Category Archives: Life Extension

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Star Royalties Ltd. (the "Company" or "Star Royalties")(TSXV: STRR, OTCQX: STRFF), the world's first carbon negative gold royalty platform, is pleased to announce that Alex Pernin, CEO and Director will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on November 11th.

DATE: November 11th, 2021TIME: 4pm EST LINK: https://bit.ly/3mismqK

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at http://www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

Recent Star Royalties Highlights

About Star Royalties Ltd.Star Royalties Ltd. is a precious metals and green royalty and streaming investment company. The Company created the world's first carbon negative gold royalty platform and offers investors gold exposure with an increasingly negative carbon footprint. The Company's objective is to provide wealth creation through accretive transaction structuring and asset life extension with superior alignment to both counterparties and shareholders.

About Virtual Investor ConferencesVirtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors.A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/star-royalties-to-webcast-live-at-virtualinvestorconferencescom-november-11th-301419974.html

SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com

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Star Royalties to Webcast Live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com November 11th - StreetInsider.com

Many companies across the West of England are recruiting record numbers of staff as the region continues to recover from the pandemic.

Large corporates such as professional services firm Grant Thornton and defence giant Babcock are among the businesses taking on apprentices and graduates in large numbers.

Many of the West Countrys businesses remain upbeat about their prospects and are looking to employ more people despite concerns about the national economy.

Here we take a look at just some of the businesses that have been hiring people onto their trainee programmes.

Has your company made a large number or hires or appointed new staff recently? Get in touch by emailing [emailprotected] and please include a picture.

One of the largest companies in the South West has welcomed its first intake of graduates as part of ambitious new targets.

South West Waters new Graduate Management Programme will invest in 100 graduates by 2025, and has already welcomed its first intake of 26 graduates, providing full-time, permanent opportunities in a variety of roles, all based in the South West.

These graduates have placements planned in all areas of South West Water and will all take on field-based roles across all areas of Devon and Cornwall.

The first group on the new programme includes local graduates and those from other Universities across the UK.

Susan Davy, chief executive of South West Waters parent company, Pennon Group, said: At the heart of any great business are the people who work in it and we are thrilled to welcome the first 26 graduates into the South West Water family.

Financial firm Old Mill has welcomed 15 new starters as it continues to expand and grow.

New hires across the firms four offices in Exeter, Melksham, Wells and Yeovil are up 34% on last year, the company said.

Among those who have joined Old Mill recently are 10 trainee accountants who have come from various colleges, schools and universities across the UK.

The graduates include Charlotte Wyatt and Libby Connaughton, while the school and college leavers include Lewis Bolland and Jessica Horsley.

Old Mill has also welcomed Mia Caines as a trainee accountant; Miles Beczkowski and Andrea Bowden as qualified accountants; Sarah Worrell as client manager; and Stephanie Lipton, a bookkeeper.

Another new joiner is Matt Jeffery, whose previous role was as manager within the financial services audit practice at PwC.

Ian Carlson, managing director at Old Mill said: I am delighted that Old Mill continues to buck the trend in terms of ongoing recruitment we had a record trainee intake last year and are on course to beat that record this year.

Engineering and defence giant Babcock International has welcomed more than 200 new apprentices and graduates to its Devonport operations.

The aerospace, defence and security company said the 138 apprentices and 78 graduates will support a variety of projects and business areas, from life extension programmes on frigates and submarines, to advanced manufacturing happening at the vast site in Plymouth.

The apprentice roles are varied, from welders, fabricators and pipe workers, to electrical fitters, mechanical fitters and computer numerical control (CNC) machinists, while the graduates are involved in a wide range of roles within the business including: mechanical, electrical, process and civil engineers, naval architects and project managers.

Paul Foster, Babcocks managing director for Devonport operations, said: Our apprentices and graduates have a really important role in shaping our future here and I extend a very warm welcome to all of our new recruits.

Accounting and advisory firm Bishop Fleming has welcomed a record-breaking number of apprentices as it continues with its ambitious growth plans.

The firm has employed its highest number of school leavers and graduates, just a year on from becoming an accredited apprenticeship provider. The intake of 57 new apprentices (45 university graduates and 12 school leavers) is a 25% increase on last year, with the firm now employing over 430 people.

The apprentices will work across the firms seven offices in Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro and Worcester.

Each trainee will receive an induction plan for 100-days as they start to undertake their qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), with whom the firm are a Partner in Learning with.

Anna Averis, people director for Bishop Fleming, said: After the disruption of Covid-19, it is brilliant that we have been able to welcome [the new starters] all in our offices.

This years school leavers have joined from several local schools and colleges, as well as graduates from a variety of universities. Some apprentices have made significant career changes to join the firm, including a professional golfer, special constable and a TV research analyst.

A record number of new starters have joined Grant Thornton UKs South West business, with 26 school leavers and graduate trainees on a path to becoming part of audit and tax practices.

The firm, which operates from bases at Glass Wharf in Bristol and Callaghan Square in Cardiff, will work with the new cohort to develop their professional skills.

Jonathan Riley, practice leader for Grant Thornton in the South West and Cardiff, said: Its a pleasure to welcome the class of 2021-22 aboard.

As a firm, we strive to attract the best and brightest talent, young people who will shape the future of our business and deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients.

The audit, tax and consulting firm has recruited a record number of trainees, with the majority joining the firm this summer.

RSM hired 34 new recruits in Bristol, including 27 graduates and three school leavers a 100% increase on last years total trainee intake. Nationally the firm has taken on almost 600 new recruits, including 429 graduates and 103 school leavers up 50% on 2020.

The company said the drive to recruit was part of a strategic intention to strengthen the firm from within its own ranks and over the long term. The trainees are spread across the audit, corporate finance, risk, restructuring advisory, financial reporting and IT teams.

