Author: condor

The Last — Of This Series: Lilly’s Lobby-Spend, Through Three Quarters Of 2025… [And Comparative Trends]

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To close out the quarter, here are Lilly’s details.

While it spent less last year, it is still a significant force, in shaping US health care and pharmaceutical and biotech legislation and regulations, thus:

…Patient protection; Pharma- ceutical supply chain issues and shortages; Drug pricing, coverage, value, access and quality; Transparency; Intellectual property; Health insurance accessibility; Implementation of the “Inflation Reduction Act” (HR.5376); Prescription drug approval; Policy matters related to Artificial Intelligence in health care; One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR.1)….

Issues related to intellectual property protection and market access within current trade negotiations. Canada IP; USMCA implementation; Mexico patent linkage; Special 301; Trade talks: US-Japan, US-China, US-EU, US-UK, US-India, and US-Brazil; US Tariffs. . . .

Intellectual property; 340B Program; Medicare & Medicaid prescription drug reimbursement pricing, coverage, value and access; Implementation of the “Inflation Reduction Act” (HR.5376); CMS National Coverage Determination on Alzheimer’s disease; One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR.1)….

Multi-lateral threats to IP and the biopharmaceutical industry; Drug importation; Prescription drug value, access and quality….

Pharmaceutical intellectual property issues; Implementation and extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Domestic manufacturing tax incentives; Expensing of research and development costs; Global minimum tax; Pension and retirement benefit issues; round-tripping; One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR.1)….

Hospital discounts; 340B program; Prescription drug value, access, quality and compliance with Drug Quality and Safety Act….

Now you know. Onward — as the malign cretin Greg Bovino tucks tail, and runs (like a coward) out of the City of Big Shoulders. Good Riddance, you lawless tear gasser — of children!, and now… perjurer.

नमस्ते

So Another Launch Delay, For Blue Origin “To Barsoom” — Twin ESCAPADEs…

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Probably wise — not to take a fried electronics risk — since this mission will orbit Earth for almost a year, before lighting the fuse, to head out to Mars.

So we will wait probably a week or more, now — for a new launch schedule (it was to be this evening — after a ground-based weather / Florida rainout — over the past weekend):

…11.12.25 | UPDATE | NG-2 / New Glenn is ready to launch.

However, due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the ESCAPADE spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve.

We are currently assessing opportunities to establish our next launch window based on forecasted space weather and range availability….

So it goes — with some of the best high Rockies shots, in the margins… forwarded by family — overnight. Woot.

नमस्ते

Amgen: Also Being Outspent In 2025 (Through Three Quarters) — But Was The Leader Among The Three, In Election Year 2024…

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More power alley disclosures, now — as to by whom, and why-for — our Congress-critters are being wined and dined, in 2025.

We will likely add Lilly into the mix, by tomorrow night — but see the updated totals at right, and the deets… as to Amgen:

…Issues related to drug pricing; Issues related to cardiovascular disease awareness and treatment; Issues related to FDA; Issues related to patient affordability issues, including copay cards, copay accumulators, copay maximizers, National Benefit Payment Parameters; Issues related to biosimilars reimbursement; Issues related to Supply Chain; Issues related to 340B; Issues related to pharmacy benefit managers; Issues related to biosimilars regulatory standards; Issues related to bone disease awareness and treatment; Issues related to Public law 117-1769 Inflation Reduction Act; Issues pertaining to the implementation of PL 97-414 “Orphan Drug Act,” all provisions; HR 946 Optimizing Research Progress Hope and New Cures Act; HR 1492 Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act; HR 1672 Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act; HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14); S 1954 Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act; HR 5526 Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act; HR 2214 DRUG Act; H.R.1968 – Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025; HR 5509 Safe Step act; HR 5256 340B Access Act; HR 4581 340B Patients Act; S2296 NDAA FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, issued related to Biosecure Act….

Issues related to drug pricing; Issues related to Public law 117-1769 Inflation Reduction Act; Issues related to cardiovascular disease awareness and treatment; Issues related to reimbursement for biologics/biosimilars; Issues related to PBM reform; Issues related to bone disease awareness and treatment; HR 946 Optimizing Research Progress Hope and New Cures Act; HR 1492 Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act; HR 1672 Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act; HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14); H.R.1968 – Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025….

Issues related to corporate and international tax, including regarding Public Law 115-97, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Issues related to Puerto Rico; Issues related to OECD negotiations on the taxation of global income; HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14)….

