
AstraZeneca boost as EU approves cancer drug
The London-listed drugs maker revealed that its bladder cancer treatment Imfinzi has been approved to treat adult patients in the European Union.
It comes amid reports that AstraZeneca – the FTSE 100's largest company – is considering moving its listing from the UK to the US in what would be a hammer blow to London's stock market.
The speculation was fuelled by the pharmaceutical sector's growing frustration with the UK's rules on approving medicines as well as a row over drug prices between the industry and the NHS.
Dave Fredrickson, head of AstraZeneca's oncology haematology unit, said: 'Imfinzi is poised to transform the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in Europe.'
AstraZeneca shares edged up 1.3 per cent yesterday.
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BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Cambridge Grafton Centre: What is happening and why?
Despite a multi-million pounds building revamp eight years ago, the Grafton Centre in Cambridge is on the cusp of a major transformation. The "dying" complex - once home to Mothercare, Debenhams and a cinema - is about to be partially demolished to make way for laboratory space, offices, a new hotel and a reduced shopping is happening - and what do people think of it? The Grafton now The Grafton originally opened in 1984, with Queen Elizabeth II cutting the has undergone a number of changes since then, most notably in 1995 and in the shopping centre still holds a handful of big brand outlets like Boots and Decathlon, as well as independent businesses, a gym and a ping pong parlour. But the city's Debenhams store remains empty after its closure four years ago, smaller clothing stores have locked up for good and the curtain came down on the Vue cinema last month. John O'Shea, the centre's manager, remembers a £28m revamp of the shopping centre back in 2017 and says he is "very, very excited" to see this latest transformation take shape."It gives the shopping centre another lease of life," he said."I was here for the redevelopment last time round but, like many shopping centres across the UK, the Grafton suffered post-Covid."Mr O'Shea said they were now "considering the future" of the adjacent Vue building after the cinema franchise quit the centre last month. What is changing? The Grafton is undergoing a major facelift, with much of the interior changing to incorporate laboratory space for the ever-growing Cambridge tech the area around it will also see huge changes. Planners say the existing main entrance of the Grafton will be kept, with a corridor of shops leading to an outdoor courtyard that will take visitors to Burleigh Street, opposite the current Primark empty shops on Burleigh Street will be demolished to create another new entrance.A new life sciences building will replace Abbeygate House on East Road, with restaurants on the ground rear of the centre, where there are escalators and empty units, will become a "breakout area" for workers at the labs to will also be a new Premier Inn hotel opposite the former Vue on East Road. Why are the plans going ahead? The Pioneer Group, which got planning permission for the project from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning last year, said there was demand for science spaces from big companies and small start-ups in the city."Cambridge is one of the top places in the world for innovation and science," said director Subjit Jassy."We felt there was a trend for science places to go back into the city centre because you get the benefit of public transport and local amenities."Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted to see "world-class companies" grow in the area between Oxford and Cambridge, in order for the region to become "Europe's Silicon Valley".A report produced in September by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning said a "significant number" of projects for new labs and offices had gained planning consent, but warned "there may remain a shortfall" in spaces. Where will the shops go? The plan is to keep the Grafton's bigger shops, including H&M, Decathlon and Boots - and relocate some independent Jassy insisted they did not want to "get rid" of the shopping centre, but "retain as much as we can".His observation was that local people thought the centre "used to have a place in everybody's heart" but that "a lot of the feedback was that the Grafton Centre's dying – something needs to happen.""I think people recognise that this scale of shops in this location doesn't work anymore," he said. What do people think? Shopper Sarah Lefever said it was "quite sad" to see the Grafton's steady decline."I've come here since I was little, it's very different to see it with all the empty shops."She said it was "really disappointing" that the cinema had left, remembering "hustle and bustle" in years gone by. Gishani Parameswaran said the Grafton was not very welcoming for young families."This is a closed space area once people get in," she said."I feel like when I get here I'm just focused on the time because there isn't much else to focus on here."Catherine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University - which has its Cambridge campus on East Road, said she did not think many people would miss the Grafton."It wasn't the most fun, jolly space in the world," she she was not convinced there was sufficient demand for labs and offices."Increasingly big companies are shedding their office space," she said."People are talking a lot about lab spaces, I can't personally see they are going to fill up." When is it all happening? An archaeological dig has already taken place on the site, which brought up some foundations from Victorian tenement next step is for demolition work to begin on Abbeygate House, which could begin later this on the new shopping area and an initial phase of the life sciences spaces are expected to be finished by the end of 2028. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
EU to stockpile critical minerals amid geopolitical risks, FT says
July 5 (Reuters) - The European Union plans to stockpile critical minerals as a precaution against potential supply disruptions due to geopolitical tension, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing a draft document by the European Commission. "The EU faces an increasingly complex and deteriorating risk landscape marked by rising geopolitical tensions, including conflict, the mounting impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and hybrid and cyber threats," the newspaper quoted the draft as saying. The document warns that the higher-risk environment was driven by "increased activity from hacktivists, cybercriminals and state-sponsored groups", the FT said. The European Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The draft document, due to be published next week and still subject to change, says there is "limited common understanding of which essential goods are needed for crisis preparedness against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving risk landscape", the newspaper reported. In March, the European Commission unveiled its EU Preparedness Union Strategy, urging member states to strengthen stockpiles of critical equipment and encouraging citizens to keep at least 72 hours' worth of essential supplies in case of emergencies. The strategy was designed to prepare the bloc for risks such as natural disasters, cyberattacks and geopolitical crises, including the possibility of armed aggression against EU countries.


