Shortening the wait for infectious disease cures

Instead of getting antibodies from natural immune response, team engineers one on computer

(From left) Principal scientist Debbie Lee with a vial of Tyzivumab, assistant director Chionh Yok Hian with a multi-well plate demonstrating the effectiveness of Tyzivumab against the Zika virus, and laboratory manager Rasvinder Kaur with a flask of
(From left) Principal scientist Debbie Lee with a vial of Tyzivumab, assistant director Chionh Yok Hian with a multi-well plate demonstrating the effectiveness of Tyzivumab against the Zika virus, and laboratory manager Rasvinder Kaur with a flask of cells producing Tyzivumab antibodies. Tyzivumab was fit for clinical trials in just nine months. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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An infectious disease spreads across countries, killing scores of people in months.

Meanwhile, scientists struggle to come up with a cure, hampered by a discovery and development process that takes years.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 07, 2018, with the headline Shortening the wait for infectious disease cures. Subscribe