HWGB Biotech collaborating with US-based lab facility for companion diagnostic systems
24 Sep 2020
Ho Wah Genting Bhd’s (HWGB) wholly-owned subsidiary, HWGB Biotech Sdn Bhd (HWGB Biotech) is collaborating with a US-based lab facility to develop and produce companion diagnostic systems.
“We are encouraged by the progress made with the clinical study programme undertaken in our joint venture with EBI going into the potential COVID-19 preventive vaccine and now EBI is looking at companion diagnostic systems.
“The research team is working very hard to ensure positive outcomes from the clinical study and we are monitoring every step of the way as we fully understand the impact of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic on people’s lives and livelihoods,” HWGB spokesperson Dr Yaman Walid Kassab said in a statement today.
The company in a statement said it is undertaking the task together with its joint venture partner E-Mo Biology Inc (EBI).
To recap, HWGB Biotech had signed an agreement in August 2020 to collaborate with EBI in developing a Covid-19 preventive vaccine through phase IV clinical trials based on the use of the polio vaccine.
The collaboration involves research and development, testing, registration, manufacturing and commercialisation of five provisional patent applications.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded twice to EBI’s application by requesting for further information on the clinical study.
HWGB Biotech has also submitted the necessary documentation to Malaysia’s National Medical Research Register on the use of the polio vaccine for the potential new indication, with the principal investigator for the research protocol being Datuk Dr Lai Kwong Choy and co-investigator Dr Yaman Walid Kassab.
Source: NST Posted on : 24 September 2020