Thursday, December 17, 2009Flu test research, HIV family fund...

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Flu test research, HIV family fund hit snag with subsidiaries' liquidation

SINGAPORE: Could the search for faster, more sensitive tests for influenza A - including the avian flu strain - take longer than expected?

Given the liquidation of Singapore-based Rockeby biomed's two subsidiaries, Spring Singapore has terminated a pair of grants earlier awarded to the biotechnology company to both develop a magnetic detection platform and upscale production of a field diagnosis test.

The former could be used in detecting the human seasonal flu, while the latter could be expanded to other infectious disease tests, including dengue and Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD).

Responding to MediaCorp's queries, Spring Singapore said: "In light of the company's inability to continue fulfilling the obligations under the terms of the grant due to its liquidation, the support for both projects has been terminated."