Category: Uncategorized

A Reconfigured Hubble Will Be Back “On Mission”, Shortly: NASA

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A bit ago, we mentioned that NASA would likely reconfigure Hubble, both as to software on-board, and ground support firmware, hardware and software… to run on only one gyroscope.

Today, NASA confirmed this fix for a failing set of gyros. Here’s that story:

…While continuing to make science observations in one-gyro mode, there are some expected minor limitations. The observatory will need more time to slew and lock onto a science target and won’t have as much flexibility as to where it can observe at any given time. It also will not be able to track moving objects closer than Mars, though these are rare targets for Hubble.

The transition involves reconfiguring the spacecraft and ground system as well as assessing the impact to future planned observations. The team expects to resume science operations again by mid-June. Once in one-gyro mode, NASA anticipates Hubble will continue making new cosmic discoveries alongside other observatories, such as the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope and future Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, for years to come.

Launched in 1990, Hubble has more than doubled its expected design lifetime, and has been observing the universe for more than three decades, recently celebrating its 34th anniversary….

Now you know — we will now likely get at least another decade of science from this workhorse space ‘scope. Onward.

नमस्ते

Unsurprising Tangent: MDMA For PTSD, “Hits The Wall” — Voted Down 10-1, At FDA Advisory Committee — “Risks Exceed Any Benefit”…

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Not terribly surprising, as this had a bit of the game plan the Sacklers employed (on oxy-) — written all over it.

The relevant Advisory Committee at FDA yesterday voted 10-1 against approval, for a psychedelic candidate / controlled substance — as a putative treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.

From Seeking Alpha, then — a sensible squib:

…Psychedelic stocks Mind Medicine (NASDAQ:MNMD) dropped 10%, Atai Life Sciences (ATAI) -19%, COMPASS Pathways (CMPS) -15%, and Cybin (CYBN) -10% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted against a therapy based on the mind-altering drug MDMA for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, marking a setback to the nascent field of psychedelic treatments. The panel voted 10-to-1, stating that the benefits did not outweigh the risks and that the available data did not show its effectiveness….

Now you know, And I’m so sorry, Dr. Timothy Leary, but that time, it seems — is at an end. Smile.

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Whyte Flopper Guys / Gals… Cannot Answer “…Research shows that Black-women-founded companies have received far less than even ONE PERCENT of all venture-capital funding in recent years….”

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Okay, so tonight, the parade of dumb Tangerine appointee opinions rolls… ever onward — in Florida.

The ultra-right panel of the Eleventh Circuit (two of three on the panel were appointed by Trump) just held that some whyte gals and guys whining about a $20,000 GIFT / grant program, run by a private VC fund — designed to address long term discrimination in venture funding levels / outcomes — involving businesses owned by women of color… is invidious reverse discrimination.

Preposterous. Never mind that the program is essentially a gift giving (entirely voluntary; unenforceable by the donee). Never mind that whyte owned businesses receive billions daily, nation-wide — in venture funding, where women of color are not even invited to make a formal, in person pitch. Never mind that these “whyte plaintiffs” cannot even show that they APPLIED for one of the gifts.

Never mind all of that — as the dissent cogently points out… the Eleventh Circuit rewards these “silly flopping whiners”. Here’s the better of the argument, from the dissent (and the one that will almost certainly prevail at the Supremes):

…No one doubts the sincerity of an Arsenal (soccer) player’s desire to beat Tottenham. But he can’t be allowed to try to win by flopping on the field, faking an injury near Tottenham’s goal.

For those not in the know, the object of flopping is to manufacture a foul that the player hasn’t actually experienced to manipulate the referee into inappropriately exercising his power to award a penalty kick in the box, where it’s likely to result in a goal. Referees’ vigilance prevents players who have a sincere desire to defeat their opponents — but who try to do so through manufactured fouls — from commandeering referees to improperly exercise their adjudicatory authority to award unwarranted penalty kicks.

Article III’s standing requirement — which comes from the Constitution’s limitation on the Judiciary to hear only “[c]ases” and “[c]ontroversies” — prevents the legal version of flopping. . . .

None of American Alliance’s members have [even] applied for the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest. So [per force] they haven’t been rejected and can’t claim they’ve already suffered an injury….

