Doctors Without Borders Presses Gilead -- To Provide Much More Of The (Discounted Price) Wonder HIV Drug Lenacapavir, For The Emerging Markets...

This seems like one "access" argument Gilead could afford to bend a lil' on.

The twice a year drug will make tens of billions in each year, in the post industrial world, for several years, now.

And in any event, with generic versions coming into at least some markets in about a year, Gilead could let Africa and South America receive near generic pricing. . . today. The doctors' charitable group is right: these vast advances in standard of HIV care should be made as widely available as possible. [Much like the river blindness drug Ivermectin, which Merck has made available for free in Africa for decades now.]

My buddy, Ed Silverman is excellent on this timely topic (but just FYI, that is a paid subscription link -- for Stat subscribers, only). And so, here is the original MSF letter, to Gilead's CEO, Daniel O'Day:

. . .Both the pace of the current lenacapavir rollout and the scope of ambition for future scale-up fall far short of what the moment demands and the needs of the world’s most marginalized communities. The plan to reach 2 million people over three years is a fraction of the estimated need. When requests for purchase are refused, access is restricted, and prices remain secret, it is hard to believe Gilead is committed to equitable access rather than maintaining control over the product for maximum profit. . . .

MSF currently accesses a limited number of lenacapavir doses through the Global Fund, which Gilead has supplied with enough lenacapavir for 2 million people over three years. This is currently the only avenue available to us. Gilead has indicated that this is all the supply available for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) until generic versions come online in 2027. . . .

We call on Gilead to respond by April 13, 2026 clarifying:

Whether you will sell lenacapavir directly to MSF?

If not, why, given your stated production capacity?

If yes, at what price and how soon can delivery begin?

The health of many people depends on your answers to these questions. . . .

Indeed -- and, onward, grinning -- with our crew headed out, toward the Moon, with a "Wiley E. Coyote" move (and one to get back home!). Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

[U, X2: Success -- In High Orbit!] We Are (Again) Less Than Two Hours -- From Launch Time... Will The Artemis II Crew Get Their Rocket -- To Circle The Moon? We Shall See...

UPDATE: At the 1:54 mark, the team has identified an issue with the emergency Flight Termination System software. They are seeing unexpected readings, and so the solution is to go pull a piece of hardware that was last used "live" during the Space Shuttle era, and see if it confirms that these readings are nominal -- or okay to go, for flight. Wow. I suspect the window is going to slip a bit. Do stay tuned, to the YouTube Live, below. End updated portion.

The best news so far is that there have been no "call outs" -- or unscheduled holds, either -- relating to tanking / hydrogen leak issues.

And the launch "window" is ample. . . at least two hours -- about two hours, from now (1 hour and 58 minutes, actually) -- or around 6: 20 pm Eastern.

We wish the crew -- and the brilliant working scientists and engineers at NASA. . . all the best.

I will be off grid when the launch window actually opens, but will report, later tonight -- either way. Onward.

नमस्ते

Berlin, Germany Now Seeing 'Locally Spreading' Mpox Clade 1b Outbreak: 35 Men Are Ill...

Well, we all knew this might come -- viral vectors bear Darwinian imperatives, too. The communities at risk need to be more vigilant, as well. Still -- we hold out hope -- that wider vaccination protocols. . . will arrest this outbreak.

Here is the disappointing news, out of Berlin -- from CIDRAP:

. . .A rapidly expanding cluster of mpox caused by clade 1b virus has been identified among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Berlin, Germany, according to a rapid communication published last week in Eurosurveillance. Of the 35 identified cases from December 2025 to last month, 34 were most likely acquired locally.

The sharp increase in locally acquired infections marks a shift from historic patterns in which most mpox cases in Europe were largely travel-related. Clade 1b of the mpox virus (MPXV) was newly identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several other countries in East and Central Africa in 2023. . . .

Tough news, indeed. But onward, now -- to see whether Artemis II has solved the tanking / liquid hydrogen leaks problem, around this noon-time, Eastern.

नमस्ते

And, Good News For PBS And NPR -- From The Able USDC Judge Randy Moss, In DC...