Issues related to tariffs….

Federal Trade Commission related issues, no specific bill; Issues related to the Patent Act, no specific bill; Issues related to March-In/Bayh Dole, WTO/TRIPS waiver, no specific bill; Issues related to patent thickets/product hopping; Issues related to obviousness / double patenting; Issues related to FDA/PTO coordination; Issues related to skinny labeling; S.1041 A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to address the infringement of patents that claim biological products, and for other purposes; S.1040 -A bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit product hopping, and for other purposes; S.2296– NDAA (FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act– BIOSECURE language); S 708/ HR 1574 — Realizing Engineering, Science and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive Patent Rights Act of 2025 (RESTORE); S.1553/HR3160– Promoting and Respecting Economically Viable American Innovation Act (PREVAIL); S. 1546/ HR 3152 — Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025 (PERA)….

Now you know… “you have to break a few eggs, to make an. . . omelet.” And, separately, all solved on the La Guardia run, and music venue set-up is underway, for later tonight, at the House of Blues. Grin. Onward….

नमस्ते

Headline Club Chicago Will Respond By Thursday Night To The Noemites Motion For A [Purported] Emergency Stay, In The Seventh Circuit… Y A W N.

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So… despite Greg Bovino allowing / causing numerous delays (in part, by not being at all prepared — for his five hours of depos — and not delivering drone video footage he was ordered to deliver, causing it to be spread over several days), and despite (under oath) openly agreeing to several trial court measures, Bovino / Noem now appeals the orders making the TRO essentially permanent and requiring that the field agents wear body cams, and comply with existing federal regulations on use of force.

There is no emergency for Bovino — yesterday he and his goons were snapping selfies in front of Cloud-Gate, in the snow — more commonly called “The Bean” here. His work is neither urgent, nor particularly… lawful. Here’s the latest scheduling order on the appeals:

…ORDER re:

1. Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal and Immediate Administrative Stay.

2. Plaintiffs’ Response to Defendants’ Motion for an Emergency Administrative Stay Pending Resolution of the Motion to Stay.

IT IS ORDERED that [Headline Club Chicago] appellees shall respond to the request for a stay pending appeal by 5:00 p.m. on November 13, 2025.

[Entered: 11/10/2025 07:33 PM]….

Onward, resolutely — this guy ought to be run out of town, on a rail. As he took his selfies, the crowd assembled to peacefully chant “Little Village Monster!” at him. Sweet.

नमस्ते

Merck Is Again Being Outspent — By Pfizer, At The Lobbyist Tables — Through First Three Quarters Of 2025…

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But in the election year last year, while Pfizer greatly reduced its spend — Merck had eclipsed Pfizer. Now, the usual pattern is returning, with the larger (at about double Merck’s total assets) Pfizer outspending Merck.

Tomorrow we will lay out what all Pfizer spent on, so far this year, but tonight we detail Merck’s spending categories:

…H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill, issues related to health care; S. 1339, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act; S. 2076, Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions To End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act of 2021

Issues relating to: 340B program integrity; 340B of the Public Health Services Act; 340B issues; 340B drug pricing program; Drug pricing; Drug pricing and reimbursement issues; Cost and value of medicines; Vaccine issues….

Package inserts and e-labeling; Package inserts, labeling issues, and e-labeling authorization legislation; Pharmaceutical supply channel issues; Drug shortages issues; Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), issues relating to drug pricing provisions; FY-2026 Budget and Appropriations Legislation; Budget reconciliation drug pricing provisions; Commerce Justice, Science, and related agencies appropriations legislation for 2026; Interior, Environment, and related agencies appropriations legislation for 2026; Intellectual property protection and trade issues; Animal Health Policy Issues; Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) & Funding for Electronic Animal Traceability; General pharmaceutical issues; Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP); Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) policy issues; Pharmacy Benefit Manager reforms; Food and Drug Administration issues; Public Health Issues; Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing….

H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill, issues related to health care — Issues relating to: Medicare; Medicare Part B and D drug pricing issues; 340B program integrity; 340B of the Public Health Services Act; 340B drug pricing program; Drug pricing; Medicaid drug rebate program; Cost and value of medicines: Drug pricing and reimbursement issues; FY-2026 Budget and Appropriations Legislation; Medicaid drug rebate program (MDRP)….

