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rich t Canadian airline executives in the hot seat over carry-on bag fees say the federal government needs to reform this country's aviation system if it wants travel to become more affordable. The CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet are appearing before a parliamentary committee Friday to answer questions about their recent decisions to introduce carry-on bag fees for travellers. Air Transat and Porter Airlines also testified Friday before the standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities. The executives faced tough questions from parliamentarians, who summoned them to testify following Air Canada's announcement earlier this month that customers paying a basic fare can only bring on a personal item and will have to check carry-on bags for a fee. Air Canada's move follows an earlier decision by WestJet to introduce an "UltraBasic" fare class that allows passengers to carry no more than a laptop bag or small backpack on board. The developments are part of an ongoing trend in the aviation sector, which has seen airlines rely increasingly on ancillary fees for formerly bundled services that range from checked bags to on-board snacks and Wi-Fi access. Committee members on Friday challenged the airline CEOs about the layers of add-on fees, arguing they are making air travel increasingly unaffordable for Canadians. "Do you truly believe this is acceptable at a time when Canadians' pocketbooks are hurting?" said Liberal MP Angelo Iacono. Another Liberal MP, Vance Badawey, challenged WestJet — a private company that does not publicly release its financial information — to open up its books and disclose its profit margins. "Because at the end of the day, that's why we're here right now," Badawey said. "We're here for affordability for the passengers." But the airline executives said by offering passengers a choice of fare categories with different service levels, they are actually making travel cheaper for Canadians. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said 1.2 million Canadians have chosen the airline's UltraBasic fare since it was introduced in June, resulting in lowered travel costs as that fare is on average 14 per cent lower than WestJet's next-cheapest option. "This is savings that are important in a time where there's an affordability crisis," von Hoensbroech said in an interview Friday morning. "So I think we actually do something that's good ... And I do understand the perception that is out there, but I think it's also important to share the facts." Von Hoensbroech said it's easy for politicians to be "bashing airlines" because the affordability crisis is real. But he said if the federal government really wants to lower the costs of air travel, significant reforms to the system are needed. He said air travel in Canada is among the most expensive globally, due in part to government policies and third-party fees. Navigation fees, security charges, airport improvement fees and other taxes and fees can add up to $100 to the price of a ticket, von Hoensbroech said. He said the government needs to freeze hikes in third-party fees and charges to allow Canada's aviation sector to compete globally. He also said the federal government should cease charging rent to airports for the land they sit on, allowing airports to reinvest these funds into infrastructure and services instead. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian PressEven in this banner season for military academy football — complete with winning streaks, national rankings and a conference championship — the biggest goal remains the same. For Army: Beat Navy. For Navy: Beat Army. With the college football landscape changing at a furious rate, the significance of this matchup adds a dose of tradition to mid-December, amid all that talk about the transfer portal and the new expanded playoff. "We've had a good year. You make it a great year by winning this game coming up on Saturday. Frankly, that's just the way it goes around here," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "It's a game and a season really all of its own. We don't apologize for talking about it all the time. We talk about it all the time, and it's 365 days a year." Saturday in Landover, Maryland, is the 125th matchup between Army and Navy, and although these two programs are long removed from their days winning national titles and Heisman Trophies, this is a historic moment in the rivalry. The Black Knights and Midshipmen have combined for 19 wins this season, their highest total ever entering this game. People are also reading... Army (11-1) is ranked 19th in the AP poll after beating Tulane last week to win the American Athletic Conference — the first league title of any kind in the team's 134-year history. Navy (8-3) was ranked as well earlier this season after starting with six straight victories. "I knew we were going to be an improved football team," Navy coach Brian Newberry said. "Didn't know exactly what that was going to look like. I think certainly we've improved in a lot of different areas. I'm excited about the season we've had." Common opponents This was Army's first season in the AAC, putting the Black Knights and Midshipmen in the same league, although their annual matchup is considered a nonconference game. For