I won't belabor it -- but Tangerine 2.0's lame-a$$ effort to punish journalists he disfavors. . . was dealt another [likely lethal] blow, today.

He will doubtless appeal. But that too will fail. Here's a bit, but do go read all of the 60-plus pages:

. . .These consolidated cases raise the question whether the First Amendment permits the executive branch to put an end to all federal funding across agencies and programs for two private entities -- here, National Public Radio (“NPR”) and the Public Broadcasting Service (“PBS”) -- merely because, in the President’s view, “neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events.” Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media, Exec. Order No. 14290 § 1, 90 Fed. Reg. 19415 (May 1, 2025) (“Exec. Order”). . . .

The President may, of course, engage in his own expressive conduct, including criticizing the views, reporting, or programming of NPR, PBS, or any other news outlet with whom he disagrees. The government may also fund its own speech and may fund government programs that promote specific perspectives on issues of public importance, and it may decide which views or perspectives to convey -- and which not to convey -- in any such government speech or program. And it may impose limits on federal grants to ensure that they are deployed to further the legitimate purposes of the program and may pick and choose among applicants based on legitimate criteria. But the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power -- including the power of the purse -- “to punish or suppress disfavored expression” by others. Nat’l Rifle Ass’n of Am. v. Vullo, 602 U.S. 175, 188 (2024).

As the Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit have observed on more than a dozen occasions, the government “may not deny a benefit to a person on a basis that infringes his constitutionally protected. . . freedom of speech even if he has no entitlement to that benefit.” E.g., Agency for Int’l Dev. v. All. for Open Soc’y Int’l, Inc., 570 U.S. 205, 214 (2013).

Executive Order 14290 crosses that line. It does not define or regulate the content of government speech or ensure compliance with a federal program. Nor does it set neutral and germane criteria that apply to all applicants for a federal grant program. Instead, it singles out two speakers and, on the basis of their speech, bars them from all federally funded programs. . . .

Because the First Amendment does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type, the Court will issue judgment against the federal agency defendants declaring Section 3(a) of the Executive Order is unconstitutional and will issue an injunction barring those defendants from implementing it. . . .

Excellent!

नमस्ते

"Missing", At Mars: Maven Mission Update. [Not Good News.]

We have reported on this before -- it is almost certainly. . . end of mission.

And, I am rather skeptical that we will ever learn the root cause of the loss of signal in early December 2025.

And so, consequently, I am pretty sure we won't ever "get eyes on" the Maven craft, again. She flew, and flew well -- long beyond her expected life. And that may be all we will ever know. Here's the latest, from NASA, on the Barsoomian happenings:

. . .NASA Anomaly Review Board Investigates MAVEN Loss of Signal

A NASA anomaly review board, convened in mid-February, is evaluating the recovery efforts undertaken for the agency’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft orbiting Mars. The spacecraft was last heard from on Dec. 6. The board also will assess the probable current state of the spacecraft and the likelihood of its recovery. . . .

So it goes. Keep a good thought -- for Artemis -- mañana. . . [check for updates, out of Canada, on Artemis -- here] smile.

नमस्ते

Trivia: I Don't Care How Kristi Noem's Husband Presents, Or Otherwise Decides To Dress -- Among Fellow Adults... But I REFUSE To Believe She Had "No Idea" -- And Was "Blindsided".

This is truly. . . trivial -- except for the STAGGERING hypocrisy, of it all.

How he dresses on Tinder and/or Grinder, or wherever it was, or elsewhere (in real life). . . is his business, alone. And even though it may not be exciting to me, personally. . . he should plainly keep the right to present as he pleases. But c'mon, man -- the vetting by NSA would have found this very public profile, well before when she was appointed. [Or even before -- during her stint as Gov. in the Dakota territory. To a certainty, everyone at the top of Trump World would have been briefed. Period.]

So. . . where I come up short is. . . how often these supposedly-Bible believing MAGA nuts. . . lose their lil' minds, about someone cross-dressing -- refusing an adult's right to be themselves. And. . . then, for Kristi to ask for "prayers" because her family has been "devastated" by this. . . is just utterly. . . non-plausible.

