Category Archives: Life Extension

In summary

Black Californians could be due hundreds of thousands of dollars for housing discrimination, incarceration, and health disparities alone, consultants said at reparations task force hearings.

Editors Note: This story was updated to reflect Newsoms veto of a bill that would have extended the task force by a year.

Californias task force on reparations has begun putting dollar figures to potential compensation for the various forms of racial discrimination, generational pain and suffering Black Americans experienced in the state.

The rough estimates by economic consultants may mean that hundreds of thousands of dollars could be due to Black Californians who are descendants of enslaved ancestors. However some politicians on the task force indicated the reparations would be a difficult case to make.

Task force member and state Sen. Steven Bradford, a Democrat representing South Los Angeles, told an audience at public meetings in Los Angeles over the weekend it would be a major hurdle to pass any reparations plan in the Legislature.

For a state that didnt have slavery, dont think theyre going to be quick to vote on this final product of this task force, he said. We need to stay unified, we need to be together. We arent always going to agree, but we have to put forth a unified front.

Meeting in the California Science Center Friday and Saturday, the nine-member state-appointed group invited a team of economic experts to describe reparation ideas in financial terms. It was the groups first gathering since June, when the task force released a 500-page report on the states history of slavery and racism.

In March the task force voted to recommend to state leaders that if California makes some form of reparations available, they should go to Black Californians who can establish lineage to enslaved ancestors, rather than to those who are more recent immigrants or descendants of recent immigrants. The reparations could be in the form of cash, grants, tuition assistance, loans or other financial programs, the task force said.

At this meeting, the task force described several scenarios for which Black Californians could receive monetary compensation.

For instance, the task force considered redlining, a practice of denying mortgages to Black homeowners and of devaluing residential property in primarily minority neighborhoods.

The four economic consultants calculated that each Black Californian who lived in the state between 1933 and 1977 experienced a housing wealth gap of $223,239, or $5,074 for each year in the period. The experts said that number which is the difference between the average value of all homes in California and the value of Black-owned homes could be considered for reparations.

Such calculations are far from final, the consultants said, and there is no total estimate, though it is based on all 2.5 million Black California residents today, they said. The consultants said they havent calculated how many people would qualify for each type of reparation.

The consultants are William Darity, an economics professor, and A. Kirsten Mullen, a researcher, both at Duke University in Durham, N.C.; Kaycea Campbell, an economics professor at Pierce College in Los Angeles; and William Spriggs, chief economist for the AFL-CIO and a Howard University professor.

For another example of injustice, mass incarceration, the consultants calculated potential income lost by incarcerated Black Californians from 1971, the beginning of then-President Richard Nixons announced War on Drugs, until today. The economists pointed to many studies showing Black people were incarcerated far beyond their numbers in the general population.

Without discussing guilt or innocence, the economic consultants estimated that incarcerated Black residents were out $124,678, or $2,494 a year, for unpaid prison labor and years of lost income. The consultants mixed into the calculations the average salaries of California state workers and the $15,000 that some Japanese Americans received in reparations after their internment during World War II, from 1942 to 1945.

One of the most pervasive forms of racial injustices Black Californians faced is disproportionate health outcomes. The economic consultants noted that Black Californians have the shortest life expectancy of any racial group at 71 years, which is 7.6 years shorter than whites. Black Californians also faced higher death rates from cancer than other racial groups, and Black mothers were four times more likely to die in childbirth than any other group.

Although there is no actual price tag on a year of life, for statistical purposes some economists use a $10 million valuation for a persons entire life. This group of economic consultants calculated the dollar amount of the gap in life expectancy for Black Californians to be worth $127,226 per year.

The consultants dollar estimates are rough, Campbell said Friday.

Were not the Supreme Court. Were only commissioners, and we serve at the will of the deployment agent.

Task force Chairperson Kamilah Moore noted that the list of injustices and harms the task force is considering was much longer and has been narrowed down from a dozen last spring to five.

The economic consultants disclosed numerous pages of data analysis they have yet to complete, and they have a November deadline to request more racial and financial data from the states Department of Justice to make more accurate calculations.

After this process is over, we need to get you all a Nobel Peace Prize in economics, Moore joked.

The task force also has to narrow down how many people would be eligible for payments, the time frame for reparations, and decide how recipients would establish residency in California.

The discussion about reparations hasnt been just about money. In June, the task force issued a preliminary report that recommended a public, formal apology in addition to cash payments, free college tuition, and zero-interest housing loans.

Cash payments were the most popular form of reparations suggested during 17 community listening sessions and in 46 testimonies uploaded to a website hosted by UCLAs Bunche Center think tank, researchers told the task force Friday.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom considered but recently rejected a bill that would have extended the life of the task force. Introduced by Assemblymember and task force member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Assembly Bill 2296 would have let the task force deliberate a third year, to 2024, instead of ending in 2023.

Weve been waiting for 400 years. We do not need an extension.

The task force is required to submit its final recommendations to the Legislature in June 2023.

Jones-Sawyer, a Democrat who represents South Los Angeles, told CalMatters he hoped to keep the task force together another year after delivering its report, to leave room for additional hearings and to allow for input from members of the task force who are not legislators.

This is just so that we as a body can stay united, he said. Its really difficult to get things to the Legislature so were going to need everybody involved to make sure it gets done. The best experts are those people in the room right now. Theres nobody else on the planet right now that knows more about reparations than the nine members of the task force.

Some audience members, however, said they worried that the bill would delay reparations.

AB 2296 is a betrayal of Black Americans, said Tiffany Quarles, a member of the audience. Weve been waiting for 400 years. We do not need an extension.

Jones-Sawyer said that the bill would not slow reparations.

Newsom said he vetoed the extension bill at the request of Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who when she was in the Assembly authored the legislation that created the task force.

Another controversial provision in the bill would allow legislators to remove and replace task force members. Many audience members argued against that.

Chris Lodgson, with the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, which push to create the task force, told CalMatters the removal clause is dangerous.