a while, there was a chance the teams could meet twice, with a conference championship clash coming before the regularly scheduled Army-Navy game, but that didn't happen. Their most prominent common opponent came from outside the league. Notre Dame handed both Navy and Army its first loss, beating the Midshipmen 51-14 and the Black Knights 49-14. Within the AAC, both teams beat Temple, UAB and East Carolina. Army beat Tulane and Rice and Navy lost to those two teams. Army and Navy also each won its nonconference game against Air Force. Trophy time Those victories over Air Force mean this season's Commander-In-Chief's Trophy comes down to the Army-Navy game. It's the first time since 2017 that both teams enter this game with a shot at the trophy. It's also the first time since 2017 that both teams enter the game with bowl bids secured. Navy faces Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl and Army takes on Marshall in the Independence Bowl. Back in Maryland This year's Army-Navy game is at the Washington Commanders' home stadium in Landover. It was also held there in 2011. This is the first time the game has been in Maryland since Baltimore hosted it in 2016. Baltimore is also up next in 2025. Chasing a record Army quarterback Bryson Daily has 29 rushing touchdowns this season, which is tied for the FBS lead with running back Ashton Jeanty, Boise State's Heisman finalist. Only one QB in FBS history has run for more TDs in a season than Daily. That was Navy's Keenan Reynolds, with 31 in 2013. "You come here to play in this game. The biggest stage possible, millions of people watching and a sold-out NFL stadium. It's awesome," Daily said. "None of the games that happened before this matter. We're going into this game like we're 0-0, they're 0-0 because that's just how you have to come into this game." Decisive Navy's closest game this season — win or lose — was a 56-44 win over Memphis. The Midshipmen are the only FBS team that hasn't had a game this season decided by eight points or fewer. AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Beech Grove opens $1.5M roundabout on Churchman AvenueDr. Ishnella Azad CEO & Founder Data Journey Under the leadership of CEO and Founder Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, Data Journey is focused on building a more inclusive, sustainable, and scalable future for the data center industry. Under the leadership of CEO and Founder Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, Data Journey is focused on building a more inclusive, sustainable, and scalable future for the data center industry. As the first woman and minority-owned company in this sector, Data Journey is uniquely positioned to look at the entire ecosystem, ensuring that their operations not only meet the growing demands of their customers but also promote environmentally and socially responsible practices that benefit both the company and the community. "I'm excited about the acquisition of the Spartanburg property, which marks an important step in Data Journey's expansion and our mission to provide cutting-edge IT infrastructure solutions," said Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, CEO of Data Journey. "This acquisition not only accelerates our growth in the South Carolina market but also strengthens our commitment to sustainable practices across all stages of our operations. The foundation laid by Greenidge at this site allows us to move quickly toward developing a state-of-the-art data center that will deliver unmatched scalability, security, and efficiency for our customers.” The Spartanburg property, which spans 152 acres, offers a strategic location with significant power access, initially providing 60 MW of capacity, scalable up to 100 MW. Greenidge previously purchased the site in 2021 for $15 million, recognizing its potential as a power-rich industrial location. Following a series of transactions, including the 2023 sale of 23 subdivided acres to NYDIG ABL LLC, the property's remaining land is now poised for its next chapter as a key data center hub for Data Journey. "Data Journey's purchase of the Spartanburg site marks an exciting milestone in our growth journey,” Dr. Azad continued. "We're not just building data centers; we're creating sustainable, forward-thinking infrastructure that supports our customers while minimizing our environmental footprint. As we continue to expand, we'll ensure that our practices remain centered around the long-term well-being of both our stakeholders and the communities we serve.” The Spartanburg facility will serve as a cornerstone in Data Journey's broader strategy to establish six new sites by 2025, strengthening their portfolio and their ability to provide customers with scalable and secure data solutions. The site's strategic power infrastructure and development-ready capabilities will allow Data Journey to quickly bring innovative, high-performance solutions to market. Data Journey's acquisition of the Spartanburg property is expected to close in Q1 2025. Both Greenidge and Data Journey are optimistic about the potential for future collaboration and additional data center developments across the U.S. For more information on Data Journey's growth plans and commitment to sustainability, visit DataJourney.com . About Data Journey LLC Data Journey LLC is a leading woman and minority-owned data center provider, offering innovative IT infrastructure solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of modern enterprises. The company is dedicated to sustainability, scalability, and creating long-term value for its customers and the communities it serves. With a focus on cutting-edge security, power-efficient technologies, and environmental stewardship, Data Journey is committed to advancing the data center industry and providing world-class solutions for the digital age. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f8d5880-a91c-4060-bf65-7026bac1e4e3 CONTACT: Contact (630)728-4016 [email protected]