She knew. She didn't care -- until it became a liability to her credibility inside the top of MAGA World. What a pile of deplorables these people all are. Man, oh man. Or. . . woo-man. I. Don't. Care. Out.

नमस्ते

Even After Mom Recovered From Ebola -- The Virus Was Still Detected In Her Breast Milk, For Weeks After... Babies Should Avoid.

This is yet another note of caution: we still do not fully understand when -- or how -- to declare people who recover from Ebola exposure. . . virus free -- and safe.

Here's CIDRAP, with the NEJM latest:

. . .The Ebola virus (EBOV) might persist in breast milk for weeks after maternal recovery, according to a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine. . . .

EBOV RNA persisted in the placenta and breast milk. To reduce the infant’s risk of contracting the disease, researchers kept the mother from breastfeeding and gave a prophylactic (preventive) monoclonal antibody to the newborn. During follow-up, the infant exhibited no signs of infection.

Ongoing testing showed that the mother’s blood remained negative, but viral RNA was still detectable in breast milk at 14 weeks after illness onset. To protect the newborn from transmission, clinicians used the drug bromocriptine to suppress lactation.

While the authors call for further studies and the use of viral culture to better assess infection risk, the findings suggest the potential for mother-to-child transmission while breastfeeding. Current World Health Organization guidance recommends that Ebola survivors avoid breastfeeding until viral clearance is confirmed. . . .

Now you know -- we must accept that these viral vectors are quite hardy. Go now, and do be excellent to one another. . . as we all know that one way to avoid having to discern when the virus RNA has cleared, is to vaccinate, and never get Ebola in the first place. To conduct wide public vaccination campaigns, in all affected geographies. Onward.

नमस्ते

Power Alley: Merck To Spend Up To $838 Million, With Infinimmune, To Get "First Refual" Rights -- On Human Memory B Cell Antibodies...

The Rahway company continues to invest in its 2030s future, here getting a first look at Infinimmune's high value antibody targets for various diseases (both viral and cancerous) -- to become candidates for therapies or vaccines.

Here's the latest, from Fierce Biotech:

. . .Merck & Co. is rounding out its March deal flurry with an antibody discovery pact that could be worth as much as $838 million.

The New Jersey pharma is tapping Infinimmune to hunt for antibodies for as-of-yet undisclosed targets. The $838 million total comes from an undisclosed upfront payment and future potential milestone payouts, according to a March 31 release. Once Infinimmune identifies a potential antibody under the deal, Merck will have the exclusive right to take over development and commercialization.

Infinimmune’s platform uses a large dataset sourced from human memory B cells, which the company believes makes its antibody candidates already primed to become new drugs. . . .

Onward, grinning. . . .

नमस्ते

The Nancy Grace Roman Space 'Scope: Fully Assembled!

This wide field, deep space mapping telescope will be ready for lunch as early as September 2026 -- but will launch no later than Spring of 2027. It truly is a marvel of fine engineering.

And, in yet another echo of "Hidden Figures", this will be the first space telescope ever named for a woman. We have mentioned it on and off over the last decade, as our regular readers will know. Here's the latest, from NASA:

. . .The Roman observatory is slated to launch no later than May 2027, with the team aiming for as early as fall 2026. The mission will revolutionize our understanding of the universe with its deep, crisp, sweeping views of space.

More than a thousand technicians and engineers assembled Roman from millions of individual components. Many parts were built and tested simultaneously to save time. Now that the observatory is assembled, it will undergo a spate of testing prior to shipping to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in summer 2026. . . .

Onward, smiling -- into a beautiful new Spring morning. Even in these times of darkness, there are many reasons to smile and greet the day. Our advancing knowledge of interstellar space, chief among them:



_{[To be clear, I wish the Artemis crew all the best -- but I just see scant valid scientific reasons, to risk these crewed Moon missions -- other than 1600 Penn's insatiable hubris, for a 250 video show. Out.]}

नमस्ते

The Plaintiffs Will Now Likely Get To Trial, In DC US District Court, On Whether Trump Needed The Senate's Consent, In Order To Put Musk In -- To Head DOGE. Sweet.

