Bid to Find New Drugs Against TB Using Genomics (Singapore)

Forty representatives from some of the world's top research institutions met in Singapore for a conference called Grand Challenges in Global Health: Drugs for Latent Tuberculosis. As its name suggests, Grand Challenges was designed to discuss new solutions for combating tuberculosis around the world. The two-day conference began on Oct. 24 in Singapore's Biopolis, located in the city-state's North Buona Vista area. Participants included researchers from the United States, Britain, Mexico, South Korea, and the Novartis Institute of Tropical Diseases in Singapore. The major focus of Grand Challenges was the possible use of genomics to develop a more effective tuberculosis treatment. Theoretically, scientists would disable different molecules of a drug to better analyze how each one operates to fight the disease. The goal of the group is to develop a treatment that would eliminate tuberculosis in under two-weeks. The current treatment time is nine months, however, a new drug with a two-month treatment window is already in Phase III trials. (Click here for more - May Require Paid Subscription