Kate Reid, office managing partner for RSM Bristol, said: The jobs market is extremely competitive for young people, and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. I am glad we are able to offer a first step on the career ladder to so many bright, intelligent and hardworking individuals at what is an exceptionally challenging time.

Bristol law firm Barcan+Kirby has appointed four trainee solicitors.

Amy Reeves, Alicia Perry-Watts, Hevy Khalil and Stephen Biggs have now all started their training contracts with the firm.

Ms Perry-Watts and Ms Khalil started their career as paralegals with the firm, and have joined the family and dispute resolution teams respectively.

Mr Biggs is new to the firm and completed his LPC at Cardiff University. Ms Reeves is also new and has spent the last four years working in probate for a leading legal firm.

The trainee solicitors will shadow senior solicitors with a variety of specialisms and turn their hands to a wide array of legal tasks. They will also move between the firms six offices and develop their client-handling skills through exposure to the firms client base.

Barcan + Kirby said it had a record number of applications for the training contracts this year, due an overhaul of the recruitment process. Next year, it will host a trainee event in person for prospective trainees.

Bill Willcocks, managing partner at Barcan+Kirby, said: Congratulations to Alicia, Hevy, Stephen and Amy on their appointments as trainee solicitors. Our training programme provides them with a strong foundation on which to build a career in the legal profession.

A female former intelligence corps soldier is one of six new armed forces recruits starting roles this month with the South West housebuilder.

Rachel Allen, 28, has become a trainee assistant site manager working at Embden Grange, Tavistock, currently being built by David Wilson Homes.

She is joined by Stewart Hales, who recently enrolled on the year-long apprenticeship programme to become a trainee site manager.

Ms Allen was in the Intelligence Corps for eight years, primarily in the counterintelligence and security disciplines. She left her role in the army in the summer before joining Barratt Developments armed forces transition programme.

She said: Its been a great environment to transition from the Army into, which makes the most of my skills and experience.

Mr Hales is a trainee assistant site manager at Braid Park in Tiverton. He has been working as a fuel tank delivery driver since leaving the Royal Marines 14 years ago but felt it wasnt giving him the career prospects and challenge he was looking for.

He said: Im looking forward to building on my skills and experience in a new trade and working with dedicated teams across a range of new developments in the South West.

EYs Bristol office has welcomed 45 new graduates and apprentices up from 41 last year.

The new hires are part of EYs 1,088 student recruits across the UK, including 909 graduates and 179 apprentices. A total of 44% of all the student recruits this year were based outside of London in EYs regional offices. Of the new student hires in Bristol 42% are women and 22% are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Karen Kirkwood, office managing partner at EY in Bristol, said: Im delighted to welcome the new student intake for 2021 to the Bristol office.

At a time when many students have been facing a challenging jobs market, we have continued to recruit throughout the pandemic.

EY said it also welcomed 30 summer interns in Bristol in the summer up from 19 in 2020.

The Clevedon-based tax and accountancy firm has welcomed Eve Hawkins and Terry Beacham as apprentice tax advisers.

It has also recently appointed business adviser Seb Hassan-Ally as head of tax. He joins from Deloitte in Bristol and will be overseeing the firms tax advisory arm.

Rachel Finch, managing director of Finch & Associates, said: Were really pleased to welcome Eve and Terry to the firm and wish them both every success as they begin their professional careers with Finch & Associates. Its great to be able to give them a step up on the career ladder.

She added: Were delighted to welcome Seb to head up our tax advisory team. He has great experience advising shareholders and entrepreneurial businesses.

Got a South West business news story you think we should feature on BusinessLive? Email [emailprotected] To get all the regions latest business news straight to your inbox, visit our preference centre.

Excerpt from:

The Companies Hiring Graduates And Apprentices In The South West - Todayuknews - Todayuknews

09 November 2021

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

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The regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects(NSIPs) allows for Development Consent Orders (DCOs) to be grantedfor a set period of time (often 5 years), but only recently has itbecome clear that time limits can be extended to keep DCOsalive.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy(BEIS) recently (16 September 2021) granted a non-material change to extend thetimescale for implementation of a DCO for a period of 5 years for aproposed gas-fired power station. This is the first time such asignificant extension has been granted and in this blog we explorehow it was pursued.

The applicant, C.GEN, secured a DCO in 2014 for a gas-firedpower station in North Killingholme, which had an original lifespanof 7 years. Due to a variety of commercial factors in theintervening years, implementation of the consent was ultimately notpossible within the original 7 year time frame. However, there wasa keenness to preserve the consent and deliver the project giventhe role of gas-fired power stations in the future national energygeneration mix (as recognised in the 2020 Energy White Paper), to complement themove to renewables and support the targets for net zero and 40GWoffshore wind capacity by 2030.

As a result, an application for a non-material change wassubmitted to BEIS in August 2020 to extend the time forimplementation of this DCO, with BCLP advising C.Gen since2018.

There are two types of change that may be made to a DCO - theseare non-material or material. Separate procedures are prescribed inlegislation1 and in non-statutory Government Guidance for handling each type ofapplication.

The C.GEN application was for a non-material change and requiredconsideration of the interplay between the proposed changes and theEnvironmental Statement, the Habitats Regulations Assessments,compulsory acquisition powers, and the effects on businesses andresidents. The Guidance also sets out the various steps which needto be taken and procedure to be followed and is a useful startingpoint for applicants considering post-grant changes.

The alternative mechanism, where material changes are sought,involves a more costly and detailed process (potentially includingan 'examination' akin to a public inquiry). Thereis no legal definition of a material and non-material change socareful consideration is necessary as to which approach isappropriate in each case, and an awareness of the risk and costprofiles which vary depending on which route is pursued.