In DC, the very capable USDC Judge Tanya Chutkan published a 31 page opinion, last week -- explaining how and why Musk and Trump acted lawlessly last Spring. [Just one of several of my backgrounders, here.]

Do read it all -- but here is a bit:

. . .The Appointments Clause is concerned only with the appointment of officers. See New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 199 (“To state an Appointments Clause violation, a plaintiff must allege that an ‘Officer of the United States’ has not been constitutionally appointed.” (quoting U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 2)). The Clause “cares not a whit” about the appointment of “nonofficer employees”—the “lesser functionaries” who make up the vast bulk of “the Government’s workforce.” Lucia v. SEC, 585 U.S. 237, 245 (2018); see also Freytag, 501 U.S. at 880 (nonofficer employees “need not be selected in compliance with the strict requirements of Article II”). But contrary to Defendants’ contention, Plaintiffs have adequately pled that the head of DOGE is an officer of the United States. “In the constitutional context, an ‘officer’ is someone who”: (1) “‘occupies a continuing position established by law,’” and (2) “‘exercises significant authority pursuant to the laws of the United States.’” Al Bahlul v. United States, 967 F.3d 858, 869 (D.C. Cir. 2020) (quoting Lucia, 585 U.S. at 245). The Complaint sufficiently alleges both.

. . .Plaintiffs have adequately pled that the head of DOGE occupies a continuing position. A position is “continuing” when it (1) is “not transient or fleeting,” (2) is “not personal to a particular individual,” and (3) carries out duties that are “more than incidental to the regular operations of government.” United States v. Donziger, 38 F.4th 290, 297 (2d Cir. 2022). Although a continuing position cannot be transient or fleeting, it need not be permanent. . . .

Plaintiffs have also sufficiently pled that “the position is not personal to a particular individual.” Donziger, 38 F.4th at 297. Although DOGE is most closely associated with its first leader, Elon Musk, the Complaint alleges that Musk led DOGE as a special government employee, a position he was required to vacate after 130 days. See Compl. ¶ 36; see also 18 U.S.C. § 202(a) (defining a “special government employee” as “an officer or employee” who cannot serve for more than 130 days a year). Given that DOGE will exist for at least 18 months, Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that “the position [of DOGE’s leader] is not personal to Musk” and does not disappear after he leaves government. New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 201; see also Donziger, 38 F.4th at 297 (a position does not “depend on the identity of the person occupying it” if that individual “could be replaced without the duties of the position[] terminating”). Plaintiffs’ Appointments Clause claim may thus lie against whoever succeeds Musk in leading DOGE. See New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 201; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d). . . .

Now you know -- and now. . . I do wish he was in that spacesuit, and Tesla red roadster (legacy graphic at lower left). Onward, as sanity makes a comeback. . . grin.

नमस्ते

Several Regulatory Warning Letters, To Major Bio-Pharma Concerns, During March 2026. That's News, Under Tangerine 2.0.

To be fair, Iovance, Novartis and BMS all received similar biological/pharmaceutical letter warnings, from FDA's CBER.

The point of the spear then, is that even under Tangerine 2.0, the working parts of FDA (CBER) will expect major biopharma- to be careful -- in what each claims, in its marketing materials. . . as to indications, and efficacy -- each, not yet established by FDA vetted and approved studies.

[To my experienced eye, it would seem that the letter to Iovance makes the most serious allegations, by CBER.]

In any event, since we follow Gilead closely, here's a bit of the FDA's Kite / Gilead March 9 letter:

. . .The promotional materials make false or misleading claims and representations about the benefits of TECARTUS. Thus, the promotional materials misbrand TECARTUS within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and make its distribution violative. 21 U.S.C. 321(n); 331(a); 352(a), (n). See 21 CFR 202.1(e)(5). These violations are particularly concerning from a public health perspective because the promotional materials make misleading representations about TECARTUS being more effective or having greater clinical benefit than has been demonstrated. This may cause doctors and patients to inaccurately weigh the risks versus benefits of treatment with TECARTUS, which can be fatal or life-threatening. . . .

