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Research commenced with Keio University to discover drugs using “Chemicals Informatics”

TOKYO, Jan 12, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi High-Tech Solutions Corporation, in collaboration with Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is commencing joint research that uses Materials Informatics (MI) (the Research) to improve the efficiency of the development of small molecule drugs(1).Hitachi High-Tech Solutions will be using the "Chemicals Informatics (CI)" MI tool not only by developing materials in the traditional chemical materials field but also in the field of drug discovery, to improve quality of care and QoL (Quality of Life) for people.Background to the ResearchSmall molecule drugs are mainstream drugs in the modern world, and in recent years, expectations for their use have increased, with the development of drugs such as molecular-targeted drugs that inhibit the action of proteins, which cause cancer(2). Traditionally, the process used to develop small molecule drugs has involved researchers using their knowledge and experience to select several potential compounds from an extensive library of existing compounds and then repeating experiments to adjust the structure of a compound and clarify the mechanism by which it will work, before moving on to clinical trial. As a result, more than a decade's worth of R&D has been conducted at a huge cost, with a very low success rate. MI is expected to solve these challenges by using information science techniques, such as AI, to improve the efficiency of compound and material development.Overview of the ResearchIn the Research, Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences will use Hitachi High-Tech Solutions' CI to study the development of new drugs to act as selective inhibitors that will block enzymes that produce active sulfur molecules. We know that the production of a large quantity of active sulfur molecules in cells shows antioxidant effects, protein activity control and the generation of energy, etc. The development of small molecule drugs that inhibit the function of these enzymes is expected to lead to the elucidation of biological phenomena and the treatment of diseases such as cancer. The Research will use AI to conduct fast, comprehensive searches for promising compounds and potential structures based on the vast amount of data on compounds recorded in the CI, and then predict how the effects and mechanism will work using molecular dynamic simulations. This will help to improve the development of small molecule drugs in terms of a more efficient process, faster time scales and higher success rates, and will contribute to the development and early commercialization of new drugs.Through this Research, Hitachi High-Tech Group will provide a practical demonstration of how CI, which to date has helped develop various materials in the chemical materials industry, can be applied to the development of pharmaceuticals and contribute to new drug development initiatives. In so doing, we will provide optimal solutions for creating social value and contribute to improving people's QoL (Quality of Life).(1) Small molecule drug: A type of drug that has very small (low weight) molecules that are able to easily enter cells.(2) Molecular-targeted drugs: A therapeutic agent designed to act only on specific molecules that cause disease.About Hitachi High-TechHitachi High-Tech, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including manufacture and sales of clinical analyzers, biotechnology products, and analytical instruments, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and analysis equipment. and providing high value-added solutions in fields of social & industrial infrastructures and mobility, etc. The company's consolidated revenues for FY 2021 were approx. JPY 576.8 billion [USD 5.1 billion]. For further information, visit www.hitachi-hightech.com/global/Contact:Kurokawa, HoriuchiDX Marketing Dept., Corporate Strategy Div.,Hitachi High-Tech Solutions CorporationE-mail: hsl_marketing.dg@hitachi-hightech.com Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Polymer protection for vaccines and drugs