Issues relating to: Tax reform and tax policy, generally; Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), provisions relating to budget reconciliation and taxes….

Issues relating to: S. 1163, Rural Veterinary Workforce Act — Agriculture; Animal Health Technology; Animal Health Policy Issues; Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) & Funding for Electronic Animal Traceability; Rural development; Administration and related agencies appropriations bill, FY-26….

Now you know — that’s back to power alley stuff through mid-morning tomorrow at least (we shall have to see — if the firehose of Washington DC news will abate long enough to get some coverage of Amgen, and Lilly — and at the mid-tier level, Baxter and Abbott). Onward, as Senate voting is getting underway. Smile — baby-girl on a plane out of the Apple in the morning. Whew!

नमस्ते

UPDATED Hatch Act Violations, At USDA.gov — As Shutdown Belching… Winks Out.

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So… these jamokes apparently never met a Hatch Act violation they did NOT relish — in undertaking, with gusto — and malice, aforethought!

And the shameless lying is a “feature” — not a bug. [This is an update to the prior one on the topic.]

Yep — I’ll just leave it here, to preserve a complete record of the Manchurian Cantaloupe’s ongoing lawlessness — with our taxpayer dollars [Update — I found the prior language verbatim, at upper right]:

…[Ed. Note: it previously opened with “Due to the Radical Left Democratic Shutdown, we cannot provide services to farmers” or some such drivel. Now, as the shutdown ends it reads thus:] Senate Democrats have voted 14 times against reopening the government. This compromises not only SNAP, [somehow she fails to notice that her own agency is LITIGATING, AND APPEALING COMPLETE LOSSES (to the Supremes, no less!) — to try to STOP all SNAP payments!] but farm programs, food inspection, animal and plant disease protection, rural development, and protecting federal lands. Senate Democrats are [The Ultra-MAGA Wing At USDA.gov is wantonly and lawlessly (in the opinions of no fewer than four courts!)] withholding services to the American people [in boot-licking fealty to Trump] in exchange for healthcare for illegals, gender mutilation, and other unknown “leverage” points….

We are here for you [r-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght]….

Perhaps trivial [given all the other felonies, well-documented — over the last year here], but now you know. Onward, resolutely.

नमस्ते

[U: 2X!] Good News! First Cir. Opinion Means Supremes Stay On SNAP — Is Dissolved (Regardless Of Whether A Budget Deal Passes Today).

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UNRELATED UPDATE: The Supremes have also decided, separately, not to hear the Kim Davis nonsense (decided nearly a decade ago, against her) — and thus will preserve marriage equality, for all (see the middle of page nine, here). Now to the decidedly good news, on the SNAP funding cases. End, update.

So — KBJ is one wise Associate Justice. A Supreme, in the truest sense. [It has all unfolded just as we predicted it might.] Trumpie has until 11 AM EST to answer at the Supremes. He’d be an idiot to do so. But we shall see.

Her stay will dissolve in 44 hours now. And the SNAP benefits will keep flowing, no matter what.

These Trumpers are evil people. They seek lawless cruelty as a first instinct. Even so, we will beat them at their part, always. Onward — but here’s that First Circuit opinion, just published, in full — and a bit, of the sharp end of the spear:

…At no point did the government challenge the October 31 TRO after the district court issued it or request that the court modify it in any way. Instead, on Monday, November 3, the government submitted a report to the district court that it had chosen the second option and had “worked diligently to comply with the Court’s order.” It stated that by the end of the day on November 3, the government would have “made the necessary funds available” and “generat[ed] the table required for [s]tates to calculate the [partial] benefits available for each eligible household,” given that full payments would not be forthcoming. An accompanying declaration by a USDA official explained, however, that even once the funds were made available and the table circulated, at least some states would have to implement technical changes to their SNAP systems that “w[ould] take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months.”

The following day, November 4, the plaintiffs asked the district court to enforce the October 31 TRO by requiring the government to provide full SNAP benefits in November….

Given the foreseeability of the problems that the government’s chosen path would entail, the court concluded that the government’s noncompliance with the October 31 TRO was inexcusable. In order to effectuate its October 31 TRO, the court thus required the government to make full November SNAP payments by November 7….

We therefore conclude that the government has not met its burden under the applicable stay factors and thus deny its request to stay the district court’s order granting the motion to enforce….