It politicizes this, he said. If some of the politicians dont like the fact that were getting cash reparations, they could simply remove people on the task force who support them.

Jones-Sawyer says the removal clause would hold task members accountable for malfeasance or sexual or racial harassment.

Were not the Supreme Court, he said. Were only commissioners, and we serve at the will of the deployment agent.

State Senate, District 35 (San Pedro)

How he voted 2019-2020

Liberal Conservative

District 35 Demographics

Race/Ethnicity

Latino 55%

White 10%

Asian 12%

Black 19%

Multi-race 2%

Voter Registration

Dem 58%

GOP 13%

No party 24%

Other 6%

Campaign Contributions

Sen. Steven Bradford has taken at least $1.1 million from the Labor sector since he was elected to the legislature. That represents 21% of his total campaign contributions.

State Assembly, District 59 (Los Angeles)

How he voted 2019-2020

Liberal Conservative

District 59 Demographics

Race/Ethnicity

Latino 77%

White 3%

Asian 2%

Black 16%

Multi-race 1%

Voter Registration

Dem 65%

GOP 5%

No party 24%

Other 5%

Campaign Contributions

Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has taken at least $2 million from the Labor sector since he was elected to the legislature. That represents 30% of his total campaign contributions.

Newsom appointed five task force members. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon each picked two.

Lodgson said he believes Jones-Sawyer wants the composition of the task force to change so eligibility for reparations could be voted on again. Jones-Sawyer was among four task force members who voted against limiting reparations to those who could trace their ancestry to enslaved relatives.

Jones-Sawyer responded that he cannot predict what will happen to task force members.

Other public commenters urged the task force to keep its word and limit reparations to those who descended from an enslaved or freed ancestor.

In other discussions, Amos Brown, a civil rights leader and task force member, asked that every member of the Legislature receive a copy of the task forces first report, to ensure they cant ignore it. And the task force heard from experts on international models of reparations from Chile, South Africa, and Germany, and discussed the United Nations standards for remedying human rights violations.

The task force plans to meet again in Oakland on Dec. 14 and 15.

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Task Force: Blacks are owed hundreds of thousands - CalMatters

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

ProLynx, Inc., a biotechnology company with a novel platform technology for half-life extension of therapeutics, enabling novel and potentially best-in-class treatments to be developed, today announced that Richard King, MBA, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors. Additionally, Chris Ehrlich, MBA, has joined the company as a member of the Board of Directors.

As a seasoned executive in the industry with a track record of success in partnering, Richard is an excellent fit forProLynx,saidBill Rutter,a ProLynx Board member. The ProLynx Board looks forward to working with Richard and the executive team to realize the promise of our innovative technology for the betterment of patient and caregiver lives. Additionally, I am delighted to welcome Chris to the Board. His expertise in venture capital, business development and financing strengthen the capabilities of our Board.

Richard King is an accomplished executive with over 35 years of leadership experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He has raised over $1bn in private and public capital, completed multiple business transactions, including the sale of Tercica, Inc., the partnership of AcelRx and Grunenthal regarding a novel pain management system, and the strategic affiliation of CALIBR with the Scripps Research Institute.

I am delighted to join ProLynx at this time, saidRichard King. The ProLynx technology is incredibly unique, enabling half-life extension of proteins, peptides and small molecules. This advancement can make existing medications more effective, better tolerated and require less frequent administration. The ProLynx technology can also be applied to molecules in development that might otherwise never be advanced due to efficacy or toxicity issues, allowing these product candidates to move forward and possibly become life-altering treatments for patients.

Chris Ehrlich began his career with consulting firm LEK before becoming a business development executive in the pharmaceutical industry. Subsequently he was Managing Director at venture capital firm InterWest, serving on multiple company Boards. He joined Locust Walk, a life sciences transaction firm, where, as Global Head of Biotechnology and Head of Strategic Transactions, he sourced and lead multiple transactions for emerging biopharmaceutical companies.

ProLynx is in a great position with its lead development program in clinical trials to treat various cancers, as well as multiple other programs having demonstrated proof of concept across a variety of disease areas, said Chris Ehrlich. I am delighted to join the Board to help bring this novel half-life extension technology forward to advance treatment options for patients in need.

AboutProLynx

ProLynx is a biotechnology company located in San Francisco, CA, developing proprietary drug delivery technologies for half-life extension of therapeutics. The ProLynx pipeline centers on a long-acting oncology drug, PLX038, in Phase 2 clinical trials, a long-acting interleukin 15, PLX015, for immuno-oncology and a very long-acting C-type natriuretic peptide, PLX138, for achondroplasia, together with several other early-stage programs.

Contact

Richard KingRichard@prolynxinc.com

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ProLynx appoints Richard King as Chief Executive Officer and Chris Ehrlich as Board Director - GlobeNewswire

The Truth Social network logo is seen on a smartphone in front of a display of former U.S. President Donald Trump in this picture illustration taken February 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

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NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Individual investors like Tony Alvarado have been a blessing and a curse for Donald Trump's social media company.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) - which operates the Truth Social app co-founded by the former U.S. president after he was banned from Twitter - reached a valuation of as much as $15 billion in October 2021 thanks to Alvarado and hundreds of thousands of other investors.

Those investors scrambled to buy shares in Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC.O), the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that signed a deal in October to take TMTG public. Digital World's shares rallied as much as 1,650% that month, making it the most valuable SPAC of all time.

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A year later, Digital World shares have shed most of the gains as regulatory and potentially criminal investigations weigh on the prospects of its deal with TMTG, now valued at just over $2 billion. read more

"To be perfectly honest, I treat it like a casino," said Alvarado, a 44-year-old call center customer service manager from Orange County, California.

Individual investors, which comprise about 90% of Digital World's shareholder base, have suddenly become an obstacle to the deal with TMTG being completed.

Digital World has not been able to get enough of them to vote for an extension of its life by 12 months, which it says it needs as it waits for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to complete a review of the transaction.