TSUKUBA, Japan, Dec 9, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - A biocompatible polymer could help deliver vaccines and drugs with reduced risk of the rare dangerous adverse reaction called anaphylaxis. Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan have developed the polymer and performed preliminary tests, which they report in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.A liposome (left) containing a vaccine is commonly coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) but it can trigger an allergic reaction to some recipients. A newly developed lipid (right) could serve as a safer, alternative liposome-coating while retaining the vaccine longer in the body.Until now, the polymer of choice for encasing and delivering vaccines has been poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). This synthetic, flexible, water-soluble material has been used to surround some COVID-19 vaccines carried within the tiny spherical packages known as liposomes.Unfortunately, some recipients have suffered an anaphylactic reaction to PEG, in which the immune system mounts an allergic response to the foreign material. Symptoms of anaphylaxis range from minor skin irritations, to breathing difficulty, nausea and, in the worst cases, unconsciousness and sudden death.The alternative polymer is a form of fatty biomolecule called a lipid, and is conjugated to 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer.This new substance spontaneously binds to the outside of liposome particles when mixed with them in water. Crucially, the polymer is not recognized by the antibodies that the body can generate in response to PEG, and tests suggest it does not stimulate any other antibodies that could cause an allergic reaction. This should allow coated liposomes containing a vaccine to be retained in the body for a longer time without being cleared by the immune system, in addition to avoiding anaphylaxis."We have also found that the polymer avoids other interactions with proteins in the blood that might otherwise interfere with its effects, and it also prevents liposomes from aggregating together," says molecular engineer Yuji Teramura of the AIST team.Tests confirm the coated liposomes can remain stable in storage for 14 days, sufficient for real clinical applications."All the indications suggest that our technology should be suitable for delivering vaccines into patients who develop anaphylaxis in response to PEG," Teramura concludes.The polymer must now be thoroughly tested in various real vaccine applications. The team is moving into this next crucial phase of the development process, prior to eventual clinical trials in humans.Provided the animal and subsequent clinical trials go well, the technology should offer opportunities for delivering drugs into the body, in addition to vaccines. Delivery systems such as liposomes are sometimes needed to protect drugs from biochemical processes that might degrade them. This can ensure that they reach the target disease tissues while remaining in their active form.Further informationYuji TeramuraNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Email: y.teramura@aist.go.jpAbout Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM)Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAMDr Yasufumi NakamichiSTAM Publishing DirectorEmail: NAKAMICHI.Yasufumi@nims.go.jpPress release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Jacobson Pharma Announces FY2023 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Nov 25, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited ("Jacobson Pharma" or the "Company"; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of essential medicines, specialty drugs and branded healthcare products, today announced the interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Group") for the six months ended 30 September 2022 (the "Reporting Period").KEY HIGHLIGHTS-- Revenue grew by 8.9% period-on-period, totaled HK$817.4 million-- Profit for the period up by 77.8%, amounted to HK$147.4 million -- Profit attributable to equity shareholders up by 70.2%, amounted to HK$136.2 million-- Sound financial position with net gearing ratio decreased from 29.2% to 20.8% -- The Board declares an interim dividend of HK2.8 cents per share-- Promising sales growth witnessed on certain key therapeutic lines including cardio-vascular, anti-diabetic as well as cold and flu products.-- Arsenic Trioxide Oral Solution, being the first specialty medicine made in the Group's PIC/S GMP plant alongside robust clinical substantiation, attained approval for use in designated hospitals in the Greater Bay AreaDuring the Reporting Period, the Group delivered total revenue of HK$817.4 million, which represented a period-on-period growth of 8.9%. Gross profit increased by 24.8% to HK$340.4 million, whilst profit attributable to equity shareholders amounted to HK$136.2 million, up by 70.2%, which was mainly attributed to the uplifted sales revenue, alongside the enhancement in product mix and operating leverage, coupled with the subsidies from the HKSAR Government pertinent to the Employment Support Scheme.The Group maintains a healthy financial position as supported by its strong cash flows, with adjusted EBITDA of HK$290.5 million for the Reporting Period and the net gearing ratio decreased significantly from 29.2% as at 31 March 2022 to 20.8% as at the end of the Reporting Period. In addition, the Group has a sound cash position, with cash and cash equivalents of HK$860.4 million as at the end of the Reporting Period. The Board declares the payment of an interim dividend for the six months ended 30 September 2022 of HK2.8 cents per share, up by 133.3% as compared to HK1.2 cents of FY2022 Interim.Robust Portfolio of Essential Medicines to Meet Healthcare DemandDuring the reported period, the generic drugs business of the Group demonstrated resilient performance, driven by steady growth in both private and public sectors. Overall growth was benefitted from the easing of social distancing measures which facilitated the resumption of medical consultation visits in both public and private sectors in Hong Kong, thus boosting the demand for essential drugs as well as specialty medicines.Amid the fifth wave of the epidemic outbreak, the Group geared up its production and supply of symptomatic relief medicines to cater for the increased public demand, which was reflected by the growth of 48.5% in the Group's range of cold and flu preparations in the public sector for the Reporting Period.In addition, exhibiting a robust trend, medications for the aging population and chronic disease patients continued to present a strong demand. A case in point was that angiotensin II receptor antagonists and lipid-lowering products in the cardiovascular product class recorded a strong growth of 66.4% and 60.0% respectively in the private sector during the Reporting Period.Steady Product Pipeline and Continuous Efforts in Portfolio EnhancementAs a continuous effort to meet the medical and patient needs with quality essential medicines, the Group launched a number of new products including Atorvastatin Tablet, Trimetazidine Modified Release Tablet, Olmesartan Tablets, Bicalutamide Tablet, Ofloxacin Ear Drop and Idarubicin Injection during the Reporting Period. Additionally, the Group has secured registration approval for 21 new products for upcoming market launches.As of 30 September 2022, the Group has a total of 177 products in its research and development pipeline, among which 59 items have been approved for registration, 14 of them have been submitted for registration, 48 items have finished the development stage and are under stability preparation or stability study, and 27 items currently under formulation or pre-formulation research development stage.Making In-roads into the Greater Bay AreaThe Group's collaboration with the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in introducing its oral solution treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia, Arsenic Trioxide Oral Solution, into designated hospitals in the Greater Bay Area has been given approval by Guangdong Province Medical Product Administration. This marked the first Hong Kong-made specialty medicine ever gained approval under the "Interim Regulations on the Administration for Importing Urgently Needed Clinical Drugs and Medical Devices from Hong Kong and Macao to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of Guangdong Province".Formulation of ESG Strategy and Respective KPIsAs a corporate citizen that places long-term commitment to environmental, social and governance ("ESG") duties, Jacobson Pharma has formulated and progressed on its ESG strategy, "Jacobson 5 to Thrive", which underpins five priority areas, namely, product responsibility, commitment to employees, environmental stewardship, societal engagement and corporate governance duty. In response to such strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs) have been set and will continue to be evaluated from time to time in order to track respective progress on priority issues and programs, including greenhouse gas emissions, water and electricity usage, as well as utilisation of renewable energy.Mr. Derek Sum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacobson Pharma, noted, "Although COVID-19 has had an impact on the Group's business performance, we believe it will be transient. We are delighted that Jacobson Pharma achieved notable growth momentum in the first half of FY2023 amid the volatile economic sentiment. Thanks to the concerted effort of our teams, we delivered a resilient performance across both private and public sectors for our core business demonstrating an enhanced operational efficiency and a disciplined cost control. "We remain positive about the future outlook of the healthcare industry and the growth prospect of the market for essential medicines. To capitalise on the emerging opportunities, we will continue to focus on advancing the Group's growth strategies and positioning it as an eminent provider of essential medicines and specialty drugs in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area."About Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (Stock Code: 2633)Jacobson Pharma is a leading pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong vertically integrated and engaged in the research, development, production, sale and distribution of essential medicines and specialty drugs. As a major provider of generic drugs in Hong Kong, the Group has one of the most extensive sales and distribution coverage for both the private and public sectors in Hong Kong, with an expanding reach into strategically selected Asian markets. Carrying a broad product portfolio and taking a pre-eminent market position in a number of therapeutic categories, the Group operates a host of 10 PIC/S GMP licensed production facilities for generic drugs in Hong Kong.The Group aims at the continued strategic enrichment of its generic drug portfolios through the addition of high-value-added products. With its corporate headquarters based in Hong Kong, the Group has also established its operating subsidiaries in China, Macau, Taiwan and Cambodia, forming a regional commercial platform to tap the market potential in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Jacobson Pharma has been a constituent stock of MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index since 1 June 2017. For more details about Jacobson Pharma, please visit the Group's website: http://www.jacobsonpharma.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Jacobson Pharma’s Chairman Uplifts Shareholding to Above 60%

