New alzheimer drug set to begin trials

A trial for a new drug to combat the debilitating brain disease Alzheimer’s has started on patients here, while others for cancer and the degenerative neurological condition Parkinson’s are starting soon. The clinical trials are being done by Japanese pharmaceutical giant Eisai, which has set up a centre in Singapore to coordinate US$50 million (S$72 million) in clinical research annually in the Asia- Pacific and the Middle-East.

Having the centre here means that applying for drug approvals in Singapore and other Asian countries will be faster, said Eisai’s regional medical director, Dr Raymond Chua.

Eisai plans to run half of all its trials in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle-East, up from 10 per cent now.

In Singapore, a trial to study the effects of a new form of Eisai’s drug Aricept on Alzheimer’s has already begun in public hospitals here, including Singapore General Hospital. (story)

Crackdown on taxi drivers taking effect

The crackdown on errant cabbies seems to have taken effect, especially against touting. In the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) latest enforcement operations, no cabbies were caught touting. However, six were nabbed for overcharging and eight for refusing to pick up passengers.

The last big enforcement operation from Nov 6 to 17 netted 36 errant cabbies. In the latest 13-day operation, which started on Nov 19 - day the stiffer penalties come into force effect - and ended on Dec 1, LTA officers covered several popular spots with touts like Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Mustafa Centre, Orchard Towers, Chijmes and Shenton Way. (story)

Most Singaporeans can expect a 2 - 3.5 month bonus

A survey of 300 companies by the Singapore National Employers’ Federation (SNEF) last month showed that half of them could be paying out bonuses of two to three-and-a-half months, with a median payout of 2.8 months.

The SNEF also expects the job market to continue to be very strong in 2008.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, SNEF’s President Stephen Lee said the economy created 170,000 jobs in the first nine months of this year, or as many jobs as the whole of last year.

He added: “There is currently one job for every job seeker. This is compared to four years ago when there were four job seekers chasing after every vacancy. There is a big turnaround now.”

However, low productivity remains a concern, with productivity growth staying flat this year. (story)

PrimaDeli outbreak rises to 153

According to the latest update from the Health Ministry and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), the total number of people affected by the PrimaDeli food poisoning outbreak is now 153.

PrimaDeli said it has now completed half of the cleaning and sanitisation process at its factory.

It also plans to strengthen its food safety plan to include more stringent checks on raw materials used and the health of its workers.

Six food handlers at its factory and two at its outlet tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis, a bacteria that causes food poisoning.

The AVA also found that the hazelnut paste and chocolate cream from the factory tested positive for the bacteria. (story)