Career
Menu

How Artificial Intelligence accelerated the development of the Covid-19 vaccine 

28/04/2021
How AI accelerated

Summary

It was incredible! Within 41 days of identifying, isolating and fully sequencing the Covid-19 virus, pharmaceutical company Moderna had delivered a vaccine candidate. To top this, the company did all of this in January and February 2020 – a full month before lockdowns began in most parts of the world.

It was incredible! Within 41 days of identifying, isolating and fully sequencing the Covid-19 virus, pharmaceutical company Moderna had delivered a vaccine candidate. To top this, the company did all of this in January and February 2020 – a full month before lockdowns began in most parts of the world.1 

It was thanks to a mixture of Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms and advanced analytics that this feat was achieved. But why should it not surprise us?

How-AI-accelerated-EN-01

 

AI is making what is extraordinary, seem almost ordinary

AI is now being used widely in biotech. According to the Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, it is already being used for "drug target identification, drug screening, image screening and predictive modelling. It is also being used to comb through scientific literature and manage huge amounts of critical clinical trial data that is now produced".4

How-AI-accelerated-EN-02

How-AI-accelerated-EN-03

How-AI-accelerated-EN-04

How-AI-accelerated-EN-05

How-AI-accelerated-EN-06

Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer are already using IBM Watson to analyse patient data and recommend better treatment options.10

When it comes to oncology, IBM Watson is able to analyse the meaning and context of both structured and unstructured data in clinical notes and reports that might be important for selecting the right treatment. By combining data from a patient's file with clinical expertise, external research and data, the best treatment for the patient can be selected.11

IBM has also launched Medical Sieve, a cognitive medical assistant with analytical  reasoning capabilities and a range of clinical knowledge. It is being used in clinical decision-making in radiology and cardiology, and can analyse radiology images to spot and detect problems faster and more reliably.12

Personalised and precision medicine will need a myriad of disruptive technologies to work on a scale that is cost effective and practical. The boom in data in the information age, coupled with the advances being made in AI, could therefore be a real game changer. 

AI is making its presence felt in biotech, in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. This is arguably just the beginning. The potential therefore should not be under-estimated.

 

Reference
1. Kelly, M. (2020, November 24). Lessons from Moderna: Leverage the Power of Artificial Intelligence. Stern Speakers. 
2. History of AI in medicine, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Volume 92, No. 4 : 2020
3. Vella, H. (2019, January 2). The Institution of Engineering and Technology. Engineering and Technology. 
4. Shaffer, C. (2020, April 16). Artificial Intelligence Is Helping Biotech Get Real. GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. 
5. Terry, M. (2019, June 18). Sanofi and Google Partner on Digital Health and Real-World Evidence Analysis. BioSpace. 
6. CB Insights. (2020, June 26). Big Tech Is Coming For Pharma. CB Insights Research. 
7. Novartis.   
8. Hale, C. (2020, March 13). IBM Watson Health to tap EBSCO’s DynaMed libraries for a combined AI drug information suite. FierceBiotech. 
9. Payne, A. (2020, September 22). The role of AI in advancing personalized healthcare. TechRadar. 
10. Johnson & Johnson to IBM: ‘Watson, come here. I want you.’ (2014, October 11). Fortune.  
11. Motzer RJ, Barrios CH, Kim TM, et al. Piloting IBM Watson Oncology within Memorial Sloan Kettering’s regional network. J Clin Oncol [Internet]. 2014;32(25):2765–2772.
12. Syeda-Mahmood T, Walach E, Beymer D, et al. Medical sieve: a cognitive assistant for radiologists and cardiologists. Proc SPIE - Prog Biomed Opt Imaging [Internet]. 2016;9785.

 

> download

 

 

Want to view more?

Insights & Strategies

Readying for the reset

Discover more

10/10/2022

Insights & Strategies

Switching the energy transition to sustainable gears

Discover more

21/09/2022

China: the “sleeping giant” of the equity markets

Insights & Strategies

China: the “sleeping giant” of the equity markets

Discover more

16/04/2021

AI

Insights & Strategies

AI & Software-as-a-Service

Discover more

09/04/2021

Active is: Making complexity investable

A roadmap for the years ahead: Introducing our investable themes

29/04/2021
Allianz Global Investors – Investable themes - China, sustainability, interest rates

Summary

To help investors navigate today’s drastically different world, we’ve identified three overarching themes: a resurgent China, persistently low yields, and the drive to live and invest more sustainably. We’re using our expertise and insights to explain why these themes represent some of the biggest opportunities and risks for portfolios – and what investors can do.