The challenge has been to get shareholders to cast their votes rather than convincing them to vote in favor. Digital World's shares, which closed at $22.40 on Monday, will each return $10.30 to shareholders if the SPAC liquidates, so a 'no' vote would go against their financial interests.

But while individual investors are adept at using apps like Robinhood to buy shares, many are not as accustomed to voting their shares.

Alvarado said he had not heard about the shareholder vote before a Sept. 6 deadline. He added he had become disillusioned with the stock after he was left with only $200 of his original $872 investment. "Once you've already lost 77% of your investment, it's easy to lose interest," Alvarado said.

Digital World and TMTG representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

The deal's woes have rattled Trump's supporters who bought into Digital World because of him. Many have said in social media posts they will stick with the stock.

"I've lost $154,000 this year ... and I'm down 85% on my remaining life savings. I'm still not giving up but it hurts really, really, badly," one Reddit user describing themselves as an "honorable disabled veteran" posted on the platform.

Despite the missed deadline, the vote on the extension of Digital World is still on.

When the SPAC realized on Sept. 6 it did not have enough votes to reach the required 65% threshold of shareholders backing the extension, it pushed the deadline to Sept. 8.

When it still fell short, Digital World delayed the vote again, first until later that day and then to Oct. 10. It could extend the vote further if chooses.

Digital World can tap into the $293 million in its trust to pay for its campaign to reach shareholders, but SPAC managers must reimburse it if the merger with TMTG does not happen - a significant risk given the probes into the deal.

The SPAC has already spent $12 million for the deal so far, according to a regulatory filing.

The SPAC managers handed over $2.85 million to Digital World's trust this month - in a move that allowed them to unilaterally extend the SPAC's life, without shareholder backing, to Dec. 8. They borrowed that money, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.

A $1 billion private placement that Digital World raised for the TMTG deal last December allows investors who participated to terminate their commitment on Tuesday. It is unclear how many investors will do so and whether Digital World will seek new investors to replace them.

The private placement constituted most of the $1.3 billion cash infusion that TMTG was set to receive as part of the deal.

When the vote failed on Sept. 6, Digital World's proxy solicitor, Saratoga Proxy Consulting, pushed a call center of 100 people plus 40 of its employees into overdrive to contact shareholders and help them vote, the sources said.

Between Sept. 6-8, the team tracked down investors, phoned and emailed them and assisted with voting, fueled by coffee, pizza and donuts, one of the sources added. They got about 40% of Digital World shareholders to vote in favor of the extension, sources told Reuters at the time. read more

Saratoga sent Digital World Chief Executive Patrick Orlando an invoice for $200,000 last week for its services and informed him that getting to the required threshold would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more, a person familiar with the matter said. Orlando told Saratoga he could not afford to pay the invoice and any future bill, the source added.

Saratoga and Orlando declined to comment.

Digital World disclosed last Friday it hired a new proxy solicitor, Alliance Advisors LLC, which it agreed to pay a fee of $10,000 plus additional expenses on a pre-approved basis.

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Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss, Echo Wang and Krystal Hu in New York; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Himani Sarkar

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Analysis: Behind Trump's media deal, a vote where only yes will do - Reuters

DetailsCategory: AntibodiesPublished on Tuesday, 20 September 2022 09:35Hits: 522

Evusheld significantly reduced risk of severe COVID-19 or death in TACKLE Phase III treatment trial

LONDON, UK I September 20, 2022 I AstraZeneca's Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab, formerly AZD7442), a long-acting antibody combination, has been approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adults and adolescents (aged 12years and older weighing at least 40kg) with COVID19 who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of progressing to severe COVID19.

The approval by the European Commission was based on results from the TACKLE Phase III COVID-19 treatment trial which showed one intramuscular (IM) dose of Evusheld provided clinically and statistically significant protection against progression to severe COVID-19 or death from any cause compared to placebo. Evusheld treatment earlier in the disease course led to more favourable outcomes. TACKLE was conducted in non-hospitalised adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were symptomatic for seven days or less. 90% of trial participants were at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19 due to co-morbidities or age. Evusheld was generally well tolerated in the trial.1

Michel Goldman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Institute for Interdisciplinary Innovation in Healthcare, Universit Libre de Bruxelles, and former Executive Director of the European Innovative Medicines Initiative, said: Many people, including those who are immunocompromised, older adults and those with underlying health conditions, are at high risk of severe disease, hospitalisation and death if they become infected. Evusheld, delivered in a convenient intramuscular formulation, is now a much-needed new COVID-19 treatment option for these vulnerable populations.

Iskra Reic, Executive Vice President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca, said: COVID-19 remains an ongoing health concern for millions of Europeans and around the world, especially for those who may not be well-protected against the virus from vaccination. With this approval, Evusheld is now the only long-acting antibody combination available for both prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Europe, allowing us to protect even more people from this devastating disease.

The recommended dose of Evusheld for treatment in Europe is 300mg of tixagevimab and 300mg of cilgavimab, administered as two separate, sequential IM injections.

Evusheld has been shown to retain in vitro neutralisation of Omicron BA.5, which is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Europe.2 Real-world evidence generated to date has demonstrated significantly lower rates of symptomatic COVID-19 and/or hospitalisation/death for immunocompromised patients receiving Evusheld compared to control arms. This includes real-world evidence collected while Omicron BA.5, BA.4, BA.2, BA.1 and BA.1.1 were circulating.3-6

Evusheld was granted marketing authorisation in the EU for pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in a broad population of adults and adolescents earlier this year and is already available in a majority of countries in Europe.

Notes

TACKLETACKLE is a Phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a single 600mg IM dose ofEvusheld(300mg each of cilgavimab and tixagevimab)compared to placebo for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The trial was conducted in 95 sites in the US, Latin America, Europe and Japan. 903 participants were randomised (1:1) to receive eitherEvusheld(n = 452) or saline placebo (n = 451), administered in two separate, sequential IM injections.