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NoneDrapatyi Announces Overhaul Of Recruitment And Training In Ukrainian Ground ForcesDecember 13, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by University of Oulu In a recent study, rare wooden structures from the Roman Empire were investigated in a wide range of ways using NMR methods. These methods, widely known for their use in hospital MRI scans to produce detailed images of the human body, have proven equally valuable in unraveling the secrets of Europe's archaeological treasures. Promising applications are rapidly expanding into a wide range of fields. The samples are from the wooden poles of the pier of an ancient Roman harbor discovered during excavations for a new metro line in Naples, Italy, which began in 2004. The discoveries also moved the route of the metro line, which now runs underneath the archaeological treasures. The development of the discovered port tells an interesting story of the Roman Empire. "It is rare that ancient organic wooden structures are found at all, as they usually degrade over time unless they are in a humid environment. The exceptional discovery was made possible by the aquifer that has preserved the pier structures for centuries," says Otto Mankinen, a researcher at the University of Oulu. NMR spectroscopy, or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is based on radio-frequency radiation, so it does not damage the target at all. Medical MRI in hospitals is one of the well-known applications of NMR spectroscopy. The technique exploits the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei to obtain very precise information about the structure and properties of matter. The non-invasive nature of NMR measurements is also particularly important when examining archaeologically valuable samples or, for example, paintings for restoration. Many other methods can damage the sample, such as X-ray or light microscopy , which often also requires slicing of the sample, a destructive and challenging process when dealing with fragile and spongy underwater wood remains. If they are lifted into the air, activated decomposers can destroy the samples or they can decay. In the new study, now published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics , wood samples were preserved under similar conditions where they spent centuries. The team aimed to find out how wood behaves and survives in water and to reconstruct the changes caused by decay, and to make a comprehensive analysis of the structure and changes in archaeological wood remains. The study is one of the first to combine four different NMR techniques: relaxometry, micro-imaging, diffusometry and cryoporometry. Archaeological samples of spruce, chestnut and maple were compared with fresh wood material from the same species. "Knowledge of structural preservation is essential and important. It helps to find new ways to ensure that archaeologically valuable heritage is preserved for future generations ," says Mankinen. "In the future, the method needs to be developed with a larger number of samples of coniferous and deciduous trees. These can be very different depending on the age of the tree, the specimen and the location of the sample in the trunk. The differences between current and old wood samples require careful interpretation." "The valuable samples were analyzed at the University of Oulu, as one of our long-standing research topics has been the analysis of wood materials. The best way forward would be to take NMR equipment on-site to historic finds, which are often too fragile to move," says Mankinen. The new findings will also contribute to the development of mobile NMR instruments. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . NMR instruments are getting smaller and cheaper—with applications in many fields When he came to his studies, Mankinen was surprised by the diversity of physics and NMR studies. "The methods are used for really interesting studies, and I didn't know before that I would be involved in archaeological research." The next studies are already underway, now on even older wooden artifacts from Neolithic inhabitants up to 7,500 years old in Italy's Lake Bracciano. In recent years, NMR techniques have become faster and more sensitive, and the trend is also towards smaller and smaller instruments. Mobile NMR instruments are also less expensive. There are high expectations and promising results for practical applications of NMR spectroscopy in several fields, such as environmental and atmospheric monitoring, battery materials, eco concrete, mine water and catalysts, and biochemistry, as shown in a doctoral thesis at the University of Oulu on December 2024. More information: Valeria Stagno et al, Comprehensive characterization of waterlogged archaeological wood by NMR relaxometry, diffusometry, micro-imaging and cryoporometry, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4CP02697G Journal information: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Provided by University of OuluTravis Kelce ‘spoils Taylor Swift on her 35th birthday with $175k in lux gifts’ after relationship took ‘intense’ turn

