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Eco/Invest/Demography

Scientists develop new inhalation delivery system for vaccines

The researchers said this method improves bioavailability and also reduces potential side effects by achieving a rapid onset of action.

The scientists believe lung delivery could protect against airborne pathogens that cause diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, Ebola, measles, and COVID-19.

However, they said this approach has not been adopted widely, partly because the underlying physiological mechanisms remain largely unknown.

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EU leaders clinch deal on tougher 2030 climate goal

Leaders of the 27 member states agreed to cut their net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, substantially toughening an existing 40% target.

The EU wants to reach “net zero” emissions by 2050, a deadline that scientists say the world must meet to avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

European Council President Charles Michel, who chaired the talks, called the EU the leader in the fight against climate change, and said the target had been hard-fought, but was “credible”.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would put the bloc “on a clear path towards climate neutrality in 2050”.

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India’s COVID-19 caseload rises to 97.96 lakh with 29,398 fresh infections

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 92,90,834 on Friday, pushing the national recovery rate to 94.84 per cent. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 4 lakh for the fifth consecutive day.

There are 3,63,749 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 3.71 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

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ICICI Pru Life Insurance Company’s AUM crosses Rs 2 trillion ,no NPAs since inception

It had an AUM of approximately Rs. 100 crore in FY 2001, which grew to about Rs. 50,000 crore in FY2010 and subsequently the company was the first in the insurance industry to achieve an AUM of Rs.1 lakh crore in February 2015.
N S Kannan, MD & CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said, “We are delighted to achieve this milestone of managing Rs. 2 lakh crore of assets. As one of the largest life insurance companies in the country it is our mission to protect and provide financial security to every Indian.”

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Study details first artificial intelligence tool to help labs rule-out Covid-19

“Nine months into this pandemic, we now have a better understanding of how to care for patients with Covid-19,” said lead author and University of Vermont Assistant Professor Timothy Plante, M.D., M.H.S., “but there’s still a big bottleneck in Covid-19 diagnosis with PCR testing.”

PCR testing is the current standard diagnostic for Covid-19, and requires specific sampling, like a nasal swab, and specialized laboratory equipment to run.

“According to data from over 100 US hospitals, the national average turnaround time for Covid-19 tests ordered in emergency rooms is above 24 hours, far from the targeted one-hour turnaround,” Biocogniv Chief Operating Officer Tanya Kanigan, Ph.D., said.

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India readies for 600 million COVID vaccine jabs; to use standard cold storage – top government expert

“The four that I can see, including Serum, Bharat, Zydus, and Sputnik need normal cold chain. I see no problem for these vaccines,” ,V.K. Paul, who heads the group of experts on vaccine administration, told Reuters in an interview.

Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, is already mass producing and stockpiling AstraZeneca’s Covishield shot, while Indian biotech players Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are developing their own vaccine candidates.

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