Investors stake their money on postponing death

by
Matthew Allen
My articles My siteAbout meMy booksMy videos
Follow on:

Researchers insist that not only can people live longer, but they can also enjoy a healthier life. Keystone / Fernando Bizerra Jr.

A group of wealthy investors is gathering virtually in Switzerland to stake their money on a new asset class. It’s longevity, underpinned by the science and technology of longer and healthier lives, and it could be a multi-billion-dollar market.

“Longevity will become one of the largest investment opportunities in the coming decades. It will disrupt not only the healthcare system, but society and the economy in general,” says Marc Bernegger, a Swiss entrepreneur who is co-hosting the investor conference.

“Longevity is a topic that moves investors. Besides making a nice profit, they share an interest in staying healthy and living longer.”

The longevity industry not only defies ageing, but its ambitions can sometimes defy belief. One of the speakers at the event, Aubrey de Grey, created the SENS Research Foundation in California. Here they are exploring ways of repairing cells in our bodies.

De Grey insists that treatments such as this can rejuvenate people, transforming a 70-year-old into the biological equivalent of someone aged 40. There are people alive today who will reach the age of 200, he predicts.

In a recent interview with the HandelsZeitung newspaper, de Grey said the only obstacle to turning this research into real health products is the rate funding. He dedicates a significant part of his time to trying to persuade investors to part with more of their money.

Impacts on society

This is where the Longevity Investors Conference steps in. It was originally intended to be staged in St Moritz on October 1, before Covid-19 got in the way and forced it to be held online. The pandemic is another powerful reason for introducing investors to age-defying health projects, says Bernegger.

Investors will hear about technological and medicinal “cures” against ageing. This will include biomedical research into genetics and small molecules, gerontology, anti-ageing therapeutics and health products aimed at altering metabolism.

The conference will also tackle the thorny issue of what impact potential leaps in longevity will have on society: from demographics and the environment to genetic manipulation and the burden on social welfare funds.

“The impact of longevity will be huge and must be anticipated early on to prevent negative outcomes,” says Bernegger.

‘Longevity Valley’

Bernegger and his co-host Tobias Reichmuth are no strangers to cutting-edge investments. Reichmuth set up the green technology fund SUSI Partners in 2009 and the Singularity Group in 2017, which invests in AI, big data, neuroscience and other projects.

Both are among the founders of the Crypto Finance Conference (CfC), which attracts billionaires such as brewery magnate Jorge Paolo Lemann. The average net worth of investors at the annual St Moritz event is CHF30 million ($33 million). There is no shortage of cash in their contacts books.

Bernegger also talks about the creation of a “Longevity Valley” of research institutes, investors and companies in Switzerland. The catchphrase is becoming the de rigueur term to describe new industry clusters, such as “Crypto Valley” and the upcoming “Trust Valley” of cybersecurity specialists.

Swiss megahub

Switzerland has strong pharmaceutical and biotech sectors plus leading universities, but it appears to have some way to go before catching up with the United States and Britain on longevity research.

The Hong Kong-based Deep Knowledge Group (DKG), which has set up Longevity Capital and the Longevity Swiss Foundation in Geneva and is planning to apply for a Swiss fintech licence for its Longevity Bank, believes Switzerland is an ideal future base for the growing industry.

DKG has boldly stated that the Alpine country will become a “global longevity financial megahub by 2025”. It points to Switzerland’s high life expectancy, healthcare spending, strengths in biotech and preventive precision, political stability, and, above all, its innovative financial system.

You Might Also Like

Rapid Covid-19 tests could offer a path back to normal

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche plans to launch a test that can detect the coronavirus in 15 minutes. Could tests like this become the norm?

Coronavirus: new cases in Switzerland remain at last week’s level

In the seven days to 7 August 2020, the reported number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections recorded in Switzerland was 1037, roughly the same as the 1,078 cases recorded the week before. Over the weeks prior to this there were 772 and 692 new cases, according to worldinfometer.com.

Coronavirus: new cases in Switzerland reach highest level since April

Today, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced 274 new recorded cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 24 hours. The last time Switzerland had a daily case number above this was on 19 April 2020 when 336 new cases were recorded.

Switzerland adds 10 more nations to its compulsory quarantine list

On 7 September 2020, Switzerland added to its list of quarantine countries. People entering Switzerland from 55 nations must now quarantine for 10 days. On 7 September 2020, 10 nations were added to the list. These include Croatia, French Polynesia, Guyana, Lebanon, Libya, Paraguay, San Marino, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.

Coronavirus: no quarantine for people entering Switzerland from border regions

On 11 September 2020, Switzerland’s federal government announced that people entering Switzerland after spending time in regions next to the country’s national borders will be exempted from mandatory quarantine requirements should those regions end up with high rates of infection. Cross-border worker are already exempted from quarantine requirements.

Chlorothalonil in Zurich’s groundwater above the limit in 60 percent of samples

The banned substance chlorothalonil, which is in some pesticides, has been found to be above the limit in 60% of ground water samples taken across the canton of Zurich over the last 12 months, reported SRF.

Switzerland to ramp up seasonal flu vaccinations to cut Covid-19 co-infection risk

As winter approaches the federal and cantonal governments of Switzerland are hoping a larger number of people than normal will get the seasonal flu jab as the spread of Covid-19 continues, according to RTS.

Switzerland adds 18 more regions to its quarantine list

Today, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) added 18 regions to its compulsory quarantine list. Anyone arriving in Switzerland from these place from 28 September 2020 will be required by law to quarantine for 10 days.