Participants were adults 18 years-old and over who had mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and were symptomatic for seven days or less. Participants had a documented laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, as determined by a molecular test (antigen or nucleic acid) from any respiratory tract specimen (e.g. oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, or nasal swab or saliva) collected no more than three days prior to day 1. Participants were not vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of screening.

Detailed results from TACKLE, published inThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine, showedEvusheld significantly reduced the relative risk of progressing to severe COVID-19 or death (from any cause) by 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15, 71; p=0.010) through day 29 compared to placebo in non-hospitalised patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were symptomatic for seven days or less, the trials primary endpoint. In pre-specified analyses of participants who received treatment within three days of symptom onset, Evusheld reduced the risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death (from any cause) by 88% compared to placebo (95% CI 9, 98), and the risk reduction was 67% (95% CI 31, 84) compared with placebo when participants received Evusheld within five days of symptom onset.1

Evusheld was generally well tolerated in the trial. Adverse events (AEs) occurred more frequently in the placebo group (163/451; 36%) than the Evusheld group (132/452; 29%). The most common AE was COVID-19 pneumonia, occurring in 49 participants (11%) in the placebo group and 26 participants (6%) in the Evusheld group. Serious AEs occurred in 54 participants (12%) in the placebo group and 33 participants (7%) in the Evusheld group. There were six COVID-19-reported deaths in the placebo group and three in the Evusheld group.1

EvusheldEvusheld, formerly known as AZD7442, is a combination of two long-acting antibodies - tixagevimab (AZD8895) and cilgavimab (AZD1061) - derived from B-cells donated by convalescent patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection. 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 protein7and were optimised by AstraZeneca with half-life extension and reduction of Fc effector function and complement C1q binding.8The half-life extension more than triples the durability of its action compared to conventional antibodies;9-11data from the PROVENT Phase III trial show protection lasting six months.12The reduced Fc effector function aims to minimise the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease - a phenomenon in which virus-specific antibodies promote, rather than inhibit, infection and/or disease.13

Evusheld is authorised for use for pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in the US (emergency use), EU, Japan and many other countries. Evusheld is approved for treatment of those with risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in Japan. Regulatory submissions are progressing for both prevention and treatment indications around the world.

Evusheldis being developed with support from the US government, including federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in partnership with the Department of Defense; Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, under Contract No. W911QY-21-9-0001.

Under the terms of the licensing agreement with Vanderbilt, AstraZeneca will pay single-digit royalties on future net sales.

AstraZenecaAstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visitastrazeneca.comand follow the Company on Twitter@AstraZeneca.

References

1. Montgomery H, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Intramuscular Administration of AZD7442 (Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab) for Early Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19: The TACKLE Phase 3 Randomised Controlled Trial.Lancet Respir Med. Published online June 7, 2022. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00180-1

2. US Food and Drug Administration. Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Emergency Use Authorization for Evusheld(Tixagevimab Co-Packaged with Cilgavimab). Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/154701/download [Last accessed: September 2022]

3. Jurdi A, et al. Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Is Associated with Lower Breakthrough Infection Risk in Vaccinated Solid Organ Transplant Recipients during the Omicron Wave. American Journal of Transplantation. Published online June 21, 2022. doi:10.1111/AJT.17128

4. Kertes J, et al. Association between AZD7442 (Tixagevimab-Cilgavimab) Administration and SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Hospitalization and Mortality. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Published online July 29, 2022. doi:10.1093/CID/CIAC625

5. Young-Xu Y, et al. Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab for Prevention of COVID-19 during the Omicron Surge: Retrospective Analysis of National VA Electronic Data. medRxiv. Published online May 29, 2022:2022.05.28.22275716. doi:10.1101/2022.05.28.22275716

6. AstraZeneca Data on File.

7. Dong J, et al. Genetic and Structural Basis for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Neutralization by a Two-Antibody Cocktail. Nat Microbiol. 2021;6(10):1233-1244

8. Loo YM, et al. AZD7442 Demonstrates Prophylactic and Therapeutic Efficacy in Non-Human Primates and Extended Half-Life in Humans.Sci Transl Med. 2022;14(635):eabl8124

9. Robbie GJ, et al. A Novel Investigational Fc-Modified Humanized Monoclonal Antibody, Motavizumab-YTE, Has an Extended Half-Life in Healthy Adults. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2013;57(12):6147-6153

10. 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. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017;61(3)

11. 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. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018;37(9):886-892

12. Levin MJ, et al. Intramuscular AZD7442 (TixagevimabCilgavimab) for Prevention of Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2022;386(23):2188-2200

13. van Erp, EA et al. Fc-Mediated Antibody Effector Functions During Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Disease. Front Immunol. 2019;10(MAR)

SOURCE: AstraZeneca

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Evusheld long-acting antibody combination approved in the EU for the treatment of COVID-19 | Antibodies | News Channels - PipelineReview.com

A HAMPSHIRE wide charity is encouragingbusinesses to make an envirnomental difference bykeeping goods in use for longer.

Action Hampshire has partnered up with the Recycled Assets Company (TRACOuk) to support the companys new sustainable future fund (SFF).

The fund is designed to support independent businesses who can limit waste within business by contributing to a circular economy, which involves reusing, recycling and repairing products to keep using for as long as possible.

The Portsmouth-based environmental service chose Action Hampshire as their partner to help manage and support the fund. TRACOuk will be donating 25 per cent of its annual profit to the sustainability fund.

The funding is aimed at artisans such as furniture makers and local craftspeople who can re-use and repurpose furnishings and products and contribute to the carbon reducing economy. SSF carries the strapline of saving the earth- one piece of furniture at a time, encouraging businesses to find new homes for unwanted furniture, office equipment and other goods.

READ MORE:Increase in real living wage employers in Winchester matching the cost-of-living

Nikki Prentice-Jones, head of enterprise and head of the school for social entrepreneurs at Action Hampshire, said: Action Hampshire is delighted to be working in partnership with TRACOuk, a Portsmouth-based furniture and equipment clearance and storage company, to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.Jason Bentley, managing director of TRACOuk is a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, Hampshire which Action Hampshire has been running for the past 12 years.