In both cases an application must be prepared setting out thechanges, and even the non-material process can require anenvironmental report, as well as high quality consultation andcomprehensive engagement. In either case, the application must besupported by a draft Statutory Instrument, compliant with thesalient rules and regulations, as it is creating 'newlaw'.

In light of the time since the original DCO grant in this case,the applicant wanted to ensure that the scheme complies with thelatest position on carbon capture, and this was reflected in theapplication. The decision by BEIS to extend the DCO also includedprovisions to incorporate current carbon capture technologies thatenable either the pre-combustion removal of carbon dioxide (IGCCmode), or post-combustion capture (CCGT mode) within theproject

Applications to change DCOs can take some time both tocorral the necessary information for the application, carry outengagement, and also to allow time for the decision-making process(where, in the case of non-material change applications, there isno statutory timescale). In this case the application was made inAugust 2020 and a decision was made in September 2021.

The only other DCO extension we are aware of was for a 12 monthextension and was granted in July 2020, during the height of theCovid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. That application wasmade at a time when planning rules were temporarily relaxed toallow extensions to conventional TCPA consents (which are usuallyprohibited) but DCO projects had to follow the pre-existing routepursuant to Schedule 6 of the 2008 Planning Act, and seek anon-material or material change in order to secure a similarextension. That application for a 12-month extension was basedfirmly and solely on the extraordinary circumstances produced bythe pandemic in 2020, and hence was for a relatively shortperiod.

The C.GEN North Killingholme project DCO extension is the firsttime that an extension has been sought for a substantial period oftime in this case 5 years which is of coursereflective of the standard timescale for an entirely new DCO.

Footnote

1 Planning Act 2008, Schedule 6 and theInfrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, DevelopmentConsent Orders) Regulations 2011

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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The global food system is responsible for about one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with most of those emissions attributed to agriculture and land use. But food can also be an incredibly powerful solution. Because of their immense power, food and beverage companies can help support governments and civil society to achieve major climate goalsor, they can do the opposite.

Were not going to solve this by waiting for government, COP, the UN, or anyone to solve it. This is something that requires individual action, and to be frank, it requires radical action,Patrick Brown, CEO of Impossible Foods, says at a Global Landscapes Forum panel hosted by Oatly and moderated by Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg at COP26 on November 6.

Many of these solutions lie in the animal agriculture industry. According to Brown, talking about the food system as a climate problem is like calling out liquids as a problem instead of the oil industry. The most destructive technology in human history is the use of animals to make food, he says.

Policymakers, businesses, and civil society can create new business models that support farmers, eaters, and businesses alike. Much of this action can be driven by learning whats already working. For example, while Indigenous peoples account for five percent of the global population and hold less than a quarter of the worlds land, they maintain 80 percent of the remaining biodiversity.

When we think about what we should be doing differently, its learning from many of these Indigenous practices, says Tania Eulalia Martinez Cruz, Indigenous Activist and Researcher. Policies should be designed with this context in mind, she says, accounting for the rich tradition within Indigenous food systems.

If we got rid of animal agriculture today and continued to grow plant-based products in the same way that theyre grown today, and not paying attention to [these lessons], wed still have a broken system, Ashley Allen, CSO at Oatly, adds.

Theres no doubt that consumers are demanding healthier solutions and want more information about supply chains, and meanwhile, farmers are suffering in the current food system model. Businesses have a critical role to play in driving the shift towards a more sustainable food system that leaves no one behind.

Oatly is working to bring food products carbon foodprints to the forefront of labels and conversations surrounding sustainability. Meanwhile, Apeel Foods is empowering consumers to prevent the low-hanging fruit of food waste, says Jessica Vieira, Apeels Senior Director of Sustainability.

But modernization is not the only way forward. For Louise Mabulo, Founder of the Cacao Project in the Philippines, localized solutions are more practical and economical. Food businesses can sustainably scale by finding where this local knowledge meets more modern technologies.

It doesnt mean we have to go back to pulling tractors by horses, says Allen.

Eventually, all businesses and production models will have to be sustainable: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that the planet has fewer than 60 harvests left. If businesses dont invest in more sustainable practices now, they wont make any business down the line, says Mabulo.

Financial institutions are beginning to see a solid business case for investing in sustainability. Vieira speaks about a recent shift from viewing food wastea US$2.6 trillion problemnot as a tax on the system but as an untapped savings account.

But food technology solutions can only be scaled if they are appropriately adapted to each region. A food systems transition would look very different in the global north versus the global south, says Mabulo. Democratizing the distribution of these solutions means investing in Indigenous communities while ensuring theyre the ones leading the research, certifications, and education within their own communities.

If we move fast enough, is there potential for us to not just address food loss and waste, increase income opportunities by creating market access, but maybe even leapfrog the cold chain in some instances, says Vieira.

But this requires partnerships to understand producers on-the-ground needs. For example, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Apeel are partnering in emerging markets to increase market opportunities for fruit and vegetable producers with Apeels plant-based shelf-life extension technology. Oatly is helping dairy farmers transition to crops such as oats and cashews that can be used to make plant milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt.

By forging unconventional partnerships as well as working with and building upon Indigenous knowledge systems, transformation is not only possible, its necessary, says Nierenberg.

We dont have 11 years, we have tomorrow to make these changes. Now more than ever, we cant sit back and have all talk and no action.

Click here for Food Tanks full list of events at COP26register now and tune in FREE!

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Climate goals require "radical action" from the food and beverage businesses Food Tank - Food Tank

Gardening season is winding down, but you may still have some questions. For answers, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State Universitys Extension Service. OSU Extension faculty and Master Gardeners reply to queries within two business days, usually less. To ask a question, simply go to the OSU Extension website, type it in and include the county where you live. Here are some questions asked by other gardeners. Whats yours?