Yes it will be appealed to the Supremes, and in the mean time, the VC firm — called Fearless Fund, here… will restructure the gifting so that there is no visible version of color vetting.

These are clear “expressive elements”: the idea of PRIVATE gift-giving for social purposes. The panel’s cramped insistence on the application being an “enforced contract” places the form well over the substance. It will fail.

The VC firm absolutely has the right to make charitable gifts to anyone it chooses (that’s core First Amendment activity) — and if whyte ppl do decide to formally make applications… the VC will of course consider them, and likely — and properly. . . refer them on, to… Goldman Sachs. Where their billions await. This is… $20,000. Damn.

So it goes — this is a… nothing burger from some far right Trump appointees. Sheesh — out.

नमस्ते

[U: 06.04.2024] An Unfortunate Politicization: Mr. Biden Does NOT Possess The Power To Suspend Treaties With Any Executive Order. [Neither Did Tangerine.]

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UPDATE: Apparently Mr. Biden intends to rely on Section 212(f) of the 1952 immigration act. But as many courts held (back in 2018-20), that section has been substantially modified by later amendments, and court decisions narrowing the permissible constitutional scope of its use, in specific circumstances. The actual EO is not yet available — so we wait to see it. [But Tangerine’s Muslim Ban 2.0 relied on 212(f), and was held an unconstitutional usurping of legislative authority.] So… we wait. End, update number 1.

This is a deeply frustrating bit of election year pandering, by my lights. I understand that Mr. Biden feels Team Trump is painting him unfairly — regarding asylum-seekers. I get that.

But just as I pointed out for six years, here (and every federal court that has ever squarely considered it has held), the Executive Branch acting alone, cannot negate the treaties we’ve signed, on the treatment of anyone — no matter where they cross — if they in good faith make a claim for asylum on arrival or shortly after.

It is possible that Mr. Biden’s order will come tomorrow with a finding of a national emergency, and very clear temporary only measures — but absent those, this is… an unlawful proposed executive order. Here’s that troubling MSM report, on it — clearly election year fodder, which will be enjoined in the Ninth Circuit… eventually (if the reporting on it is accurate):

…The order would represent the single most restrictive border policy instituted by Mr. Biden, or any modern Democrat, and echoes a 2018 effort by President Donald J. Trump to block migration that was assailed by Democrats and blocked by federal courts….

Dammit. This is no way to go. No way… at all. Onward — just the same. We will fight it in the federal trial courts immediately, in the Southern District of California. And we will prevail.

There is no reason to offer “optics only” executive orders — when we know they are unlawful. We as the reasonable party ought to be above this nonsense. Out.

नमस्ते

Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Candidate Shines, In Melanoma Combo Trial With Keytruda… Likely Material Good News For Rahway.

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This result was reported out at ASCO, but is probably not getting the full attention it deserves. The “loud part, being said softly, here” is that even if — by some improbably dark magic, a generic clears all the US baffles to reach market before 2030 with a bio-similar to Keytruda, this all-branded combo has breakthrough clearance coming at FDA (on the strength of this data) — and since the FDA clearance will relate exclusively to the twin brandeds, in combination… Merck will very likely sail into 2035 or so, largely not seriously challenged in the US markets, by any generic.

[Many know that this had been my long held view, on a likely-coming Merck “evergreening” strategy. We may leave for another day the discussion of whether this is a wise way for public policy to work, but it is how the laws and regulations function, at present. This will be deemed a new invention. Just one of my backgrounders, here.]

That is, this sort of “step-wise approvaling approach” effectively stretches out the duration of Merck’s patents, since it is now clear that the combo improves efficacy — and the FDA clearance will be for only the branded combination at first. [Thus my long offered conjecture, toward 2035 for a real US generic threat, to pembrolizumab. That conjecture is now becoming… fact.]

Here is Fierce on it all:

…During ASCO, Merck and Moderna publicly presented three-year data on the joint cancer vax in a phase 2b trial for resected melanoma. The update comes from KEYNOTE-942, a trial assessing the individualized neoantigen therapy (INT) in combination with Keytruda for 157 patients with high-risk melanoma (stage 3/4) after complete resection.

At a median follow-up of 34.9 months, mRNA-4157 and Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% compared to Keytruda by itself. This compares to the two-year top-line data that found a 44% recurrence-free survival rate.