The snow is coming down hard, anew — looks like we will have over six inches, by the time it stops late this afternoon. Grin — more shoveling, ahead. Woot!

नमस्ते

Corruption, Incarnate: But It Won’t Change The Facts — They Are Never Going To Be Lawyers, Again. Shame Will Follow Them In Eternity…

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Yes, this mal-administration is simply a criminal enterprise. But that’s not news, in any sense. [Do recall that Rudy still faces STATE level felony indictments in Arizona, and a trial as early as February 2026 — this cannot get him out of that. And, do recall that Powell voluntarily pleaded guilty to state level felonies in Georgia.]

Let history decide whether this was the implied promise he made, to all of them — in 2020. Let history decide if this is corrupt. We all know in real time… it is. And we all will work diligently to make sure Powell and Giuliani in particular never get law licenses in any state. Giuliani in particular will remain a bankrupted disbarred lawyer, and shunned in polite NY society. That is admittedly a very tiny silver lining. Here’s the latest from NPR:

…President Trump has pardoned a long list of political allies accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin.

The people listed were charged with or accused of various crimes or conduct related to attempts to subvert the 2020 election, which Trump falsely claimed to have won. Some faced state prosecutions, while others were never charged.

A proclamation published on Martin’s personal X account late Sunday listed 77 people who received “full, complete, and unconditional” pardons, including Rudy Giuliani, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, a former Trump attorney who spread conspiracy theories about ballot fraud after Trump lost the 2020 election….

Onward. And… about four and a half inches of very heavy, wet snow — pebbles, not flakes — fell over leaves in the wee hours… now shoveled. Whew.

नमस्ते

[U: The Hinderaker — Lunatic! — Explainer] Getting Children Fed Is… Job No. 1 — So We Will Fight This Fight Again, In About 60 Days… Ugh.

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Updated: 11.10.2025 — here on a very snowy Monday morning… Your boy, John Hinderaker claims that the shutdown was what the Democrats always intended, and that all the pain caused was their fault.

Oddly enough, he forgets to explain why Democrats were asking to continue to pay SNAP benefits, so kids wouldn’t starve, all while the MAGA Republicans voted over and over again, and then sued, and then appealed, over and over again (when they lost in the trial courts!) to keep kids from getting food in America.

That sure seemed… intentionally cruel, John.

And in fact, in court papers before the United States Supreme Court this morning, the USDA specifically stated that the reason the vote was happening in the Senate today… was to moot their prior decisions — blocking funding to hungry children.

Facts are quite stubborn things, John — get used to it. And get used to the idea that lying doesn’t work anymore. Cheers! End update.

It looks like a vote to fund the federal government for about 60 days will come as early as tomorrow. Yes, that “just kicks the can down the alley” — over the holidays.

But blaming the few Democrats who are compromising here… is to simply be a shill for the MAGA / Republicans.

You see, that is exactly the narrative they want told. But this shut down, and the starving of American children… is entirely their fault.

Republicans control the White House, the Senate and the US House at the moment. Failing to fund SNAP for the one in five children in America who go hungry more than once a week now, is an egregious moral failing solely residing inside MAGA.

To be sure, I’m deeply disappointed that we haven’t solved continuation of Obamacare subsidies / fundings — in any manner.

But to fall for the “Bernie Bros” formulation of the ultimatum — which would make any Democrat “a traitor” — for compromising in any way (even to feed hungry children!)… is to foolishly play right into Trump’s hands — by not affixing responsibility where it ought to exclusively lie: directly at 1600 Penn. Out.

नमस्ते

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Launch From Canaveral: Rescheduling — For Wednesday?

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So — assuming the weather clears up by then, there may be another attempt at the twin Mars-bound spacecraft launch — in three days’ time. Here’s that.

The below was posted here on Sunday evening, on X-itter, via Blue Origin

…NG-2 Launch Update: Our next launch attempt is no earlier than Wednesday, November 12, due to forecasted weather and sea state conditions. We worked with the FAA and range to select a launch window from 2:50 PM – 4:17 PM EST / 19:50 – 21:17 UTC. The live webcast starts at T-20 minutes….

6:05 PM · Nov 9, 2025 | 60.3K Views….

Now you know. Onward, to a busy week ahead, in any event (with or without private space launches from inside the US). Smile — no snow sticking yet — a dusting this morning, but it melted quickly. We will see what the wee hours bring. Heh.

नमस्ते