The Sustainable Future Fund has been setup to support the circular economy movement. Keeping goods in use for longer or product life extension is one of 5 circular business models and is a vital element in preventing precious raw material from being needlessly extracted and plundered.

The Hampshire charity, which aims to support local communities, is now calling out to businesses to join the sustainable cause. Nikki continued: Applications are invited which help to solve the serious problem of waste that is partly killing the planet. It means we want any solution to be realistic and sustainable so we can start to fight back and make a difference to climate change. We believe the best way to do that is wrap your solution into a business which generates surplus resource. The greater the surplus, the greater the impact on people and planet.

We are keen to hear from enterprises who feel they meet the funding criteria. Likewise, we are also keen to hear from businesses who would like to donate to the fund to make an even bigger difference to the amount of funding available to make an even greater impact on solving the issue of waste.

The new business venture seeks to fulfil four outcomes:

Since the SSF began, grants have been awarded to a nursery school in Portsmouth to develop a community garden, upcycling waste makeup into unique, zero-waste watercolour paints in Portsmouth and an EcoSwap in Bognor Regis.

Click through the gallery at the top of the page to see what projects the fund has supported.

SEE ALSO:Hampshire hosts hailed as fewer Homes for Ukraine scheme agreements come to an end than national figures suggest

The next round of applications for the SSF will open in early 2023, awarding grants up to 5000 from a 20,000 total. To be eligible, companies must meet a series of criteria such as being Hampshire or West Sussex based, a turnover of less than 300,000 a year, has a business bank account and company website and is an ethical and sustainable business.

For more information on applying contact Kevin Sawers atKevin.Sawers@actionhampshire.org, or call 01962 857358.

For more go to recycledassets.co.uk/sff/.

Originally posted here:

Action Hampshire get behind Sustainable Future Fund to reduce waste in business - Hampshire Chronicle

Joshua Stamper can cite the date and location when he felt in his heart that one day, he was going to own a farm in northern Minnesota with his wife, Alison.

July 3, 2006, is the exact day I fell in love with Lake Superior, he recalls. He and Alison, avid outdoor enthusiasts, were visiting the Boundary Waters a first for Joshua. He was so moved by the greater North Shore experience that the couple started planning to one day own land up north and to operate a small livestock farm. Just over a decade later, they bought their dream farm and moved there with their sons, Jasper and Griffin.

We [looked at a map and] drew a square around the area where we wanted to buy a farm, Alison adds. We are in that square today.

Joshua had a serendipitous encounter about six years ago with a northern Minnesota farm owner, whom he met while mountain bike riding in Utah. They kept in contact. More than a year ago, the Stampers posted on social media about looking at property south of Duluth. The farmer saw that and contacted Joshua, asking if they wanted to buy his farm.

In November 2021, the Stampers bought YKer Acres, a pasture-based livestock farm established by former owners Matt and Sara Weik. YKer (pronounced Why-ker) Acres has been well-known as a producer of high-quality heritage pork and beef among restaurant owners and other customers in Duluth and the Twin Cities.

We are excited to continue to provide the best pork and beef from animals that spend their lives walking on the soil of the earth as God intended, Joshua says.

Visitors to the rolling 160-acre farm west of Wrenshall, see firsthand those back-to-basics livestock husbandry practices. The Stampers raise around 400 pigs a year, a mix of three pork heritage breeds English Large Black, Tamworth, and Hampshires with some Mangalitsa influence. Each breed is known for special characteristics. The sows farrow well in colder weather, thanks to a hairy coat from the Mangalitsa influence. The Large Black is extremely docile and has an average litter of 11 piglets. And the Tamworth genetics bring forward commendable depth of side. The Hampshires are stockier and faster-growing, with litters averaging seven piglets.

Sows farrow twice a year, in late spring and in the fall, in large pens inside a three-sided barn. They stay there for two weeks and then are moved outside with their piglets and rotated as cohort among paddocks, roughly 3 acres and smaller in size. The pigs need that sunshine, fresh air and room to root, Stamper says. They are fed a balanced ration and a steady stream of cull produce from local organic farms and food banks. Piglets are weaned in about 30 days.

In winter, larger pigs head for the barn, and smaller pigs reside outside in poly domes. Deep bedding in all housing becomes a low-grade compost pile, heating up and keeping pigs warm.

Its fun to see them inside the poly domes, where it can get 65 degrees [F] in winter, Joshua says. The pigs are eating a balanced ration, eating more and getting fatter. They are our tundra seals.

Their version of animal husbandry follows traditional practices outlined in quality assurance programs with the daily added protocol of animal observation they call cozy patrol. Joshua coined the term to describe a lesson learned from a college animal science professor who talked about observing dis-ease an animal not at ease. That stuck with him.

After meeting their basic needs with water, food and environment, we cruise the farm twice a day, looking at our animals, he says. Otherwise, we let them do them. Full-time herdsman Sam Hatch and part-time farmhand Matt Rengo help provide the animal care required on the farm.

The Stampers also raise 60 head of heritage Dexter cattle on a 120-acre pasture. Most cattle are sold as shares, but they also sell primal cuts and ground beef to butchers and restaurants.

Two separate businesses operate under the YKer name. The Stampers own and operate the farm. Brian Merkel, a butcher, buys the farms meat and sells it through the YKer Meat Co. Merkel has a strong background in whole-animal butchery, and drying and curing meat. Also at the meat company is Hans Bjorkland, a classically trained chef, who creates soups and other prepared products based on lesser-used parts of the animal. All meat sold at YKer is clean-label no preservatives are used.

Product is marketed year-round through roughly 40 wholesale accounts up the North Shore and in the Twin Cities. The Stampers rely on Frank Lundeen to handle sales and distribution. YKer also sells curated subscription boxes of pork and beef, as well as custom shares to customers through its website.