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Christopher Nolan’s next film is based on ‘The Odyssey’CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — A Ukrainian girls’ hockey team is in Canada for a few days of peace and hockey in an arena that doesn’t have a missile-sized hole in its roof. After 56 hours of travel to Calgary, including a 24-hour bus ride from Dnipro to Warsaw, Poland, that required army escort for a portion of it, the Ukrainian Wings will join Wickfest, Hayley Wickenheiser’s annual girls’ hockey festival, on Thursday. The squad of players aged 11 to 13 was drawn from eight different cities in Ukraine, where sport facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Russia started its invasion in February 2022. “They all have a personal story of something awful happening,” said Wickenheiser. “We give them a week of peace and joy here, and I hope they can carry that with them. “We know full well they’re going back to difficult circumstances. It’s tough that way.” Nine players are from Kharkiv, where pictures show a large hole in the roof of the Saltovskiy Led arena where the girls’ team WHC Panthers once skated. “It was our home ice arena, and we played all our national team championships in this ice arena,” said Kateryna Seredenko, who oversees the Panthers program and is the Wings general manager. RELATED COVERAGE Minnesota Frost rookie Claire Thompson trades stethoscope for hockey stick to resume playing career PWHL New York Sirens’ trajectory points up with addition of rookie star Sarah Fillier and new home PWHL releases neutral-site schedule with games ranging from North Carolina to the Pacific Northwest Ukraine’s Olympic Committee posted photos and wrote in a Facebook post Sept. 1 that Kharkiv’s Sport Palace, which was home to multiple hockey teams, was also destroyed in an attack on the city. Seredenko says the Wings’ arduous journey to Calgary was worth it because it gives the girls hope. “It’s not a good situation in Ukraine, but when they come here, they can believe that everything will be good, everything will be fine, of course we will win soon and we must play hockey. We can’t stop because we love these girls and we will do everything for them,” she said. “So many girls on this Ukrainian team are future players of the national team.” Wickenheiser, a Hockey Hall of Famer , is the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a doctor who works emergency room shifts in the Toronto area. The six-time Olympian and four-time gold medalist organized her first Wickfest after the 2010 Winter Games. She’s had teams from India, Mexico and the Czech Republic attend over the last decade and a half, but never a team that ran the Ukrainians’ gauntlet of logistics. The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health took on the task of arranging visas and paying for the team’s travel. “We care about women and children’s health. Sport is such a symbol. When you see a group of girls coming off the ice all sweaty and having worked hard on the ice, it’s a symbol of a healthy girl,” said chief executive officer Julia Anderson. “That’s a healthy kid that’s able to participate in sport. We really believe if we can get girls there, whether they’re in an active war zone, or here in Canada, those girls will change the world.” The Wings aren’t the first Ukrainians to seek a hockey haven in Canada since the war began. An under-25 men’s team played four games against university squads in early 2023 to prepare for that year’s world university games. Ukrainian teams have also twice played in the Quebec City International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. “It’s the first time in Ukrainian history where a girls’ team is coming to Canada to a very good tournament,” Seredenko said. “They can see how they can play in their future. And they can see how it is to play hockey in Canada.” ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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to the sound of voices outside his death row cell just after 5 a.m. on Monday morning. A neighbor in the Special Confinement Unit at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, where the federal government sends men it has sentenced to die, was talking about a segment he caught on NPR. “One guy, he wakes up early and listens to the radio,” Taylor told me later that morning. “And he was like, ‘Hey, I think I heard them say something about Biden — he commuted the sentences of 37 guys.’” Taylor turned on CNN. Sure enough, the was written on the screen. “And I was surprised,” he said softly, with a blend of joy and relief. “ .” Since the reelection of Donald Trump, a rising chorus of activists, lawmakers, and members of the legal community had been to commute the sentences of all 40 men on federal death row to life without parole. Although Taylor was one of the dozens who