UAE launches project to develop anti-viral drug

Sandooq Al Watan, the national initiative launched by prominent Emirati businessmen to support research projects in the post-oil era, announced that they have signed sponsored research agreements with the University of Sharjah to collaborate on a variety of scientific research projects.

This follows the University of Sharjah winning grants for two research projects to combat the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, including work that will focus on the development of a dual-inhibitor antiviral drug.

The project, led by Dr Sameh Soliman and co-investigators Dr Ahmed Almehdi, Dr. Rania Hamdy and Dr. Mohamed Haider from the University of Sharjah, seeks to design a dual-inhibitor antiviral drug against COVID-19 by blocking major enzymes required for viral infection. The developed compounds will be formulated to combat the existence and transmission of the virus. The new proposed product will provide an excellent platform to overcome any possible drug resistance or evolved future viral outbreaks.

“As a national initiative supporting research projects for the post-oil era, the recent major disruptions caused by the novel COVID-19 outbreak have made it even more imperative that we support innovative and forward-thinking projects to support national efforts to curb the spread of the virus and ensure business continuity in the UAE,” said Ahmed Fikri.

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Food and water security is a top priority for the UAE government and the objective is to launch qualitative initiatives that boosts our readiness to confront all kind of crises.” Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the global outbreak of coronavirus helped us develop a more comprehensive vision to deal with challenges and we must learn from this experience to improve our food and water security.

Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came during a meeting that reviewed food and water security plans following the recent restructure of the UAE Cabinet in preparation for the post COVID-19.

Sheikh Mohammed directed Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Bint Mohammad Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi to follow up the UAE national food reserve, invest in food technology, develop international partnerships that help providing practical solutions for the country confronts in the field of food and water security.

Sheikh Mohammed affirmed, “The UAE’s food and water security is an integral part the national security and the sustainability of our food and water resources is a guarantee for our sustainable development”.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced on Sunday that it conducted 71,216 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours.

The MoHAP announced 390 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in the UAE to 67,007.

MoHAP also announced three deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 375.

In Pakistan, authorities on Sunday reported only four new COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the fewest deaths since March.

The announcement raises hopes that Pakistan is on the right path to fully containing the coronavirus despite having a fragile health system.

The National Command and Control centre also reported 591 new cases, increasing the country’s caseload to 293,130, including 6,275 deaths.

The Italian government is not considering new lockdown to curb coronavirus infections, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in a newspaper interview on Sunday, despite a steady rise in new cases over the past month.

Italy, one of Europe’s worst-hit countries with more than 35,000 deaths, on Saturday reported 1,071 new coronavirus infections, exceeding 1,000 cases in a day for the first time since the government eased its rigid lockdown measures in May.

The chief medical officers of the United Kingdom have said children should return to school after the summer holidays, warning that missing out on their education posed much bigger risks to them than catching COVID-19.

The rare joint statement from the top health advisers to the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland represents a boost for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has said getting children back to school is a national priority.

Agencies