Its a staggering amount of work that is only possible with the team we have, Joshua says. Every week during warm weather and every other week during the winter, the farm crew is shipping livestock to slaughter. Still, they are looking ahead; and if they grow the business, they may add a mill to manufacture their own livestock feed.

Maybe we could partner with a farmer for non-GMO corn and soybeans, Joshua adds.

A major factor in buying the farm was for their family, Alison says. Both wanted their children to have the experience of growing up on the farm. A city gal from Tennessee, Alison prefers an active outdoor lifestyle and has hiked the Appalachian Trail. Joshua, a North Carolina native, grew up on a small livestock farm and commercial apiary and earned his bachelors degree in agriculture and his masters degree in agronomy. He has worked for a large seed company and with the University of Minnesota Extension as an irrigation specialist. Currently, he is the pesticide and fertilizer division manager with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Our products are definitely a specialty that you want to slow down and savor, Joshua says. I believe you can taste the difference with an animal that is not stressed and is allowed to meet physical maturity. Thats the basics of cozy patrol food, water, shelter and you want to see them moving. If they are not moving and expressing natural behaviors, they are not going to be the big, fine things that our customers know and love. We want our animals to live their best life.

For more information on the farm and its products, visit ykeracres.com.

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Living the dream - Farm Progress

VANCOUVER, BCandTORONTO, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle") and Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A) (TSX: TECK.B) (NYSE: TECK) ("Teck") announced today that Agnico Eagle has agreed to subscribe for a 50% interest in Minas de San Nicols, S.A.P.I. de C.V. ("MSN"), a wholly-owned Teck subsidiary which owns the San Nicols copper-zinc development project located in Zacatecas, Mexico (the "Transaction"). As a result of the Transaction, Teck and Agnico Eagle will become 50/50 joint venture partners at San Nicols.

"San Nicols is a high-quality project, located in a leading mining jurisdiction, with high grades, extremely competitive capital intensity, and first quartile costs," said Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck. "The opportunity to add the operating and development experience of Agnico Eagle should generate substantial benefits for the project including for all stakeholders throughout the project life cycle."

"This is a unique opportunity to create a long-term partnership between two high quality mining companies working together to de-risk and optimize a world class VMS deposit in a premier mining jurisdiction," added Ammar Al-Joundi, President and CEO of Agnico Eagle. "Agnico Eagle's project development, permitting and construction experience in Mexico, combined with Teck's base metals expertise, operating excellence and marketing leadership, are complementary skillsets and will contribute to the timely and successful development and operation of San Nicols."

Transaction Highlights

San Nicols Project Highlights

San Nicols Study Status

A detailed plan to complete a feasibility study, permitting, and community engagement has been developed, with initial work underway since January 2022. Further, an environmental and social baseline survey, including in-depth archaeological surveys and clearances, was carried out by Teck from 2018 to 2021. Well-developed community engagement and investment programs have resulted in strong support for development from stakeholders near the project and more broadly in Zacatecas.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed early in 2024 with project sanction thereafter subject to receipt of permits.

About the Transaction

Agnico Eagle will subscribe for US$580 million in MSN shares, through a wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary of Agnico Eagle, giving Agnico Eagle a 50% interest in MSN. The subscription proceeds received from Agnico Eagle will be used by MSN to fund the first US$580million of post-closing costs with subsequent funding to be contributed according to each partner's ownership percentage. Agnico Eagle's contributions will be made as study and development costs are incurred there is no up-front payment from Agnico Eagle. The US$580million share subscription implies a notional US$290million acquisition cost to Agnico Eagle for 50% of the San Nicols project plus the contribution by Agnico Eagle of 50% of the first US$580million of project costs for its own account.

Funding requirements beyond this initial subscription amount will be funded by Teck and Agnico Eagle in proportion to their shareholdings in MSN. The shareholders' agreement will include provisions typical in a transaction of this nature, as well as remedies for material breach that include accelerated dilution and forced sale of a defaulting shareholder's ownership interest. For governance purposes, Agnico Eagle will be deemed a 50% shareholder of MSN from closing, regardless of the number of shares that have been issued to Agnico Eagle.

Closing of the Transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent, including receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the first half of 2023.

Additional Information on the San Nicols Project

For further details on the San Nicols project, please refer to the Supplemental Information slides in the Investors section of Teck's website (https://www.teck.com/investors/events-&-presentations/presentations-webcasts/supplemental-information-for-investors).

About Teck

As one of Canada's leading mining companies, Teck is committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal, as well as investments in energy assets. Copper, zinc, and high-quality steelmaking coal are required for the transition to a low-carbon world. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Teck's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck atwww.teck.comor follow@TeckResources.

About Agnico Eagle

Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland, and Mexico. It has a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects in these countries as well as in the United States and Colombia. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. The Company was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario). Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by statements that certain actions, events or results "could", "may", "might", "should", "will" or "would" be taken, occur or achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the expectation that the Transaction will close and the timing of closing; the expectation that the San Nicols project will be developed into production; the expected timing of first production; the estimated mine life; the expectation that there is meaningful mine life extension and regional exploration potential; the expected ownership interests of Teck and Agnico Eagle in the joint venture at any time; the expected production over the first five years of operation; all San Nicols project economics included in this news release, including head grades, average C1 operating costs, development capital cost estimate, payback period and IRR; the expectations as to results of the feasibility study, including development capital cost estimate, payback period and IRR; the statement that the project has been de-risked; and timing of project sanction decision.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Teck, Agnico Eagle or the joint venture to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to vary include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic conditions or commodity prices, unanticipated permitting, development or construction issues including delays in receiving permits or other regulatory approvals, or withdrawal or suspension of permits, unanticipated geotechnical conditions or other factors affecting construction plans and budgets including supplier, transportation, logistics or labour issues, adverse weather or natural disaster, community unrest, access issues, failure of plant and equipment, disruption of financial markets, the accuracy of our mineral estimates (including with respect to size, grade and recoverability) and the geological, operations and price assumptions on which these are based, other circumstances interfering with the closing of the Transaction, including an inability to satisfy the conditions to closing, including receipt of any regulatory approvals and failure by Teck or Agnico Eagle to fund as required by the agreements. Economic projections for the San Nicols project are presented on a 100% basis and, except as otherwise noted, assume US$3.50/lbcopper, US$1.15/lbzinc, US$1,550/oz gold, and US$20/oz silver.

