Probabilistic sequence alignments: realistic models with efficient algorithms

Alignment algorithms usually rely on simplified models of gaps for computational efficiency. Based on an isomorphism between alignments and physical helix-coil models, we show in statistical mechanics that alignments with realistic laws for gaps can be computed with fast algorithms. Improved performances of probabilistic alignments with realistic models of gaps are illustrated. Probabilistic and optimization formulations are compared, with potential implications in many fields and perspectives for computationally efficient extensions to Markov models with realistic long-range interactions

Analyses prospectives de mortalité : approches actuarielle et biomédicale

The human lifespan has been increasing in the world for several centuries. This increase was greater than predicted by specialists who set limits to human age. Despite the significant uncertainties about the future of longevity, the biology of aging and its applications seem about to make old age mortality rates drop, at it happened to infant mortality 150 years ago.The pharmaceutical industry is becoming aware of the potential of biomedical innovations stemming from the biology of aging. It invests in biotechs and develops internal teams. This could accelerate life extension.In parallel, actuarial tables tend to artificially predict longevity decelerations, as for the Lee Carter model, and calculated longevity risks are far from representing major advances from biology of aging.Here, models that do not produce deceleration are developed. It appears that an increase of around one quarter per year was, until now, a better predictor than the trends of each country. Other models predict diverse accelerations, impacts on pensions are analyzed.Current pharmaceutical efforts to apply the results of biomedical research may be feared because of their impact on pensions. Here we study in what measure a longevity megafund can both help finance funded pension schemes and a large number of pharmaceutical developments: the pooling of clinical trial risks can financially capture longevity-related biomedical successesLa durée de vie humaine augmente dans le monde depuis quelques siècles. Cette augmentation a été plus importante que ne le prédisaient les spécialistes qui ont énoncé des limites. Malgré les incertitudes importantes sur l'avenir de la longévité, la biologie du vieillissement et ses applications semblent en passe de faire chuter les taux de mortalité aux grands âges, similairement à la chute des taux de mortalité infantile il y a 150 ans.L’industrie pharmaceutique prend conscience du potentiel des innovations biomédicales issues de la biologie du vieillissement, rachète des biotechs et développe des équipes en interne. Cela pourrait accélérer l'allongement de la vie.Cependant les tables des actuaires, à l'instar du modèle de type Lee Carter, tendent à prédire une décélération artificielle de la longévité et les risques calculés sont loin de représenter des avancées majeures issues de la biologie du vieillissement.Des modèles de mortalité future sont ici développés sans produire cette décélération. Il apparait qu'une augmentation voisine d'un trimestre par an était jusqu'à présent un meilleur prédicteur que les tendances de chaque pays. D'autres modèles prédisent des accélérations. Nous estimons les impacts sur les retraites.Les efforts pharmaceutiques en cours pour appliquer les résultats de la recherche biomédicale peuvent être craints du fait de leurs impacts sur les retraites. Nous étudions dans quelle mesure un méga fonds de longévité peut à la fois aider à financer les retraites par capitalisation et un grand nombre de développements pharmaceutiques: la mutualisation des risques cliniques permet de capter financièrement des succès biomédicaux liés à la longévit