Q (1 of 2): I was wondering if one could have too many coffee grounds in a compost pile?

I have a three-bin system and take in so many leaves from my neighbors yard each autumn (about 30 yard bags). This year, to help make sure I have a better balance, Im getting a 5-gallon bucket of coffee grounds from a local coffee shop each week and am adding it to each bin on a rotating basis so that every third week each section will get the grounds in addition to my kitchen waste.

I was wondering if my overall compost pH will be relatively balanced if Im mixing the grounds with this huge abundance of leaves or should I dial back on the grounds? Multnomah County

A: Interestingly, when a compost pile is composed of primarily plant matter (leaves, food waste, coffee grounds), it begins at a low pH and rises to about neutral. Low pH because the decomposition of plant materials results in the release of organic acids - initially.

When a compost pile is composed primarily of animal carcasses, manures, blood meal, it begins at a high pH and falls to about neutral. High pH because readily released nitrogen may be in the form of ammonia initially.

So the coffee idea is OK, but coffee is pretty low in nitrogen content, maybe 2-3% at best. In your situation, Id consider going to the feed store and getting a 40-pound sack of alfalfa pellets. Id sprinkle the pellets every 3-5 inches of depth in the pile of leaves. The breakdown of the alfalfa will contribute nitrogen and really get the bacteria in the piles working. Even better, if you could find a handful of red wiggler worms for each of the bins. One spring I found that I had 50 gallons of worm castings! Linda Brewer, OSU Extension soil specialist

Q: (2 of 2) I dont think I know what the range of nitrogen content is for leaves. Do you have that information readily available? 🙂

Also, my bins are full of worms, they are small and red, but I dont know if they are the official red wrigglers. Do you think they are serving a similar service and could substitute for the alfalfa pellets? Or are the worms and pellets offering two different things to the compost process?

A: To answer your questions:

Deciduous trees harvest a lot of resources from those leaves before they drop them. So, the nitrogen content of autumn leaves is essentially zero. Autumn leaves provide complex structural carbohydrates (youd say fiber if it was a human diet). Cardboard and paper are examples of structural carbohydrates. And those carbohydrates have the ability to hang on to moisture and absorb the juicier parts of kitchen scraps.

Alfalfa is valued in animal diets (and in composting) because of the nitrogen it provides. Nitrogen is an essential building block of proteins. The animals doing the work in a compost pile are bacteria think of them as little water-filled balloons made of protein. The heat in an active compost pile is the result of the metabolism of all of these bacteria, collectively. A simple definition of metabolism could be if you eat you give off heat.

If there was not enough nitrogen to support bacterial life, the work would be done by fungi. They prefer dryer conditions, and have the ability to reach out beyond their central structures and collect scarce resources like water and nitrogen. But they are far slower at the job than bacteria.

I can assure you that that you have a great supply of official red wigglers. Red wigglers are large enough to have mouths, guts, etc. They are eating and (frankly) pooping. All organisms that eat with a mouth and have a gut digest food to extract the nutrients necessary for their life functions. They extract energy by breaking carbon to carbon molecular bonds. What they dont require for their life functions, they pass through as excreta. As a result, all fecal matter contains concentrated nutrients which is why manures have been the traditional valued fertilizer source for agriculture.

Worms arent doing what the alfalfa pellets do. Worms are nutrient concentrators; alfalfa pellets are a source of nitrogen. You can do either or both. I suspect that if you can afford to do both, you will have a richer compost in a shorter period of time.

Linda Brewer, OSU Extension soil specialist

Q: What are some good resources for preparing vegetable gardens for winter? Jackson County

A: Page 5 of this publication gives a good summary of activities to do in vegetable gardens in the fall.

In addition, this website from the University of Minnesota gives some great ideas for fall vegetable garden activities.

If youre interested in growing vegetables in the fall and winter, this guide is a great resource. Danielle Knueppel, assistant professor of practice, OSU Department of Horticulture

Drained garden hoses can be stored outdoors. Oregonian file photo.

Q: Is it OK to store my drained garden hoses on my covered porch or open-sided shed? I have many due to our watering system. They take up too much space in our shop/garage. Douglas County

A: Storing hoses that have been drained on a porch or shed that is open to the outdoor temperature is fine. They will not be damaged by a freeze. After draining you can attach the ends to each other if you roll them up to make sure no insects or dirt get in them. Steve Renquist, OSU Extension horticulturist

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When it comes to coffee grounds in compost, how much is too much? Ask an expert - OregonLive

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 3, 2021 /CNW/ -AstraZeneca Canada has initiated a rolling review New Drug Submission with Health Canada for authorization of AZD7442, its long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, for prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

If granted, AZD7442 would be the first LAAB to receive Health Canada authorization for COVID-19 prevention.

"AZD7442 is the first LAAB with Phase III data demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 compared to placebo. This is an important option, especially for vulnerable populations like those who are immune-compromised and often aren't able to mount a protective response following vaccination," said Dr. Alex Romanovschi, Vice President, Scientific Affairs, AstraZeneca Canada. "With this Health Canada filing, we are one step closer to providing an additional long-lasting option to help protect against COVID-19 alongside vaccines."

In August 2021, AstraZeneca announced high-level results from the PROVENT pre-exposure prophylaxis trial, which showed AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77% (95% confidence interval (CI): 46, 90), compared to placebo. Importantly, the trial population included people with co-morbidities and who may be in need of additional protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Greaterthan 75% of participants in PROVENT presented with co-morbidities associated with an increased risk of severe disease or a reduced immune response to vaccination. The trial accrued 25 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 at the primary analysis.AZD7442was well-tolerated.

