cell therapy. CAR-T cell therapy involves taking a patient's own T cells and genetically modifying them to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). The CAR is designed to bind to a specific antigen on the surface of cancer cells. Once the CAR-T cells are infused back into the patient, they can bind to the cancer cells and kill them.

The trial is enrolling 10 patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy.

4. A Phase II Trial of a New Vaccine for Preventing HIV

This trial is being conducted by Moderna, an American biotechnology company. The vaccine being tested is called mRNA-1644. mRNA-1644 is a messenger RNA vaccine that encodes the HIV-1 envelope protein. The envelope protein is a protein that is found on the surface of HIV-1, and it is the target of many neutralizing antibodies.

The trial is enrolling 3,000 men and women who are at risk for HIV infection. The participants will be randomized to receive either mRNA-1644 or a placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of mRNA-1644 in preventing HIV infection.

5. A Phase III Trial of a New Drug for Treating Type 2 Diabetes

This trial is being conducted by AstraZeneca, a British pharmaceutical company. The drug being tested is called dapagliflozin. Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of drugs that work by blocking the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys. This leads to increased glucose excretion in the urine, which can help to lower blood sugar levels.

The trial is enrolling 5,000 patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients will be randomized to receive either dapagliflozin or a placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the change in HbA1c levels over 12 months.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many important clinical trials that are currently being conducted in Singapore. These trials are helping to develop new drugs and treatments for a wide range of diseases, and they are making a significant contribution to the health and well-being of people around the world.

Additional Resources

• Clinical Trials in Singapore
• The Association of Clinical Research Organizations in Singapore
• The Singapore Clinical Research Institute