“These data are very important, because they provide a strong efficacy and durable efficacy for patients,” Barr said. “This is a therapy designed for immunologic resetting, where you’re trying to create anti-tumor immune responses that are very vigorous and can be used for long-term control of the tumor.”

When examining long-term efficacy, the key is to watch for any late relapses that could occur, Barr said. Relapses would indicate that the vaccine’s initial benefit stops or dissipates over time. That hasn’t been the case for mRNA-4157 in KEYNOTE-942….

Now you know — and the stock is up, smartly, on the NYSE — in response. And so, onward, smiling.

नमस्ते

[Tangent] México Has Elected A Climate Scientist As Its Presidenta…

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Yes, and… she’s a Jew — and the former Mayor of México City… and… a woman.

In fitting fashion, since about 9:45 pm this evening, the amateur fireworks I usually hear on Cinco De Mayo in my neighborhood… have been a steady drum-beat, but it now sounds more like July 4, here at 1 am, as the networks have called it for new Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum. Here’s the latest:

…Claudia Sheinbaum, of the ruling party Morena, is projected to become Mexico’s first woman president after a landslide victory in Sunday’s election, according to a quick count by the country’s electoral commission….

Again, the arc of history bends toward… progress. And the Powerline boys should be crapping their pants. Grin.

नमस्ते

Last Week, Merck’s Shareholders, By Over 98-to-2 Margins, Voted DOWN Two Hard Right Activists’ Proposals…

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I am just dreadfully tired of the GOP/MAGA crowd telling us that they (and their consultants) represent most of the real people of America.

It is plain that they do not.

We waited a bit to post it — as it is trivial (and to be clear, the shareholders overwhelmingly approved the pay-levels of the board & executives). . . so, this is no “apathy” non-vote:

…Shareholder proposal regarding a government censorship transparency report:
25,652,699 votes FOR

1,769,667,178 votes AGAINST

or an affirmative vote of 1.42% of the total votes cast….

Shareholder proposal regarding a report on respecting workforce civil liberties:

36,532,781 votes FOR

1,764,002,836 votes AGAINST

or an affirmative vote of 2.02% of the total votes cast….

Now you know — the Boebert / Abbott / Jordan / MTG / Trump crowds were behind the above. It didn’t fair very well… not very well, at all. Onward, grinning.

नमस्ते

I LOVE That The GOP Now Holds “Respecting A Jury Verdict” Is A Political Death-Knell…

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Mirengoff… since when?

Since Tangerine — that’s when.

Paul, and John and Scott and Steve had, as of 2016, sold their souls to… Old Scratch.

And the bill has now come due: Old Scratch demands tribute, and these shrivelled souls… now pay it, daily.

The GOP has become the party that threatens members who express respect for the rule of law, even when they disagree with a particular jury outcome. Paul and John and Scott are aiding in the threats, daily.

And Paul seems vexed that the people of the city where Trump made all his lucor, and lived for nearly 75 of his 80 some years… have properly judged him for who he… is… and was.

He’s a felon. 34… wonderful… Counts.

Grin.

Power Alley (Immuno-Oncology): Summit Due To Discuss Additional Data, Tomorrow Regarding Ivonescimab — And The Encouraging China Study…

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We are very much inclined to wait to see the additional data, presumably some of which might include interim looks at some later EU and or US patient sets. That said, the data from Summit’s China only study is quite encouraging. There is though, the concern of ethnic / genetic factors rendering ivonescimab exceptionally effective in Chinese populations; less so in European or Caucasian or African ones. [We have seen that effect several times, on the treatment of diabetes, and hepatitis.]

So we will wait until more data is available, but at best this likely makes ivonescimab a nice supplement or complement, especially in Asian populations. It is very-unlikely to mean Summit could take over leadership in any US or EU market. Here’s some of the latest:

…Citing interim data from the HARMONi-2 trial conducted by its partner Akeso in China, Summit said it was the first time Keytruda was beaten in a late-stage randomized trial for NSCLC with a statistically significant effect.

“This result, despite the likely pushback on a China-only trial, should underscore the potential for ivonescimab,” Citi analyst Yigal Nochomovitz wrote, reiterating his buy recommendation and $7 target on the stock….

We would not rush to buy Summit, and we certainly would not sell Merck, not until there is LOTS more peer reviewed and vetted data. Now you know. Onward, grinning, out to a sunny Sunday.

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