Teck and Agnico Eagle caution you that the foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or implied by these forward-looking statements. Certain of these risks are described in more detail in the Annual Information Form of Teck and/or Agnico Eagle and in their respective subsequent quarterly report filings with Canadian securities administrators and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither Teck nor Agnico Eagle assumes the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date of this news release or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as maybe required under applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

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Teck and Agnico Eagle Announce Agreement on the San Nicols Copper-Zinc Project located in Zacatecas, Mexico - PR Newswire

TORONTO Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (19,385.88, down 174.28 points.)

Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX:BTE). Energy. Unchanged at $6.56 on 26.8 million shares.

New Gold Inc. (TSX:NGD). Mining. Up four cents, or 3.54 per cent, to $1.17 on 25.3 million shares.

GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX:GGD). Mining. Up 24 cents, or 16.90 per cent, to $1.66 on 20.9 million shares.

Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Down 44 cents, or 1.07 per cent, to $40.79 on 18.8 million shares.

Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Down 34 cents, or 1.36 per cent, to $24.58 on 18.6 million shares.

Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B). Telecommunications. Up 97 cents, or 1.75 per cent, to $56.47 on 18.1 million shares.

Companies in the news:

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX:AEM). Up $1.01, or 1.86 per cent, to $55.33. Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TECK.B). Down 26 cents, or 0.61 per cent, to $42.57. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. has signed a deal with Teck Resources Ltd. to take a 50 per cent stake in a copper-zinc project in Mexico for US$580 million. Under the agreement, Agnico Eagle will become a joint venture partner with Teck in Minas de San Nicols, S.A.P.I. de C.V., which owns the San Nicols development project in Zacatecas, Mexico. Teck chief executive Don Lindsay says the opportunity to add the operating and development experience of Agnico Eagle should generate substantial benefits for the project. The companies estimate development capital costs for the project could be in the range of US$1 billion to US$1.1 billion, based on current estimates. First production expected in 2026, with an estimated mine life of 15 years and a potential for mine life extension. It is expected to produce 63,000 tonnes per year of copper and 147,000 tonnes per year of zinc in concentrate over its first five years of production.

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TSX:TRQ). Down 94 cents, or 2.29 per cent, to $40.08. Pentwater Capital Management LP says it has increased its stake in Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. to 13.77 per cent. The investment manager says it believes Rio Tintos deal to take Turquoise Hill private undervalues the company and does not support the plan. Turquoise Hill announced a deal earlier this month that would see Rio Tinto, which already owns a 51 per cent stake in the company, acquire the rest of the miner for $43 per share in cash. The Turquoise Hill board has unanimously recommended that the companys minority shareholders vote in favour of the deal. However, the agreement requires approval by a two-thirds majority vote by Turquoise Hill shareholders, including Rio Tinto, and the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast by the companys minority shareholders. Turquoise Hill owns a 66 per cent stake in the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia. Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, a Mongolian state-owned entity, holds the remaining 34 per cent interest.

Trevali Mining Corp. (TSX:TV). TSX has suspended trading of the stock. Trevali Mining Corp. says its president and chief executive, as well as its chief operating officer, have both resigned. The Vancouver-based miner says Ricus Grimbeek, who has served as CEO since 2019, will step away from the company. It says chief operating officer Derek du Preez will also depart effective Oct. 14. Trevali also says the Supreme Court of British Columbia has approved the companys application for a sales and investment solicitation process for its wholly owned Caribou Mine in New Brunswick, as well as its 90 per cent interest in the Rosh Pinah Mine in Namibia. Trevali filed for creditor protection under the CCAA (Companies Creditor Protection Act) in August. As a result, the Toronto Stock Exchange has suspended trading of Trevalis shares. The companys common shares will be delisted at the close of the market on Oct. 3. Earlier this week, Trevali confirmed that two of its executives have been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Burkina Faso in the wake of a flooding disaster at the companys Perkoa Mine that killed eight workers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept.16, 2022

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Most actively traded companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange - Winnipeg Free Press

GettyJulian Love is making the jump to a starting role this season.

The New York Giants have plenty to be excited about with their 2-0 record and its largely due to their defensive performances. After two weeks of the 2022 season, the Giants have given up just 36 points, which is tied for 11th in the league.

New York has missed injured starting edge defenders Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari for the first two games. Starting cornerback Aaron Robinson was out Week 2 due to undergoing an appendectomy and defensive tackle Leonard Williams left in the third quarter and didnt return Sunday with a knee injury.

Don Wink Martindales defense forced Baker Mayfield to complete 14 of 29 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. While Christian McCaffrey did run for 102 yards, 49 of it came on one carry.

All in all, the Giants defense did their job in covering Carolinas wideouts and getting pressure on Mayfield.

With that being said, theres one under-the-radar player on the Giants defense that is finally getting his recognition.

2019 fourth-round Giants safety Julian Love was given the starting role entering the 2022 season. Before Week 1, he appeared in 48 career games (16 starts) and posted an interception in each of the past three seasons.

The Notre Dame product had a team-high eight tackles in Week 2 and even recorded a sack on Mayfield, which forced a punt with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Panthers never received the ball back.

On Sunday, Love played all 58 defensive snaps and 19 more on special teams.

After seeing Loves Week 2 performance, Giants insider tweeted, I think its safe to say that everybody wants Julian Love to receive a second contract in blue #Giants.

Love was named a team captain before the season, despite not being a full-time starter in the past. Its evident that teammates respect the fourth-year pro, since he received enough player votes from both the defensive side of the ball and from special teams.