HONG KONG, Mar 14, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mr. Derek Sum, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (the "Company"; together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; Stock Code: 2633), a leading company engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of essential medicines, specialty drugs and branded healthcare products, acquired through his controlled entity a total of 20,532,000 shares of the Company (the "Shares") between 15 December 2021 and 14 March 2022 on the market at a total consideration of approximately HK$13,460,000, representing an average price of approximately HK$0.6555 per Share (the "Acquisitions"). The above share purchase represents approximately 1.06% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 14 March 2022. Following the Acquisitions, Mr. Sum is interested in an aggregate of 1,160,808,000 Shares, representing approximately 60.01% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at the date of the related announcement. Speaking with sound optimism about the future prospects of the Group, Mr. Sum went on to say, "Albeit the challenging market environment, the overall business, in particular the generic drugs, has shown great strength and resilience in the face of the ongoing pandemic. We remain steadfast to realize the growth potential of our robust product portfolios alongside a strong commercial and operational set-up. I have strong confidence in the long-term development of the Group." Mr Sum said he might consider further increasing his shareholding in the Company subject to the applicable laws and regulations.About Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited (Stock Code: 2633)Jacobson Pharma is a leading pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong vertically integrated engaged in the research, development, production, sale and distribution of essential medicines and specialty drugs. As a major provider of generic drugs in Hong Kong, the Group has one of the most extensive sales and distribution coverage for both the private and public market sectors in Hong Kong, with an expanding reach into strategically selected Asian markets. Carrying a broad product portfolio and taking a pre-eminent market position in a number of therapeutic categories, the Group operates a host of 10 PIC/S GMP licensed production facilities for generic drugs in Hong Kong.The Group aims at the continued strategic enrichment of its generic drug portfolios through the addition of high value-added products. With its corporate headquarters based in Hong Kong, the Group has also established its operating subsidiaries in China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Cambodia forming a regional commercial platform to tap the market potential in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Jacobson Pharma has been a constituent stock of MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index since 1 June 2017. For more details about Jacobson Pharma, please visit the Group's website: http://www.jacobsonpharma.comFor media enquiries, please contact:Strategic Financial Relations LimitedVicky Lee Tel: (852) 2864 4834 Email: vicky.lee@sprg.com.hkRachel Ko Tel: (852) 2114 2370 Email: rachel.ko@sprg.com.hkMandy Wong Tel: (852) 2114 4900 Email: mandy.wong@sprg.com.hkFax: (852) 2527 1196 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Singapore to add 33 expensive cancer drugs to list of subsidised high-cost drugs