The Guardian
27 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Owning dog or cat could preserve some brain functions as we age, study says
As Britain's population ages and dementia rates climb, scientists may have found an unexpected ally in the fight against cognitive decline. Cats and dogs may be exercising more than just your patience: they could be keeping parts of your brain ticking over too. In a potential breakthrough for preventive health, researchers have found that owning a four-pawed friend is linked to slower cognitive decline by potentially preserving specific brain functions as we grow older. Interestingly, the associations differ depending on the animal: dog owners were found to retain sharper memory, both immediate and delayed, while cat owners showed slower decline in verbal fluency. When it comes to slower cognitive decline in their owners, however, it seems that not all pets are created equal: fish and birds, while charming companions, showed no significant link. 'Pet ownership has been linked to a positive influence on cognitive functioning and cognitive decline in late adulthood,' said Adriana Rostekova, a researcher and lead author of the article, which was published in Nature. 'However, there is limited understanding of how different species of pets are associated with these outcomes.' Rostekova, who works at the lifespan developmental psychology research group at the University of Geneva, used data from eight waves of the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe to examine the relationship between pet ownership and cognitive decline over an 18-year period among adults aged 50 and older. She specifically looked at the distinct role of owning dogs, cats, birds and fish. 'The key novelty of our study was that we found notable differences between the species,' she said. Rostekova hypothesised that because keeping fish or birds showed no meaningful link to changes in cognitive decline, the overall pattern of pet ownership may be driven primarily by having a cat or dog rather than pet ownership in general. 'Several explanations may help explain the absence of this association in fish and bird owners, despite the reports of their ownership' positive influence on wellbeing in ways that are usually associated with cognitive benefits,' she added. 'A fish or bird's short lifespan may potentially limit the level of emotional connection one is able to develop with the pet fish,' she said. 'Bird ownership may negatively affect the owner's sleep quality due to the increased noise levels, which has been shown to be associated with cognitive decline.' Rostekova added: '[It is] further possible that interaction with dogs and cats provides unique cognitive stimulation, which may be less pronounced in other, less demanding pets.' Other research has found evidence of an increase in prefrontal brain activation and stronger attentional processes and emotional arousal caused by interaction with a dog. There is further evidence of increased activation of the prefrontal cortex and the inferior frontal gyrus when interacting with cats, which is speculated to be linked to the characteristic, hard-to-predict temperament of the animal. 'There is also a possibility of increased social stimulation facilitated by cats and dogs, which may be linked to the slower cognitive decline experienced by their owners: an increased frequency of social interactions when accompanied by a dog – or for cats, a substitute for a social network,' said Rostekova. As the NHS grapples with an ageing population and rising dementia rates, experts say the findings could reshape how we think about healthy ageing – and the animals we choose to age alongside. Andrew Scott, the author of The Longevity Imperative and a cat owner (although also a dog lover), said: 'We tend to think of health as being about disease and hospitals but as we live longer and need to focus on preventive measures that keep us healthy for longer, we will discover that the health system extends well beyond doctors and hospitals. 'It is about how we live our life. What is nice about this study is it suggests a fun and meaningful way of keeping healthy and engaged. A lot of things we are recommended to do for our health aren't always fun or companionable (does anyone fast as a family?). Having a pet can be fun and if it keeps you healthy that's a great bonus.'