Would the Universe give us three chances with COVID?

February 10, 2023, Warren, New Jersey

Each morning is a unique opportunity to appreciate life, but there are some mornings that stand out as particularly special.

Enlightening brainstorming on funding mechanisms of medical innovation with brilliant Zachary Drozd and Mayor Victor Sordillo, a man who defines leadership; discussing the decades-long notion that 'mainstream media' is disconnected from the 'mainstream America' in uniquely American political elegance, always serious but never without a touch of humor, with Republican gubernatorial candidate Honorable Jack Ciattarelli. Einstein’s theory of relativity as my father would remind me, two hours felt too short.

Other commitments of a weekday, also known as ‘meetings’, but most of us managed to find a few minutes to admire the majestic US flags of downtown Warren in pleasant 50°F weather of early February. Many of our revolutionary war heroes rest at Warren's Mount Bethel Meeting House Cemetery. The words on their headstones, all one will ever need to demystify the Concept of America and not to be puzzled by our precious Individualism. They were not a match for the best military and naval force of the world, yet they triumphed. The sacrifices made by these heroes helped shape the nation that we know today.

A patriotic American entrepreneur finds 50°F temperature pleasant, cannot stop thinking about "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it" and discusses US media ratings with the gubernatorial candidate – nothing unusual, definitely not worth mentioning. But they can be if that patriotic American happens to be an immigrant who grew up in a tropical country where average February temperature usually reaches 90°F and he definitely did not find 50°F pleasant there, perhaps some cultural similarities but his native language is simplified ancient #sanskrit, not the language of his morning brainstorming. The human species is called Homo sapiens, which means "wise man" in Latin. Adaptation is a fundamental aspect of human biology and culture, the ability to adapt has been critical to the success of our species.

The concept that “change is the only constant in the universe” is attributed to Greek philosopher Heraclitus. In business, as well as nature, this concept is often expressed as “adapt or die” but we, the humans, are designed to “adapt and thrive”. We, the humans, are not designed to fail, but still most of us managed to achieve just that – 'Failure'. I wonder if our well indented business playbooks are too rigid, perhaps antiquated enough to stop human progress. Change is an ongoing process and a Roman or a Sumerian probably would remind us - 'business playbook' is an attempt to apply a set of static rules to control a constantly evolving process is nothing but 'oxymoron', they probably would also warn us about the risk of overriding key to human survival – humans don't deny change, they adapt. Phrases like 'conservative speculation' or 'safe gamble' are oxymorons which combines two contradictory or opposite terms, meant for literature, perhaps harmless TV entertainment, but in reality, business is driven by data not speculation, reward is directly related to risk - the foundational principle of capitalism which is designed to succeed by encouraging entrepreneurship. Series A, B, C... were created for accounting simplicity, not as a policy. Attempting to 'validate' science through investment is 'unfortunately' scientific impossibility, validation requires clinical trial data. Checks and balances are required, data driven analyses are important decision-making tools, Feds can only do so much, and dampened entrepreneurial spirit can hurt us all (Wall Street investment banking slammed, as execs hope for more confidence ahead | Reuters; IPO Bust Sends Big Law Work Plummeting 95% From Record Year (bloomberglaw.com).

This pandemic took away my most thoughtful mentor, my dear friend, Dr. Tom Dyer , decades before his time. His last email to me had five bullet points, he titled them as ‘In General Moving Forward’. Every time I look at his email - which is daily, well, it is the only printed paper on my desk, I wonder if he wanted to point out our irrational behavior – “The first time a new idea is introduced it is attacked. The second time it is introduced it is discredited. The third time it is introduced it is received like it was the truth all along”. 

Both humans and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) can adapt to changing environments and selective pressures. However, the mechanisms and time scales of their adaptations are quite different. Humans are capable of adapting through learning, cultural practices, genetic evolution, and technology. SARS-CoV-2, on the other hand, adapts through genetic mutations that can lead to new variants of the virus. While both humans and the virus can adapt, the consequences of their adaptations are vastly different and often have significant impacts on public health and society as a whole. 1,120,667 Americans have lost their lives to COVID, and the number is growing by the day (Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Google News). If the long Covid (disability of varying degrees) population increases by just 10% each year, in 10 years, the annual cost of lost wages will be half a trillion dollars (New data shows long Covid is keeping as many as 4 million people out of work (brookings.edu). 

“The first time a new idea is introduced it is attacked. The second time it is introduced it is discredited. The third time it is introduced it is received like it was the truth all along”. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technological marvel, being challenged by the ‘norm’ and ironically the current norm was challenged with equal enthusiasm by the previous 'norm'.  

AI will certainly get the third chance, but would the Universe give us three chances with COVID? Well, I asked AI NOW & BEYOND a slightly different but probably relevant question, which happens to keep me awake at night – literally. 

Founder & CEO, TEVOGEN BIO

#adaptation #sarscov2 Mira Murati Vineeta Agarwala, MD PhD #tcells #largepopulation