SINGAPORE - In a year, Singapore will add 33 high-cost cancer drugs to the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF), which subsidises expensive drugs that have been deemed clinically necessary. This means people who have trouble paying for such drugs could get them at up to 75 per cent off, depending on their per capita household income. There are currently only six cancer drugs on this list. "Most patented cancer drugs are not subsidised today as they are not cost-effective at current prices," said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in response to queries from The Straits Times. It added that another 22 cancer drugs will be added to the Standard Drug List (SDL), which subsidises cheaper medications. This makes for a total of 70 cancer drugs on the SDL and 39 on the MAF by September next year. The ministry's decision to add these drugs to the list comes as part of its latest review of cancer treatment in Singapore. This review will see changes to claim limits under MediShield Life, with more cancer treatments subsidised even as MOH works to negotiate lower prices for cancer drugs. Pharmaceutical companies typically charge Singapore more for cancer drugs as compared to other developed countries such as South Korea and Australia. For instance, Singapore pays more for tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treating lung, liver and thyroid cancer, as well as anti-androgens for treating prostate cancer. These can cost 1.5 to two times what other countries pay, the ministry said. The ministry has attributed this cost difference to the $3,000 claim limit that is applied to all types of cancer drugs. Knowing that treatment will be covered by the national health insurance programme up to this limit gives pharmaceutical companies little or no reason to lower their prices. With the changes, 90 per cent of subsidised cancer patients will be able to have their outpatient treatments fully paid by insurance and MediSave - up from 70 per cent today. MOH said its negotiations with drug manufacturers are ongoing and have covered about two-thirds of cancer drug treatments so far. "Following continued value-based pricing negotiations, we have narrowed the price gap with overseas reference countries, and in some instances secured even more competitive drug prices." More on this topic   Related Story MediShield Life coverage enhanced for cancer treatment; to cover drug bills of nearly 90% of subsidised patients   Related Story Why S'pore spends so much on cancer treatment and how MediShield Life changes aim to tackle this

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Singapore team finds drug cocktail effective against Covid-19 Delta variant