Key takeaways
  • Fundamental changes have made the traditional “rules” of investing less relevant – which is why we’re exploring three investable themes to help investors navigate a new era
  • Investable theme #1: If rates and yields stay lower for even longer, investors will need strategies to pursue higher yields and returns while managing risk
  • Investable theme #2: China is the world’s new economic powerhouse, and investors must consider how to incorporate it – whatever the asset class and wherever they are in the world
  • Investable theme #3: With sustainability now essential to how the world invests, clients need help thinking in new ways – for example, by focusing on outcome-oriented results where the impact is measurable
Load More

Explore Other Focused Funds

Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence

 

Discover more

Allianz Global Intelligent Cities Income

 

Discover more

View Others

 

Discover more
   

For details, please contact us or our fund distributors to get more information.
   


Allianz Global Investors

You are leaving this website and being re-directed to the below website. This does not imply any approval or endorsement of the information by Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific Limited contained in the redirected website nor does Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific Limited accept any responsibility or liability in connection with this hyperlink and the information contained herein. Please keep in mind that the redirected website may contain funds and strategies not authorized for offering to the public in your jurisdiction. Besides, please also take note on the redirected website’s terms and conditions, privacy and security policies, or other legal information. By clicking “Continue”, you confirm you acknowledge the details mentioned above and would like to continue accessing the redirected website. Please click “Stay here” if you have any concerns.

Welcome to Allianz Global Investors

Select your language
  • 中文(繁體)
  • English
Select your role
  • Individual Investor
  • Intermediaries
  • Other Investors
  • Pension Investors

  • Allianz Global Investors Fund (“AGIF”)

    • Allianz Global Investors Fund (“AGIF”) as an umbrella fund under the UCITS regulations has within it different sub-funds investing in fixed income securities, equities, and derivative instruments, each with a different investment objective and/or risk profile.

    • All sub-funds (“Sub-Funds”) may invest in financial derivative instruments (“FDI”) which may expose to higher leverage, counterparty, liquidity, valuation, volatility, market and over the counter transaction risks. A Sub-Fund’s net derivative exposure may be up to 50% of its NAV. 

    • Some Sub-Funds as part of their investments may invest in any one or a combination of the instruments such as fixed income securities, emerging market securities, and/or mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, property-backed securities (especially REITs) and/or structured products and/or FDI, exposing to various potential risks (including leverage, counterparty, liquidity, valuation, volatility, market, fluctuations in the value of and the rental income received in respect of the underlying property, and over the counter transaction risks). 

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in single countries or industry sectors (in particular small/mid cap companies) which may reduce risk diversification. Some Sub-Funds are exposed to significant risks which include investment/general market, country and region, emerging market (such as Mainland China), creditworthiness/credit rating/downgrading, default, asset allocation, interest rate, volatility and liquidity, counterparty, sovereign debt, valuation, credit rating agency, company-specific, currency  (in particular RMB), RMB debt securities and Mainland China tax risks. 

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in convertible bonds, high-yield, non-investment grade investments and unrated securities that may subject to higher risks (include volatility, loss of principal and interest, creditworthiness and downgrading, default, interest rate, general market and liquidity risks) and therefore may adversely impact the net asset value of the Sub-Funds. Convertibles will be exposed prepayment risk, equity movement and greater volatility than straight bond investments.

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest a significant portion of the assets in interest-bearing securities issued or guaranteed by a non-investment grade sovereign issuer (e.g. Philippines) and is subject to higher risks of liquidity, credit, concentration and default of the sovereign issuer as well as greater volatility and higher risk profile that may result in significant losses to the investors. 

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in European countries. The economic and financial difficulties in Europe may get worse and adversely affect the Sub-Funds (such as increased volatility, liquidity and currency risks associated with investments in Europe).

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in the China A-Shares market, China B-Shares market and/or debt securities directly  via the Stock Connect or the China Interbank Bond Market or Bond Connect and or other foreign access regimes and/or other permitted means and/or indirectly through all eligible instruments the qualified foreign institutional investor program regime and thus is subject to the associated risks (including quota limitations, change in rule and regulations, repatriation of the Fund’s monies, trade restrictions, clearing and settlement, China market volatility and uncertainty, China market volatility and uncertainty, potential clearing and/or settlement difficulties and, change in economic, social and political policy in the PRC and taxation Mainland China tax risks).  Investing in RMB share classes is also exposed to RMB currency risks and adverse impact on the share classes due to currency depreciation.