AZD7442 was optimized using AstraZeneca's proprietary YTE half-life extension technology which more than triples the durability of its action compared to conventional antibodies.1-4

Preliminary 'in vitro' findings demonstrate that AZD7442 demonstrates broad anti-COVID activity, and in particular neutralizes recent emergent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants, including the Delta and Mu variants.5,6

About AZD7442AZD7442 is a combination of two LAABs tixagevimab (AZD8895) and cilgavimab (AZD1061) derived from B-cells donated by convalescent patients after SARS-CoV-2 virus. Discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center andlicensed to AstraZeneca in June 2020, the human monoclonal antibodies bind to distinct sites on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein7 and were optimized by AstraZeneca with half-life extension and reduced Fc receptor and complement C1q binding. The half-life extension more than triples the durability of its action compared to conventional antibodies and could afford up to 12 months of protection from COVID-19 following a single administration;1-4 data from the Phase I trial show high neutralizing antibody titres for at least nine months.8 The reduced Fc receptor binding aims to minimize the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease a phenomenon in which virus-specific antibodies promote, rather than inhibit, infection and/or disease.9

AZD7442 is being studied in a comprehensive clinical trial program for both prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in over 9,000 participants. In the Phase III PROVENT trial, AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77%, compared to placebo. The trial included 5,197 participants in a 2:1 randomization AZD7442 to placebo. The primary analysis was based on 5,172 participants who did not have SARS-CoV-2 infection at baseline. The LAAB was well tolerated, and preliminary analyses show adverse events were balanced between the placebo and AZD7442 groups.

InTACKLE,10 a Phase III mild-to-moderate COVID-19 outpatient treatment trial, AZD7442met its primary endpointdemonstrating a 50% reduction in the risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death compared to placebo in outpatients who had been symptomatic for seven days or less.

Other ongoing trials includecollaborator treatment trials in outpatient and hospitalized settings.

Data published in Naturein July 2020 showed that in preclinical experiments, the LAABs were able to block the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to host cells and protect against infection in cell and animal models of disease.11

About AstraZeneca CanadaAstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of primary and specialty care medicines that transform lives. Our primary focus is on four important areas of healthcare: Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic disease; Oncology; Respiratory & Immunology; and Rare Diseases. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. In Canada, we employ roughly 1,090 employees across the country and our headquarters are located in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.astrazeneca.ca.

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Griffin MP, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of MEDI8897, the respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F-targeting monoclonal antibody with an extended half-life, in healthy adults. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2017; 61(3): e01714-16.

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Yu XQ, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of MEDI4893, an investigational, extended-half-life, anti-staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin human monoclonal antibody, in healthy adults. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2016; 61 (1): e01020-16.

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Domachowske JB, et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of MEDI8897, an extended half-life single-dose respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F-targeting monoclonal antibody administered as a single dose to healthy preterm infants. ThePediatric Infectious Disease Journal.2018; 37(9): 886-892.

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Wang L et al. Ultrapotent antibodies against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants. Science. 2021 Jul 1. doi: 10.1126/science.abh1766.

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ACTIV. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences OpenData Portal. SARS-CoV-2 Variants & Therapeutics, All Variants Reported in vitro Therapeutic Activity. Available at: https://opendata.ncats.nih.gov/variant/activity [Last accessed: September 2021].

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Loo Y-M, et al. AZD7442 demonstrates prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in non-human primates and extended half-life in humans. medRxiv. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2021 [preprint] Available from: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.30.21262666v1.

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van Erp EA, et al. Fc-mediated antibody effector functions during respiratory syncytial virus infection and disease. Front Immunol. 2019; 10: 548.

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Clinicaltrials.gov. Phase III study of AZD7442 for treatment of COVID-19 in outpatient adults (TACKLE). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show//NCT04723394. [Last accessed: 30 June 2021].

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Zost SJ, et al.Potently neutralizing and protective human antibodies against SARS-CoV 2.Nature. 2020; 584: 443449.

SOURCE AstraZeneca Canada Inc.

For further information: Mary-Anne Cedrone, AstraZeneca Canada, E-mail: [emailprotected]

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AstraZeneca Canada Files for Health Canada Authorization of AZD7442 for Prevention Of COVID-19 - Canada NewsWire

Gardening season is winding down, but you may still have some questions. For answers, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State Universitys Extension Service. OSU Extension faculty and Master Gardeners reply to queries within two business days, usually less. To ask a question, simply go to the OSU Extension website , type it in and include the county where you live. Here are some questions asked by other gardeners. Whats yours?

Q: Its common practice to rake up all the leaves and recycle them by placing them in the yard waste bin or blowing them into the street for pickup on trash day.

Are there any cases in which leaving leaves where they fall is a good idea? I grind up leaves (maple, not oak) and place on my garden. I leave leaves from my rhododendrons and photinia bushes on the ground as mulch.

Im trying to convince my neighbors to leave more leaves in place because most will simply disappear by spring.

What say you? Which leaf species are leavable and which are not? Benton County

A: Absolutely they are good to leave on the ground. They are the best organic mulch you dont have to buy. You are right, many leaves break down and feed the micro-organisms in the soil forming nutrients for the plants. They also suppress weeds and as a mulch hold moisture in the ground and keep the roots warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer.

Did you know that moisture in the ground during a freeze is best for your plants?

Micro-organisms are the soil life and they need nutrients all the time.The more leaves left as a mulch or broken down by your lawn mower the better.

More and more people are finding organic compost is the only thing they need for a fertilizer.That would include both greens (grass, lettuce, veggies, etc.) and browns (leaves, twigs, paper, etc.). If nothing else, have them give the leaves to you.Put them in a pile, add some greens and maybe some composted manure and make your soil for next spring. Turning the pile and keeping it moist (not hard to do now) will help it breakdown faster.