SINGAPORE - Researchers here have found a combination of drugs which can be used to treat Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate disease. The drug cocktail has also shown promising results in terms of effectiveness against the Beta and Delta variants of the virus. A team led by Professor Dean Ho, director of the National University of Singapore's Institute for Digital Medicine, had used an artificial intelligence (AI) platform and live virus testing to derive an optimal combination of drugs with the correct dosages to treat Covid-19. The team had collaborated with DSO National Laboratories to set up the platform last April. Prof Ho said drug dosing requires a level of precision that cannot be arbitrarily derived - an issue which AI seeks to address. The platform, named IDentif.AI, had identified antiviral drug remdesivir, together with lopinavir and ritonavir, which are drugs used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, despite being effective, not all of the drugs were readily available or could be easily administered at home. For instance, remdesivir has to be administered via intravenous (IV) drip in hospitals, making it challenging to use in a community setting, said Prof Ho, who also heads the NUS' department of Biomedical Engineering. Therefore, the study focused on locally available or obtainable drugs which can be taken orally, he added. One of the resulting combinations was a dynamic duo consisting of Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutic's novel antiviral drug, molnupiravir, combined with baricitinib, an anti-inflammatory drug. Prof Ho said the combination could strongly inhibit the Sars-CoV-2 virus in laboratory tests, making it suitable for further clinical evaluation. He added: "This is especially timely as Singapore moves towards an endemic Covid-19 situation, so we are looking for combination therapies that can eventually be given to patients with mild illness who are recovering at home, or in community care facilities." Some combinations will also be suitable for hospitalised patients, he added, noting this will help shift treatments out of hospitals to general practitioners and polyclinics. More on this topic   Related Story Scientists developing method to detect Covid-19 variants in wastewater testing   Related Story A*Star's new outfit to coordinate research efforts on Covid-19 and other diseases The drugs were chosen in consultation with infectious diseases experts and oncologists from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, NUS Medicine and the National University Hospital (NUH). A total of 12 drugs - which included a range of antivirals and cancer drugs - were tested and ranked according to their efficacy in inhibiting the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Within three weeks, the team had identified the molnupiravir-baricitinib combination for possible treatment. Dr Louis Chai, a senior consultant at the NUH Division of Infectious Diseases, cautioned however that there is no data yet from clinical trials that show the drug combination is effective in all phases of Covid-19 disease. He noted that some drugs could reduce the Sars-CoV-2 viral load in patients, but they may not slow down disease progression or prevent death. Dr Conrad Chan, laboratory director (Applied Molecular Technology Laboratory) at the Defence Medical & Environmental Research Institute from DSO, said molnupiravir on its own was effective against the Sars-CoV-2 virus as well as the Beta and Delta variants. It is thus a strong 'backbone' drug candidate from which multiple combinations can be derived, he added. "This is because the drug interferes with a part of the virus that is conserved across different variants - specifically, the enzyme that it uses to copy its genetic material for replication." More on this topic   Related Story Scientists from S'pore-MIT alliance develop more precise method to detect Sars-CoV-2   Related Story Coronavirus microsite: Get latest updates, videos and graphics Prof Ho said his team is now looking to conduct clinical trials for molnupiravir and its drug combinations on Covid-19 patients. Vaccinated individuals with mild to moderate disease could be considered as part of the study cohort. Having established a database of drug combinations for Covid-19, the team will continue working with clinicians to look out for novel drugs that can be added to its arsenal. This can help expand the range of drugs available to treat Covid-19 patients in the future, said Prof Ho.

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More than 4kg of drugs worth $460,000 seized in CNB bust

SINGAPORE - More than 4kg of heroin and methamphetamine, also known as Ice, were seized by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Monday (May 3) in an operation that led to the arrest of three men. In a statement on Wednesday, the drug busters said two Singaporeans aged 19 and 55, and a 32-year-old Malaysian were picked up. The drugs are estimated to be worth close to $460,000. Officers also seized $7,837 in cash during the operation, which took place in multiple locations. The operation started with CNB intercepting a vehicle in the vicinity of Woodlands Avenue 8 on Monday. After arresting the 19-year-old, CNB officers searched him and the vehicle, and found a total of 1,720g of heroin and 1,028g of Ice concealed in Chinese tea packaging. In a follow-up operation, officers arrested the 55-year-old Singaporean at Woodlands Industry Park E3, where 1,262g of heroin and $3,837 were seized. A search of his residence in the Bendemeer Road area further uncovered 218g of heroin and cash amounting to $4,000. This then led the officers to the 32-year-old Malaysian, who was arrested in the vicinity of Woodlands Road. Investigations into the drug activities of all three suspects are ongoing. CNB said the total amount of drugs seized in the operation is sufficient to feed 1,520 heroin abusers and 590 Ice abusers for a week. More on this topic   Related Story CNB seizes over 40kg of drugs, including record amounts of cannabis and heroin   Related Story Cannabis-infused cakes, 'Ice' and drug paraphernalia seized in CNB bust

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Nearly $480,000 worth of drugs seized in CNB bust, including more than 3kg of heroin