had filed an application asking for clemency, he was not optimistic. He started feeling a glimmer of hope on Friday night, when he checked his email to find an from the Wall Street Journal saying that Biden was mulling mass commutations. He printed it out and made copies for his neighbors. “This is my FIRST time feeling REAL hope about commutations for the row!” he said. Read our complete coverage Out for Blood Only four years ago, Taylor and his neighbors lived through an that left him deeply traumatized. Between July 2020 and January 2021, the Trump administration executed 13 people in the federal death chamber. As an orderly, Taylor cleaned out the death watch cells where the men would await their execution. His clemency petition described how he carefully packed up any belongings left behind, approaching the task “as a small measure of dignity he could give to his fellow man.” Taylor was sentenced to death in 2008 for fatally shooting an Atlanta restaurateur named Guy Luck. His lawyers described it as a botched kidnapping that crossed state lines into Tennessee. Taylor was 18 years old at the time and had never been convicted of a crime. His trial, which took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was rooted in racism, his post-conviction attorneys argued. A woman who served as an alternate on his jury later told a local reporter that she’d heard other jurors say they needed to “make an example” of Taylor. “It was like, here’s this little black boy,” she said of fellow jurors’ sentiment. “Let’s send him to the Chair.” Like many who commit violent crimes in their youth, Taylor, who is now 40, matured considerably over his 16 years on death row, developing a reputation as someone who showed deep empathy and care toward his neighbors. My own correspondence with Taylor dating back to 2020 reflects this too. In our most recent conversations, he was more interested in advocating for his neighbors than he was to talk about himself. Taylor had not yet spoken to his family when he sent me an email on Monday night. His lawyer Kelley Henry, a supervisory assistant federal public defender, had shared the news with his sister, whose birthday is Christmas Eve. Recounting their exchange, Taylor said, “My sister cried, saying this was the BEST birthday gift for her.” Henry, who still , wrote in a statement that she was “profoundly grateful to President Biden for his extraordinary act of mercy and grace.” She expressed hope that the commutations would serve as an example to like . She wrote, “The death penalty is a relic of the past and should be left there.” Wither the “False Promise” Biden’s 37 commutations were historic — a sweeping act of mercy never seen before from a U.S. president. Although his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama presided over a de facto moratorium on federal executions, due in part to the inability to for lethal injection, he only one federal death sentence, along with that of one man on military death row. Of the 13 people executed by Trump, 10 of them had sought clemency from Obama before he left office. In his statement announcing the commutations, Biden, who reimposed the moratorium immediately upon taking office, made clear he did not wish to repeat Obama’s mistake. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted,” he said. Most Read Although Biden in 2020, many advocates had quietly worried that he would leave office without taking action. Over his decades in government, Biden made a name for himself as a “tough on crime” senator who did more than almost anyone to expand the federal death penalty in the first place. Pressure on Biden to make good on his vow to end the federal death penalty came from all quarters, behind the scenes at the White House, and in public demonstrations. Last week, activists and death row family members appeared Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., at a briefing on Capitol Hill. Related After the commutations were announced, some that Biden did not go far enough. Members of the abolitionist group called on him to commute the sentences of the remaining three men on federal death row, who include Dylann Roof, the self-declared white supremacist who at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In his statement, Biden characterized the three men denied clemency as guilty of “terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.” Death Penalty Action Board President Sharon Risher, who lost her mother and cousin in Roof’s massacre, was emotional in a for reporters on Monday morning. “I need the president to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victim’s families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” she said. Among those who represent people facing execution, however, each life spared was a source of celebration — and palpable relief. Veteran attorney Margaret O’Donnell, who has spent decades advocating for people on federal death row, described a flurry of phone calls from men whose sentences were commuted. “Over the years, I have learned their life stories, shared their fears, known their pain of living in solitary confinement so far from those they love and have come to deeply appreciate how they do their best to live meaningful lives,” she told me. O’Donnell had spent part of her time since Trump’s execution spree coordinating