Too much moisture and the nutrients wash away so use a tarp and weight it down so it wont blow away.

Your neighbors will be able to see how well your plants do and how little money you spend. Using leaves from your property also gives you the knowledge ofwhat has been done with them in the past.Unsprayed leaves are the best.

By the way, oak leaves are OK to use around oaks and mowing them will make them breakdown faster.

The leaves also provide shelter for insects and are habitats for butterflies, moths and for frogs and toads.In a balanced eco-system, all of their needs can be met.Many of the predator insects need this shelter in order to survive the winter and come out in the spring to eat the pests that prey on your plants.

If your grass or leaves have been sprayed with chemicals, do not use them in your compost piles or spread them around any vegetable or fruit plants you may have.

That said, leaving thick piles of leaves on the lawns will kill the lawn.However, mowing the leaves and leaving a light layer is an excellent way to feed the lawn, just as mowing and leaving the grass clippings also helps feed the grass.

I hope some of these suggestions or reasons for keeping the leaves is helpful to you and I also hope you can persuade your neighbors to keep their un-developed fertilizer (the leaves). Sheryl Casteen, OSU Extension Master Gardener

ServiceberryOSU Extension Service

Q: I planted my serviceberry at the end of August, and it was doing OK for a while, but Ive noticed the leaves are turning yellow and brown, and it feels like way too many leaves and too much brown to be an issue getting established. I was wondering if there might be any obvious signs of something that Im missing here. Multnomah County

A: Congratulations on keeping your new tree alive during a very hot and dry summer. August can be a difficult time to successfully plant trees. But it is November now and all deciduous trees, such as serviceberry, begin the process of going dormant. The green chlorophyll breaks down, leaves turn yellow and the tree absorbs what it can before the leaves fall off. It is a normal part of growth for these types of trees.

In the spring, new leaves will form from the buds that survive the winter. Spring is also when you can expect white flowers to develop for a wonderful spring show. Jay Pscheidt, OSU Extension plant pathologist

Some fall color along the McKenzie River Trail in the Willamette National Forest. Oregonian file photo. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Q: We live in Forest Grove. This fall the trees seem to me to be much more colorful than most years. Is there any truth to this? If so, is there a plausible explanation? Washington County

A: I am in Lebanon. Last year was a great year for color and for this area, so is this year.As you may know the trees stop making chlorophyll in the fall when the temperatures dropand the days shorten.They are no longer staying green.The sugars in the trees turn the colors to yellow, orange and red and many shades in between.

However, you may have had more cold weather this year in Forest Grove changing the color of the leaves earlier and if you have not had any wind the leaves have stayed on the trees longer.Many of the maples turn to red, yellow and orange earlier than other trees.The other trees follow and most of themturn yellow or brown.

Up until this last week, we have had little or no wind. The leaves have stayed on the trees and all the trees had turned to their fall colors in our area. What a beautiful sight it was.

The recent wind/rainstorm cleaned many of the trees completely but we still have the later yellows and browns around. There are still some beautifully colored trees around, I hope you enjoy them. Sheryl Casteen, OSU Extension Master Gardener

Arborvitae hedgeOSU Extension Service

Q: We were thinking of planting a willow oak in our backyard for a shade tree. However, I am worried about the tree leaning. There is a very large arborvitae hedge on the property line (easily 35-40 feet tall. taller than our house) that can shade certain areas in the afternoon. I know willow oaks can get quite large and dont want it to grow all lopsided or lean away from the arborvitae because I dont think its realistic for the arborvitae hedge to live as long as the oak. We are trying to work with the neighboring apartment complex to have the arborvitae hedge trimmed (hasnt been done in years). Another ice storm is likely to see some damage to the plants we have planted underneath.

The arborist had estimated they maybe could take 10 feet off the trees. Do you think leaning will occur regardless? If the oak leans away from the arborvitae will it straighten up when older? The tree is going to be planted on the southwest part of our yard and would still get mostly full sun (and be easily 25-plus feet away from the arborvitae) but it would be shaded earlier in the day than the other trees more on the southeast side of our property. The arborvitae is also sort of downhill from the potential oak (since we live in a tiered neighborhood), so root competition with arborvitae Im not as concerned about. Multnomah County

A: I would not recommend topping the arborvitae hedge. It just wont look as good moving forward.They regrow slowly. Damaged branches should be cut back to the base.

Your newly planted oak tree might lean a bit toward the sun if the hedge is to the south of where you plant it. Use tree stakes in the first year to make sure it grows straight. After that, use pruning methods to select a central leader that points a touch away from the hedge (north side of the tree). Prune the tree to look like figure 5 in this publication. Weston Miller, OSU Extension horticulturist

Q: How do I keep the neighborhood mask bandit from enjoying all my grapes? Multnomah County

A: The first thing to make sure of is that you are not attracting the raccoons to other food sources like trash, compost or pet food. Raccoons prefer grapes so it may be a challengeto keep them totally blocked off once they become habituated. There are a few things you can do to keep them from reaping the whole harvest though. Grapes generally need most protection when they are almost ripe. Before they are ripe, the tannins keep most critters from eating them, so this doesnt need to be a year-round effort, unless you have deer hanging around.