Im not going to lie; it means an awful lot to me, Love said in August, via Sports Illustrated. Ive never been a captain in my entire life, and to do it for the Giants of all places at the highest level, its hard not to get emotional about it.

Of course, theres still time for New York to decide on Loves future. Hell be a free agent after the 2023 season.

But the Giants would love to have Love opposite starting safety Xavier McKinney for the foreseeable future.

It hasnt been easy for the 2019 third-round pick edge rusher Oshane Ximines, but the hard work looks like its paying off.

He had one of the teams two sacks in Week 2 and recorded a pass breakup. The outside linebacker also batted a pass down during the season-opening win vs the Titans. His 80.5 overall grade from Pro Football is also the highest on the Giants defense for the first two games.

Ximines rookie campaign had decent results with 4.5 sacks and one pass breakup. But his second season was lost due to season-ending shoulder surgery. He only played 10 games in 2021 and didnt post a sack while breaking up three passes. It didnt look encouraging when the Giants drafted Thibodeaux in the 2022 draft and added Jihad Ward in free agency.

But Ximines has stepped up to the plate with the injuries to Thibodeaux and Ojulari.

Ive said this from the beginning. Again, I dont know where he was last year. I just know where he is this year, Coach Daboll said about Ximines after the game, via Giants.com. His minds on right. Hes been a big part of our football team. Hes got energy. I think he has talent. I think Winks getting talent out of him. Hes a confident player.

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Giants Urged to Give Extension to 24-Year-Old Defender - Heavy.com

Russias cutting-edge war machine, the MiG-31, capable of firing deadly hypersonic missiles, demonstrated its firing capabilities in the upper reaches of the atmosphere.

Russian Su-35 Fighter Demolished Ukrainian Air Defense Radar By Firing Anti-Radiation Missile, Moscow Says

Officials in the Russian Navys Baltic Fleet recently announced that Russian MiG-31 fighter jets practiced missile attacks during maneuvers in the stratosphere on September 13, Russian media Pravda reported. The Baltic fleet is headquartered at Kaliningrad.

The pilots of MiG-31 aircraft practiced flight maneuvers in the stratosphere, trained their skills to escape attacks from mock enemy aircraft and relocate to operational airfields of the region, said the statement from the Baltic Fleet.

In February, EurAsian Times reported that Russia had reportedly stationed a MiG-31K Foxhound fighter jet armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic land-attack missile in Kaliningrad along the Baltic Coast. The deployment was made days before the Russian troops launched their so-called special military operations.

Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on August 18 the deployment of three MiG-31 fighters armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region as part of additional strategic deterrence measures.

According to reports, the three aircraft were moved to the Kaliningrad area for the exercises, where they simulated strikes on mock-up enemy command centers as part of training flights. The flights of the MiG-31 aircraft took place under the cover of Su-27 fighters.

It is pertinent to note that the Baltic region in Eastern Europe has seen hyper-vigilance from Moscow and the West in the aftermath of the invasion. When the Russian invasion began, the US sent its fighter jets to the Baltic for NATOs air policing missions.

MiG-31s are not frequently stationed at Russias Kaliningrad location. Some of the 50 aircraft stationed at the facility are older Su-27 and Su-24 fighters, with some newer Su-30SM and Su-35S jets on the way. According to reports, Iskander missiles are also housed in the enclave.

Besides the MiG-31 fighter jet, Russian reports indicated that the crews of the Eleron and Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Baltic Fleet practiced the tactics to overcome the air defense zone of a mock enemy at the Kaliningrad enclave.

While the MiG-31 drills are significant as they come during a surprising counter-offensive by Ukraine, it is not the first time this mighty warplane conducted exercises in the stratosphere. The MiG-31 had practiced in the stratosphere as early as 2017.

Further, in August 2019, the crews of upgraded MiG-31BM fighter jets held their first-ever dogfight in the stratosphere at an altitude of over 20 kilometers, as previously reported by TASS.

The two-seat MiG-31, known as the Foxhound under its NATO designation, is Russias primary fighter-interceptor aircraft. It has two D-30F6 engines, which help the aircraft have a base range of 1900 miles and a top speed of Mach 3 at high altitudes.

The MiG-31 is equipped with the SBI-16 Zaslon fixed phased array antenna radar, one of the most advanced in the world, to support its long-range and high-altitude air defense duty. The MiG-31 can engage air targets with various long and short-range missile combinations in addition to its Gsh-6-23 23mm gun.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced its plans to fund a MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor modernization and life extension program in July 2020. The MiG-31 can fly at high speeds and low altitudes, thanks to its sleek and aerodynamic body. The aircraft is built to track several targets at high altitudes simultaneously.

Despite Russias claims that it is developing the MiG-41 to replace the MiG-31, there is little evidence that the plane will be operational soon. Therefore, Russia has decided to develop several updated MiG-31 variants that will enable the Foxhound to continue service for many years. The MiG-31BM is the most notable of these.

The MiG-31BM is one of the MiG-31s most potent variants. It is a multipurpose, fast, long-range fighter with the power to destroy air and ground targets.

The MiG-31BM includes upgraded avionics, hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls, liquid-crystal color multifunction displays (MFDs), a robust onboard computer system, digital data linkages, and phased array radar. It has the capability of intercepting 24 targets at once.

The MiG-31BM was initially intended to carry Kinzhal hypersonic missile, but MiG-31K was later selected as the carrier, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. MiG-31Ks were used to strike targets early in Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine with Kinzhals. Only 10 to 20 MiG-31Ks have beenupgradedto fire Kinzhals.

These Russian interceptor fighters have also intercepted NATO spy planes and fighter jets and will potentially continue to be deployed for a long time. In January,China-based Sohu publication had referred to the Russian MiG-31 interceptor fighter as a mysterious killer.

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Russias MiG-31 Fighter That Fired Hypersonic Missiles On Ukraine Conducted Drills In The Stratosphere - EurAsian Times