SINGAPORE - More than 3kg of heroin was seized, along with other drugs, by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Thursday (Feb 25) and Friday. A man and two women, all Singaporeans, were arrested for suspected drug offences. The drugs seized are estimated to be worth close to $480,000. Some $47,879 in cash was also found during the operation, which took place in multiple locations. In a statement on Saturday, CNB said that on Thursday afternoon, its officers arrested a 35-year-old man for suspected drug trafficking in the vicinity of Jalan Eunos. The man put up a violent struggle as the officers moved in to arrest him, and "necessary force" was used to subdue him, said CNB. The man was searched, and about 328g of heroin, 122g of Ice, 6g of ketamine, 93 Ecstasy tablets, 15 Erimin-5 tablets and $18,900 in cash were seized. The man was then taken to his hideout in the vicinity where the two women, aged 31 and 35, were arrested. A search of the residential unit uncovered another 2,233g of heroin, 1,013g of Ice, 445g of cannabis, more than 3,000 Ecstasy tablets, and cash amounting to $28,979. CNB's follow-up investigations revealed that the man had another hideout in the vicinity of French Road. On Friday morning, officers took him to that hideout, also a residential unit. A search was conducted in the unit, and a total of about 475g of heroin, 375g of Ice, 548g of cannabis, 1g of ketamine, 585 Ecstasy tablets and capsules, and a bottle of methadone were seized. More on this topic   Related Story Interactive: South-east Asia's meth menace - one man's struggle   Related Story CNB seizes $401,000 worth of drugs; three people arrested Investigations into the drug activities of all three suspects are ongoing. CNB said the total amount of drugs seized in the operation is sufficient to feed 1,445 heroin abusers, 860 Ice abusers and 140 cannabis abusers for a week.

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CNB nabs largest heroin haul in 19 years, with drugs seized worth nearly $2 million

SINGAPORE - In its largest heroin bust in 19 years, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized 14.1kg of the drug in an operation that also saw officers haul in a significant cache of other drugs. The previous largest heroin haul was in 2001 when 14.9kg of the drug was recovered. The drug bust on Wednesday (Nov 11) saw about 2.8kg of crystalline methamphetamine, also known as Ice, 7.5kg of cannabis, 323g of Ecstasy fragments, 28 Ecstasy tablets, 1,008 Erimin-5 tablets and cash amounting to $12,629 seized from multiple locations. The total amount seized is estimated to be worth close to $2 million. Three men and two women, aged between 29 and 55, were arrested for their suspected involvement. Speaking to the media at the CNB headquarters on Friday, Superintendent Aaron Tang, CNB's director of intelligence division, said: "Even with movement restrictions due to the Covid-19 situation, drug traffickers are still taking huge gambles and exploiting the situation so they can profit off addiction and misery." The action started on Wednesday afternoon after CNB officers intercepted a vehicle near Siglap Road and arrested two men, aged 55 and 50, and a 52-year-old woman. All three are Singaporeans. In their vehicle, officers found three bundles containing about 1.45kg of heroin in total. The drug busters also found 3g of heroin and 2g of Ice on the 50-year-old man. About 7g of Ice and 20 Ecstasy tablets were on the woman. The total amount of drugs seized can, in a week, feed 6,740 heroin abusers, 1,630 Ice abusers and 1,080 cannabis abusers. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN The officers then took the woman back to her hideout near Siglap Road where a total of 11g of heroin, 2g of Ice, one Ecstasy tablet, and one Erimin-5 tablet were recovered. In a follow-up operation the same day, another team of CNB officers moved in and arrested a 35-year-old man after having observed him for some time near a Housing Board block near Bedok Reservoir Road. More on this topic   Related Story CNB officers arrest 11 people and seize drugs worth an estimated $1.2 million   Related Story $360,000 worth of drugs seized, 5 men arrested during multi-location drug bust Six bundles containing about 2.78kg of heroin, a packet containing 127g of Ice, five packets containing about 323g of Ecstasy fragments, and $629 in cash were recovered from him. The officers raided his flat in the same block where 8.96kg of heroin, 1.95kg of Ice, 2.5kg of cannabis, 1,007 Erimin-5 tablets, seven Ecstasy tablets and $12,000 cash were seized. A 29-year-old woman, who is a permanent resident, was arrested in the unit. The 35-year-old man was escorted to his vehicle where 944g of heroin, 763g of Ice and 5.05kg of cannabis were recovered. Drugs found in the man's vehicle in the vicinity of Bedok Reservoir Road. PHOTO: CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU The CNB said investigations are still ongoing. The total amount of drugs seized can, in a week, feed 6,740 heroin abusers, 1,630 Ice abusers and 1,080 cannabis abusers. "These traffickers will not stop trying, but neither will we let our guard down. They will not go unpunished for trying to corrupt our society with drugs," said Superintendent Tang. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, anyone found with more than 15g of diamorphine, or pure heroin, could face the death penalty. More on this topic   Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

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