Motion-activated lights, noise devices or sprinklers can help scare them away, andeven scents like coyote urine can keep them from being habituated. Take care not to have the sprinkler directly spraying the plants, as this can create amildew or botrytis(fungus)problem.As a last resort, you could set up a temporaryelectric fence around the vines, which is generally effective against most critters, so long as they cant climb around it. Thomas Stokely, OSU Extension forestry and wildlife specialist

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Save yourself time and money by leaving the leaves: Ask an expert - OregonLive

(FINANCIAL TIMES) - The three teenagers called it the Gilgamesh project, after the epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia in which the eponymous king searches for the secret of eternal life. Nearly 40 years ago, growing up in Germany, Dr Steve Horvath and his twin brother Markus and their friend Jrg Zimmerman pledged to dedicate their careers to extending human lifespans. "I've always felt that human life is too short," says Steve, now 54 and a geneticist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Markus became a psychiatrist and Jrg a researcher into artificial intelligence. Steve stayed truest to the cause, developing a technique to measure the biological age of cells. The Horvath clock, a widely used biomarker of ageing, is one of a series of discoveries over the past two decades that are invigorating the science of life extension.

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Would you want to live beyond 150?, Opinion News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capstone Mining Corp. (Capstone or the Company) (TSX:CS) today announced that it has received final approvals from the US Forest Service for a new mine plan of operations (the Plan) for the Pinto Valley Mine (Pinto Valley). The Plan, approved by the Tonto National Forest (TNF), extends Pinto Valleys life of mine to the year 2039. The mine life extension is expected to produce 2.5 billion pounds of copper and will preserve approximately 700 jobs in Arizonas Gila County, contributing to the areas economic activities over the next two decades.

TNFs approval process included a detailed evaluation of technical data provided by Pinto Valley Mining Corp. and a stakeholder consultation process. The plan allows for Pinto Valleys continued operation and includes additional environmental controls, as well as monitoring and mitigation measures to address potential environmental impacts from the mines operations.

Darren Pylot, Capstones President & CEO commented, I would like to congratulate our Pinto Valley team on this significant permitting achievement which will translate into continued benefits for the community of Globe-Miami for decades to come. We recently completed a $31 million optimization project which has increased productivity, decreased costs, and built a more resilient operation.

This is truly a historic day for Capstone Mining and our flagship Pinto Valley Mine, said Brad Mercer, SVP & COO. Mr. Mercer added, This approval took more than 5 years to obtain and we thank the US Forest Service employees who helped keep this project on track.

ABOUT CAPSTONE MINING CORP.

Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. We are committed to the responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our two producing mines are the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US and the Cozamin copper-silver mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. In addition, Capstone owns 100% of Santo Domingo, a large scale, fully permitted, copper-iron-gold project in Region III, Chile, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization of operations and assets in politically stable, mining-friendly regions, centred in the Americas. Our headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol CS.

Further information is available at http://www.capstonemining.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This document may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking statements). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations or beliefs regarding future events and the impacts of the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements with respect to expected production at Pinto Valley from extension and the preservation of jobs in Arizonas Gila County, the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the expected timing, operations and success of the underground paste backfill system study and tailings filtration project at Cozamin, the outcome and timing of the PV4 study, the timing and success of our use of the Jetti Technology, the successful execution of a port services agreement with Puerto Ventanas and/or rail agreement with Sigdo Koppers rail business, the success of our strategic process for the Santo Domingo project, the expected reduction in capital requirements for the Santo Domingo project, the timing and success of the Cobalt Study for Santo Domingo, the success of the PV3 Optimization project, the realization of Mineral Reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production and capital expenditures and reclamation, the success of our mining operations, the success of mineral exploration, the estimations for potential quantities and grade of inferred resources and exploration targets, Capstones ability to fund future exploration activities, Capstones ability to finance the Santo Domingo project, Capstone's ability to find a strategic partner, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses and title disputes. The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations are unknown at this time, including Capstones ability to manage challenges and restrictions arising from COVID-19 in the communities in which Capstone operates and our ability to continue to safely operate and to safely return our business to normal operations. The impact of COVID-19 to Capstone is dependent on a number of factors outside of our control and knowledge, including the effectiveness of the measures taken by public health and governmental authorities to combat the spread of the disease, global economic uncertainties and outlook due to the disease, and the evolving restrictions relating to mining activities and to travel in certain jurisdictions in which we operate.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as anticipates, approximately, believes, budget, estimates, expects, forecasts, guidance, intends, plans, scheduled, target, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results be achieved, could, may, might, occur, should, will be taken or would or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document certain forward-looking statements are identified by words including anticipated, expected, guidance and plan. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, amongst others, risks related to inherent hazards associated with mining operations and closure of mining projects, future prices of copper and other metals, compliance with financial covenants, surety bonding, our ability to raise capital, Capstones ability to acquire properties for growth, counterparty risks associated with sales of our metals, use of financial derivative instruments and associated counterparty risks, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, market access restrictions or tariffs, changes in general economic conditions, availability of water, accuracy of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, operating in foreign jurisdictions with risk of changes to governmental regulation, compliance with governmental regulations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, reliance on approvals, licenses and permits from governmental authorities and potential legal challenges to permit applications, contractual risks including but not limited to, our ability to meet the completion test requirements under the Cozamin Silver Stream Agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, our ability to meet certain closing conditions under the Santo Domingo Gold Stream Agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, acting as Indemnitor for Minto Exploration Ltd.s surety bond obligations post divestiture, impact of climate change and changes to climatic conditions at our Pinto Valley and Cozamin operations and Santo Domingo project, changes in regulatory requirements and policy related to climate change and greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, land reclamation and mine closure obligations, risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreak including the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of Capstone relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainties and risks related to the potential development of the Santo Domingo project, increased operating and capital costs, increased cost of reclamation, challenges to title to our mineral properties, increased taxes in jurisdictions the Company operates or is subject to tax, changes in tax regimes we are subject to and any changes in law or interpretation of law may be difficult to react to in an efficient manner, maintaining ongoing social license to operate, dependence on key management personnel, potential conflicts of interest involving our directors and officers, corruption and bribery, limitations inherent in our insurance coverage, labour relations, increasing energy prices, competition in the mining industry including but not limited to competition for skilled labour, risks associated with joint venture partners, our ability to integrate new acquisitions and new technology into our operations, cybersecurity threats, legal proceedings, the volatility of the price of the Common Shares, the uncertainty of maintaining a liquid trading market for the Common Shares, risks related to dilution to existing shareholders if stock options or other convertible securities are exercised, the history of Capstone with respect to not paying dividends and anticipation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future, and sales of Common Shares by existing shareholders can reduce trading prices, and other risks of the mining industry as well as those factors detailed from time to time in the Companys interim and annual financial statements and MD&A of those statements and Annual Information Form, all of which are filed and available for review under the Companys profile on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause our results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS REGARDING PRESENTATION OF MINERAL RESERVE AND MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES

As a British Columbia corporation and a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws, we are required to provide disclosure regarding our mineral properties in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. In accordance with NI 43-101, we use the terms mineral reserves and resources as they are defined in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards on mineral reserves and resources (the CIM Definition Standards) adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. In particular, the terms mineral reserve, proven mineral reserve, probable mineral reserve, mineral resource, measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource and inferred mineral resource used in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, are Canadian mining terms defined in accordance with CIM Definition Standards. These definitions differ from the definitions in the disclosure requirements promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies reporting pursuant to SEC disclosure requirements.

United States investors are also cautioned that while the SEC will now recognize measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, investors should not assume that any part or all of the mineralization in these categories will ever be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral reserves. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that we report are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, inferred resources have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the inferred resources exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 COMPLIANCE

Unless otherwise indicated, Capstone has prepared the technical information in this news release (Technical Information) based on information contained in the technical reports, Annual Information Form and news releases (collectively the Disclosure Documents) available under Capstone Mining Corp.s company profile on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. Each Disclosure Document was prepared by or under the supervision of a qualified person (a Qualified Person) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators (NI 43-101). Readers are encouraged to review the full text of the Disclosure Documents which qualifies the Technical Information. Readers are advised that Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Disclosure Documents are each intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. The Technical Information is subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained in the Disclosure Documents.

Disclosure Documents include the National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical reports titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Cozamin Mine, Zacatecas, Mexico" effective October 23, 2020, Pinto Valley Mine Life Extension Phase 3 (PV3) Pre-Feasibility Study effective January 1, 2016 and Santo Domingo Project, Region III, Chile, NI 43-101 Technical Report effective February 19, 2020.

The disclosure of Scientific and Technical Information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Brad Mercer, P. Geol., Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (technical information related to mineral exploration activities and to Mineral Resources at Cozamin), Clay Craig, P.Eng, Manager, Mining & Evaluations (technical information related to Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at Pinto Valley), Tucker Jensen, Superintendent Mine Operations, P.Eng (technical information related to Mineral Reserves at Cozamin) and Albert Garcia III, PE, Vice President, Projects (technical information related to project updates at Santo Domingo) all Qualified Persons under NI 43-101.

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Capstone's Pinto Valley Mine Receives New US Forest Service Mine Plan of Operations to Fully Permit Mine Life to 2039 - Business Wire

Photo: John Moore (Getty Images)

Alphabet has spun off a new company called Isomorphic Labs which seeks to use artificial intelligence to discover new pharmaceutical drugs. The commercial venture will reportedly build off of advancements made by Alphabets DeepMind, which used a model called AlphaFold2 to predict the shape of proteins in the human body with near-perfect accuracy, something viewed as a key breakthrough in the scientific and medical communities.

In a blog post announcing the new company, founder and CEO Demis Hassabis laid out ambitious goals, claiming the project could reimagine the entire drug discovery process from first principles with an AI-first approach and, ultimately, to model and understand some of the fundamental mechanisms of life.

Hassabis is also the CEO of DeepMind but the two companies will be separate, according to a spokesperson who spoke to The Verge. The new company will add to Alphabets growing portfolio of healthcare business, which includes Verily, a biotech firm, and moonshot life-extension company Calico.

If successful, Isomorphic Labs claims it will accelerate the drug discovery process, and build powerful predictive and generative models of complex biological phenomena. In a more practical sense though, any time AI can save in drug discovery could have a significant impact on a system currently facing a logjam. According to a report released by trade group the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an average of new drugs takes at least ten years to journey from discovery into the marketplace with an estimated cost of about $2.6 billion.

Isomorphic Labs will by no means be the first company to try and apply AI to medical discovery. Pfizer, for example, has spent years working with IBMs Watson in the hunt for immuno-oncology drugs while global pharmaceutical firm UBC recently partnered with Microsoft to use its cloud computing and artificial intelligence to support drug discovery and development. Nvidia meanwhile has partnered with AstraZeneca, Schrdinger, and the University of Florida to improve research into AI aided drug discovery. Theres also a deep grab bag of other smaller firms looking to use AI to accelerate drug discovery as well.

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Anyone fearing Alphabets sudden overnight takeover of the medical industry can probably rest easy for now. Big Techs disruption of healthcare has been long predicted, but aside from some still developing projects at Amazon and Apple, that vision has yet to fully materialize.

In the companys blog post though, Hassabis described the venture as a type of watershed moment for artificial intelligence as a technology.

For years, the greatest advancements in AI have been documented through accolades in games like AlphaGo or incremental advancements. Now, with Isomorphic Labs, the company believes the technology has matured enough to start solvingreal-world problems.

We are at an exciting moment in history now where these techniques and methods are becoming powerful and sophisticated enough to be applied to real-world problems including scientific discovery itself, Hassabis wrote. To that, well see.

Original post:

Alphabet's Isomorphic Labs Says It Will Use AI to Discover New Drugs - Gizmodo