    • Some Sub-Funds may adopt the following strategies, Sustainable and Responsible Investment Strategy, SDG-Aligned Strategy, Sustainability Key Performance Indicator Strategy (Relative), Green Bond Strategy, Multi Asset Sustainable Strategy, Sustainability Key Performance Indicator Strategy (Absolute Threshold), Environment, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Score Strategy, and Sustainability Key Performance Indicator Strategy (Absolute). The Sub-Funds may be exposed to sustainable investment risks relating to the strategies (such as foregoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, selling securities when it might be disadvantageous to do so, and/or relying on information and data from third party ESG research data providers and internal analyses which may be subjective, incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable and/or reducing risk diversifications compared to broadly based funds) which may result in the Sub-Fund being more volatile and have adverse impact on the performance of the Sub-Fund and consequently adversely affect an investor’s investment in the Sub-Fund. Also, some Sub-Funds may be particularly focusing on the GHG efficiency of the investee companies rather than their financial performance which may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance.

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in share class with fixed distribution percentage (Class AMf). Investors should note that fixed distribution percentage is not guaranteed. The share class is not an alternative to fixed interest paying investment. The percentage of distributions paid by these share classes is unrelated to expected or past income or returns of these share classes or the Sub-Funds. Distribution will continue even the Sub-Fund has negative returns and may adversely impact the net asset value of the Sub-Fund.  Positive distribution yield does not imply positive return.

    • Investment involves risks that could result in loss of part or entire amount of investors’ investment.

    • In making investment decisions, investors should not rely solely on this [website/material].

    Note: Dividend payments may, at the sole discretion of the Investment Manager, be made out of the Sub-Fund’s capital or effectively out of the Sub-Fund’s capital which represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount investors originally invested and/or capital gains attributable to the original investment. This may result in an immediate decrease in the NAV per share and the capital of the Sub-Fund available for investment in the future and capital growth may be reduced, in particular for hedged share classes for which the distribution amount and NAV of any hedged share classes (HSC) may be adversely affected by differences in the interests rates of the reference currency of the HSC and the base currency of the respective Sub-Fund. Dividend payments are applicable for Class A/AM/AMg/AMi/AMgi/AQ Dis (Annually/Monthly/Quarterly distribution) and for reference only but not guaranteed.  Positive distribution yield does not imply positive return. For details, please refer to the Sub-Fund’s distribution policy disclosed in the offering documents.

     


    Allianz Global Investors Asia Fund

    • Allianz Global Investors Asia Fund (the “Trust”) is an umbrella unit trust constituted under the laws of Hong Kong pursuant to the Trust Deed. Allianz Thematic Income and Allianz Selection Income and Growth and Allianz Yield Plus Fund are the sub-funds of the Trust (each a “Sub-Fund”) investing in fixed income securities, equities and derivative instrument, each with a different investment objective and/or risk profile.

    • Some Sub-Funds are exposed to significant risks which include investment/general market, company-specific, emerging market, creditworthiness/credit rating/downgrading, default, volatility and liquidity, valuation, sovereign debt, thematic concentration, thematic-based investment strategy, counterparty, interest rate changes, country and region, asset allocation risks and currency (such as exchange controls, in particular RMB), and the adverse impact on RMB share classes due to currency depreciation.  

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in other underlying collective schemes and exchange traded funds. Investing in exchange traded funds may expose to additional risks such as passive investment, tracking error, underlying index, trading and termination. While investing in other underlying collective schemes (“CIS”) may subject to the risks associated to such CIS. 

    • Some Sub-Funds may invest in high-yield (non-investment grade and unrated) investments and/or convertible bonds which may subject to higher risks, such as volatility, creditworthiness, default, interest rate changes, general market and liquidity risks and therefore may  adversely impact the net asset value of the Fund. Convertibles may also expose to risks such as prepayment, equity movement, and greater volatility than straight bond investments.

    • All Sub-Funds may invest in financial derivative instruments (“FDI”) which may expose to higher leverage, counterparty, liquidity, valuation, volatility, market and over the counter transaction risks.  The use of derivatives may result in losses to the Sub-Funds which are greater than the amount originally invested. A Sub-Fund’s net derivative exposure may be up to 50% of its NAV.

    • These investments may involve risks that could result in loss of part or entire amount of investors’ investment.

    • In making investment decisions, investors should not rely solely on this website.

    Note: Dividend payments may, at the sole discretion of the Investment Manager, be made out of the Sub-Fund’s income and/or capital which in the latter case represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount investors originally invested and/or capital gains attributable to the original investment. This may result in an immediate decrease in the NAV per distribution unit and the capital of the Sub-Fund available for investment in the future and capital growth may be reduced, in particular for hedged share classes for which the distribution amount and NAV of any hedged share classes (HSC) may be adversely affected by differences in the interests rates of the reference currency of the HSC and the base currency of the Sub-Fund. Dividend payments are applicable for Class A/AM/AMg/AMi/AMgi Dis (Annually/Monthly distribution) and for reference only but not guaranteed.  Positive distribution yield does not imply positive return. For details, please refer to the Sub-Fund’s distribution policy disclosed in the offering documents.

     

Please indicate you have read and understood the Important Notice.