a to help death row families stay in touch with their loved ones. Earlier this year, I met Rose Holomn, who had made use of the program so that her son, Julius Robinson, could see his father for the first time in years. In January, she told me she felt betrayed by Biden: “He didn’t keep his promise.” In a phone call Monday, however, Holomn was exuberant. She saw the news around 8 a.m. on the Fox affiliate in Atlanta, where she lives. “I ran around the house — ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jesus!’” she said. For 27 years, she has only seen her son through plexiglass; no contact is allowed at death row visits. Now she was overjoyed at the thought of being able to hug him sometime in the near future. Though many questions remain about what comes next, Holomn sounded undaunted. She helped her son survive death row for nearly 30 years. She asked me to include something in my article: “Be sure to put in there: ‘A mother’s love goes a long way.’”Temple University unveils plans for new 199,000-square-foot media, performing arts building

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2024-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced longer-term data for CASGEVYTM (exagamglogene autotemcel) from global clinical trials in people with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). CASGEVY is the first and only approved CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy. The results, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, continue to demonstrate the transformative, durable clinical benefits of CASGEVY. The longest follow up for both SCD and TDT patients now extends more than 5 years, with a median of 33.2 months and 38.1 months, respectively. “These comprehensive data provide additional evidence of the benefits of eradicating transfusion requirements for people with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and vaso-occlusive crises for those with sickle cell disease,” said Franco Locatelli, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome, Director of the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Chair of Vertex’s TDT Program Steering Committee, and Presenting Author of the CASGEVY clinical data at ASH. “With median follow-up around three years there is strong evidence for the durability of these beneficial effects following treatment with CASGEVY.” “CASGEVY is changing the outlook for people living with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, with these data reinforcing the immense clinical value a durable one-time therapy can provide to patients,” said Carmen Bozic, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Medical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer at Vertex. “We have a strong commitment to build on our progress in bringing CASGEVY to patients around the world.” New long-term follow-up data presented from the CASGEVY trials Vertex had seven abstracts accepted at the ASH annual meeting as outlined below: Progress in bringing CASGEVY to patients around the world CASGEVY is approved for both SCD and TDT in the U.S., the European Union, Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland, Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Vertex plans to make submissions in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. More than 45 authorized treatment centers have been activated globally to support the delivery of CASGEVY, and more than 40 patients have had a first cell collection. Vertex is continuing to work with reimbursement authorities to secure sustainable access for patients. Through this work, Vertex has agreements to provide CASGEVY in multiple countries, including the U.S., England (TDT), Austria, Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and continues to make strong progress in others, including positive Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) in Canada for both diseases and advancing access negotiations for SCD patients in England. In the U.S., Vertex recently secured an industry-first, voluntary agreement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a single outcomes-based arrangement available to all state Medicaid programs to ensure broad and equitable access to CASGEVY. To support this progress on patient access and growing patient demand, Vertex has received approval for a third manufacturing facility for CASGEVY with our partner Lonza. About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) SCD is a debilitating, progressive and life-shortening disease. SCD patients report health-related quality of life scores well below the general population, and the lifetime health care costs in the U.S. of managing SCD for patients with recurrent VOCs is estimated between $4 and $6 million. SCD is an inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen to all organs and tissues of the body. SCD causes severe pain, organ damage and shortened life span due to misshapen or “sickled” red blood cells. The clinical hallmark of SCD is VOCs, which are caused by blockages of blood vessels by sickled red blood cells and result in severe and debilitating pain that can happen anywhere in the body at any time. SCD requires a lifetime of treatment and results in a reduced life expectancy. In the U.S., the median age of death for patients living with SCD is approximately 45 years. A cure for SCD