On November 5, 2024, Ring Therapeutics announced strategic partnerships with A*STAR and SERI, underscoring Singapore's growing prominence as a global biotech hub.

These collaborations aim to enhance research and development in gene therapy, specifically focusing on innovative treatments for ophthalmology and oncology.

Tuyen Ong, CEO of Ring Therapeutics, highlighted that these partnerships will facilitate the characterization of novel anellovirus genomes and expand their therapeutic portfolio.

Ring Therapeutics utilizes its Anellogy platform, which focuses on anelloviruses, to create diverse and effective therapeutic vectors for gene therapy.

The initiative aims to develop a new class of viral vectors, marking the first significant advancement in this area in over 50 years.

Professor Tan Sze Wee from A*STAR emphasized the collaboration's potential to translate scientific discoveries into impactful therapeutic solutions for patients.

Professor Jodhbir Mehta from SERI noted that gene therapy could revolutionize treatment for previously untreatable ophthalmic diseases through the use of novel viral vectors.

The collaboration is expected to leverage A*STAR's advanced manufacturing technologies and SERI's expertise in ophthalmic research to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic candidates.

This expansion reflects a growing interest in innovative biopharmaceutical solutions within Singapore's vibrant research landscape.

Other major companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, have also made significant investments in Singapore's biotech sector recently, further solidifying the region's status.

According to U.S. government estimates, Singapore's biotech market is expected to grow by 8% annually, reaching a value of $823.5 billion as of 2021.

A*STAR, Singapore's primary public sector R&D agency, focuses on bridging academia and industry to foster economic growth and societal benefits.