Prospective analysis of longevity : actuarial and biomedical approaches

La durée de vie humaine augmente dans le monde depuis quelques siècles. Cette augmentation a été plus importante que ne le prédisaient les spécialistes qui ont énoncé des limites. Malgré les incertitudes importantes sur l'avenir de la longévité, la biologie du vieillissement et ses applications semblent en passe de faire chuter les taux de mortalité aux grands âges, similairement à la chute des taux de mortalité infantile il y a 150 ans.L’industrie pharmaceutique prend conscience du potentiel des innovations biomédicales issues de la biologie du vieillissement, rachète des biotechs et développe des équipes en interne. Cela pourrait accélérer l'allongement de la vie.Cependant les tables des actuaires, à l'instar du modèle de type Lee Carter, tendent à prédire une décélération artificielle de la longévité et les risques calculés sont loin de représenter des avancées majeures issues de la biologie du vieillissement.Des modèles de mortalité future sont ici développés sans produire cette décélération. Il apparait qu'une augmentation voisine d'un trimestre par an était jusqu'à présent un meilleur prédicteur que les tendances de chaque pays. D'autres modèles prédisent des accélérations. Nous estimons les impacts sur les retraites.Les efforts pharmaceutiques en cours pour appliquer les résultats de la recherche biomédicale peuvent être craints du fait de leurs impacts sur les retraites. Nous étudions dans quelle mesure un méga fonds de longévité peut à la fois aider à financer les retraites par capitalisation et un grand nombre de développements pharmaceutiques: la mutualisation des risques cliniques permet de capter financièrement des succès biomédicaux liés à la longévitéThe human lifespan has been increasing in the world for several centuries. This increase was greater than predicted by specialists who set limits to human age. Despite the significant uncertainties about the future of longevity, the biology of aging and its applications seem about to make old age mortality rates drop, at it happened to infant mortality 150 years ago.The pharmaceutical industry is becoming aware of the potential of biomedical innovations stemming from the biology of aging. It invests in biotechs and develops internal teams. This could accelerate life extension.In parallel, actuarial tables tend to artificially predict longevity decelerations, as for the Lee Carter model, and calculated longevity risks are far from representing major advances from biology of aging.Here, models that do not produce deceleration are developed. It appears that an increase of around one quarter per year was, until now, a better predictor than the trends of each country. Other models predict diverse accelerations, impacts on pensions are analyzed.Current pharmaceutical efforts to apply the results of biomedical research may be feared because of their impact on pensions. Here we study in what measure a longevity megafund can both help finance funded pension schemes and a large number of pharmaceutical developments: the pooling of clinical trial risks can financially capture longevity-related biomedical successe

Predicting Effects of Drugs using actuarial sciences

Predicting Effects of Drugs using actuarial sciences

Do actuaries believe in longevity deceleration?

As more and more people believe that significant life extensions may come soon, should commonly used future mortality assumptions be considered prudent? We find here that commonly used actuarial tables for annuitants – as well as the Lee-Carter model – do not extrapolate life expectancy at the same rate for future years as for past years; instead they produce some longevity deceleration. This is typically because their mortality improvements decrease after a certain age, and those age-specific improvements are constant over time.As potential alternatives i) we study the Bongaarts model that produces straight increases in life expectancy; ii) we adapt it to produce best-practice longevity trends iii) we compare with various longevity scenarios even including a model for “life extension velocity”. iv) after gathering advances in biogerontology we discuss elements to help retirement systems resist to a potential strong increase in life expectancy

Can Pension Funds Partially Manage Longevity Risk by Investing in a Longevity Megafund?

Pension funds, which manage the financing of a large share of global retirement schemes, need to invest their assets in a diversified manner and over long durations while managing interest rate and longevity risks. In recent years, a new type of investment has emerged, that we call a longevity megafund, which invests in clinical trials for solutions against lifespan-limiting diseases and provides returns positively correlated with longevity. After describing ongoing biomedical developments against ageing-related diseases, we model the needed capital for pension funds to face longevity risk and find that it is far above current practices. After investigating the financial returns of pharmaceutical developments, we estimate the returns of a longevity megafund. Combined, our models indicate that investing in a longevity megafund is an appropriate method to significantly reduce longevity risk and the associated economic capital need

Can Pension Funds Partially Manage Longevity Risk by Investing in a Longevity Megafund?

International audiencePension funds that handle retirement risk need to invest assets in a diversified manner, on long durations and if possible while facing interest rate and longevity risk. In the recent years, a new class of investment called a longevity megafund was described, that invests in clinical trials for solutions against age-related diseases. Using simple models, we here study the financial interest for pension funds of investing in a longevity megafund