today is a stem cell transplant from a matched donor, but this option is only available to a small fraction of patients living with SCD because of the lack of available donors. About Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia (TDT) TDT is a serious, life-threatening genetic disease. TDT patients report health-related quality of life scores below the general population and the lifetime health care costs in the U.S. of managing TDT are estimated between $5 and $5.7 million. TDT requires frequent blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy throughout a person’s life. Due to anemia, patients living with TDT may experience fatigue and shortness of breath, and infants may develop failure to thrive, jaundice and feeding problems. Complications of TDT can also include an enlarged spleen, liver and/or heart, misshapen bones and delayed puberty. TDT requires lifelong treatment and significant use of health care resources, and ultimately results in reduced life expectancy, decreased quality of life and reduced lifetime earnings and productivity. In the U.S., the median age of death for patients living with TDT is 37 years. Stem cell transplant from a matched donor is a curative option but is only available to a small fraction of people living with TDT because of the lack of available donors. About CASGEVYTM (exagamglogene autotemcel [exa-cel]) CASGEVYTM is a non-viral, ex vivo CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited cell therapy for eligible patients with SCD or TDT, in which a patient’s own hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are edited at the erythroid specific enhancer region of the BCL11A gene through a precise double-strand break. This edit results in the production of high levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF; hemoglobin F) in red blood cells. HbF is the form of the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin that is naturally present during fetal development, which then switches to the adult form of hemoglobin after birth. CASGEVY has been shown to reduce or eliminate VOCs for patients with SCD and transfusion requirements for patients with TDT. CASGEVY is approved for eligible SCD and TDT patients 12 years and older by multiple regulatory bodies around the world. About the CLIMB Trials The ongoing Phase 1/2/3 open-label trials, CLIMB-111 and CLIMB-121, are designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a single dose of CASGEVY in patients ages 12 to 35 years with TDT or with SCD and recurrent VOCs. The trials are closed for enrollment. Patients will be followed for approximately two years after CASGEVY infusion in these trials. Each patient will be asked to participate in the ongoing long-term, open-label trial, CLIMB-131. CLIMB-131 is designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of CASGEVY in patients who received CASGEVY, including those in other CLIMB trials. The trial is designed to follow patients for up to 15 years after CASGEVY infusion. U.S. INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel) WHAT IS CASGEVY? CASGEVY is a one-time therapy used to treat people aged 12 years and older with: • sickle cell disease (SCD) who have frequent vaso-occlusive crises or VOCs • beta thalassemia (β-thalassemia) who need regular blood transfusions CASGEVY is made specifically for each patient, using the patient’s own edited blood stem cells, and increases the production of a special type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin F (fetal hemoglobin or HbF). Having more HbF increases overall hemoglobin levels and has been shown to improve the production and function of red blood cells. This can eliminate VOCs in people with sickle cell disease and eliminate the need for regular blood transfusions in people with beta thalassemia. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about CASGEVY? After treatment with CASGEVY, you will have fewer blood cells for a while until CASGEVY takes hold (engrafts) into your bone marrow. This includes low levels of platelets (cells that usually help the blood to clot) and white blood cells (cells that usually fight infections). Your doctor will monitor this and give you treatment as required. The doctor will tell you when blood cell levels return to safe levels. You may experience side effects associated with other medicines administered as part of the treatment regimen for CASGEVY. Talk to your physician regarding those possible side effects. Your healthcare provider may give you other medicines to treat your side effects. How will I receive CASGEVY? Your healthcare provider will give you other medicines, including a conditioning medicine, as part of your treatment with CASGEVY. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of all medicines involved in your treatment. After receiving the conditioning medicine, it may not be possible for you to become pregnant or father a child. You should discuss options for fertility preservation with your healthcare provider before treatment. STEP 1: Before CASGEVY treatment, a doctor will give you mobilization medicine(s). This medicine moves blood stem cells from your bone marrow into the blood stream. The blood stem cells are then collected in a machine that separates the different blood cells (this is called apheresis). This entire process may happen more than once. Each time, it can take up to one week. During this step rescue cells are also collected and stored at the hospital. These are your existing blood stem cells and are kept untreated just in case there is a problem in the treatment process. If CASGEVY cannot be given after the conditioning medicine, or if the modified blood stem cells do not take hold (engraft) in the body, these rescue cells will be given back to you. If you are given rescue cells, you will not have any treatment benefit from CASGEVY. STEP 2: After they are collected, your blood stem cells will be sent to the manufacturing site where they are used to make CASGEVY. It may take up to 6 months from the time your cells are collected to manufacture and test CASGEVY before it is sent back to your healthcare provider. STEP 3: Shortly before your stem cell transplant, your healthcare provider will give you a conditioning medicine for a few days in hospital. This will prepare you for treatment by clearing cells from the bone marrow, so they can be replaced with the modified cells in CASGEVY. After you are given this medicine, your blood cell levels will fall to very low levels. You will stay in the hospital for this step and remain in the hospital until after the infusion with CASGEVY. STEP 4: One or more vials of CASGEVY will be given into a vein (intravenous infusion) over a short period of time. After the CASGEVY infusion, you will stay in hospital so that your healthcare provider can closely monitor your recovery. This can take 4-6 weeks, but times can vary. Your healthcare provider will decide when you can go home. What should I avoid after receiving CASGEVY? What are the possible or reasonably likely side effects of CASGEVY? The most common side effects of CASGEVY include: Your healthcare provider will test your blood to check for low levels of blood cells (including platelets and white blood cells). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms: These are not all the possible side effects of CASGEVY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. General information about the safe and effective use of CASGEVY Talk to your healthcare provider about any health concerns. Please see full Prescribing Information including Patient Information for CASGEVY. About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has approved medicines that treat the underlying causes of multiple chronic, life-shortening genetic diseases — cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia — and continues to advance clinical and research programs in these diseases. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including acute and neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 15 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and X . (VRTX-GEN) Vertex Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, the statements by Franco Locatelli, M.D., Ph.D. and Carmen Bozic, M.D., in this press release, and statements regarding expectations for the anticipated transformative, durable clinical benefits of CASGEVY, plans to continue working with reimbursement authorities to secure sustainable access for patients, including our expectations for progress in Canada and England, and our plans for and design of the CLIMB studies. While we believe the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that eligible patient access to CASGEVY may not be achieved on the anticipated timeline, or at all, that data from the company's development programs may not support registration or further development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy, and other reasons, and other risks listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Vertex's most recent annual report and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and available through the company's website at www.vrtx.com . You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes available. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206536804/en/ CONTACT: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Investors: InvestorInfo@vrtx.comMedia : mediainfo@vrtx.com or International: +44 20 3204 5275 or U.S.: 617-341-6992 or Heather Nichols: +1 617-839-3607 KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS EUROPE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH CLINICAL TRIALS SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/08/2024 12:52 PM/DISC: 12/08/2024 12:50 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206536804/en Copyright Business Wire 2024.Former Nebraska receiver Malachi Coleman, who redshirted this season after a fruitful freshman campaign, announced his transfer to Minnesota on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Coleman, a top-100 recruit out of Lincoln East High School, caught eight passes for 139 yards and one touchdown as a true freshman. He sustained an injury that kept him out of spring camp, however, and, after switching jersey numbers from 15 to 80 to accommodate quarterback Dylan Raiola, Coleman appeared in just one game, vs. Rutgers, in 2024. NU also recruited transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, who had similar size and skillsets, to play over Coleman at his position. Coleman redshirted and will have three seasons of eligibility left as he plays for the Gophers, who visits Oct. 18. 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