Now you know. Be careful out there, folks. Onward, grinning -- on a perfectly sunny Spring afternoon in the steel and glass canyons.

नमस्ते

Merck Discloses Very Impressive Cholesterol Lowering Data, With Its Next Gen PCSK9 Inhibitor, Enlicitide.

We last mentioned this development in early September of 2025 -- when Rahway posted excellent top-line results. The detailed data is now out, and the next-gen cholesterol lowering pill is a very clear winner.

In a clinical study called CoralReef AddOn, Merck's PCSK9 inhibitor effectively doubled the lowering effect seen with old Vytorin, a legacy Schering-Plough / Merck drug (with a troubled FDA disclosures / approval history -- circa 2006).

So, this brings our narrative arc full circle -- away from the debacle that largely caused the break-up of old S-P. Here's that good news, from Fierce Biotech:

. . .Merck & Co. has lifted the lid on the third successful phase 3 trial of its PCSK9 inhibitor, showing the edge the cardiovascular disease prospect has over other oral non-statin therapies.

Last year, Merck said the study, dubbed Coralreef AddOn, met its primary and key secondary endpoints, but the company kept the data back for a medical meeting. The Big Pharma arrived at the American College of Cardiology’s annual get-together clutching the data, which show its oral macrocyclic peptide enlicitide comfortably beat the control treatments across multiple measures of cardiovascular health. . . .

On Day 56, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) had fallen by an average of 64.6% in the enlicitide cohort. Patients on the combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe had the next biggest decline in LDL-C, but the drop lagged well behind the study drug at 36.5%. . . .

And so, the Fred Hassan era is long-gone -- as no more than a speed-bump, in the history of bad big pharma. Onward, smiling. . . yep -- that's the power-alley. And, has it really been two decades? I guess so, because "time flies -- when you're having fun. . . ."

नमस्ते

UPDATE: On The Class Action Pending Since 1985, Under Reagan: ICE Violations Of Migrants' Rights...

The ongoing court-ordered mediation, to resolve what has now become 42 years of lawlessness, at the border, and in detention centers. . . continues, in the federal court complex, in LA -- in the case captioned Flores (before the ever capable USDC Judge Dolly Gee), with hope for some specific relief at the federal Dilley detention complex.

We've been here (in this back and forth) before -- in Tangerine 1.0. So, I don't hold out a ton of hope for a complete resolution -- but this is the process -- so we follow it (from Friday past):

. . .The parties provide the Court with the following update regarding mediation. Defendants submitted supplemental reports by the Juvenile Coordinators of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on March 13, 2026, see ECF Nos. 1735 and 1736, and Plaintiffs’ counsel responded on March 20, 2026, see ECF Nos. 1747 and 1748.

Dr. Wise visited Dilley Immigration Processing Center on March 24, 2026, and the parties await his report of the visit.

After further communications by mediator Andrea Sheridan Ordin with counsel for Plaintiffs, and, separately, counsel for Defendants, on March 27, 2026, the parties agreed to continue discussions, with particular attention to time in custody and medical care, for the next 30 days. The parties agree to provide the Court with an update no later than April 27, 2026.

Dated: March 27, 2026

NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW | Mishan Wroe | Diane de Gramont | Rebecca Wolozin

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS | Leecia Welch | Eleanor Roberts

CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | Carlos Holguín | Bardis Vakili | Sarah E. Kahn. . . .

Now you know. Onward, resolutely. Damnation.

नमस्ते

As Ever, Amazon Wildly Outspends Even Pharma- -- On Lobbying. This Year Was No Exception...

I am (as ever!) tardy with this -- but it makes a nice pair of bookends, with my immediately prior Amazon labor lawlessness, in British Columbia.

For the year, Amazon again increased lobby spend -- to nearly $18 million. This is what all the Bezos controlled concern bend Congressional ears on (culled, to include only health-, and life sciences, and telemedicine, and employee relations and tax matters):

. . .Issues related to intellectual property, including the NO FAKES Act (S. 1367), counterfeits, music licensing, and issues related to patent reform, International Trade Commission patent investigations, intermediary liability, and patent reform, including the RESTORE Patents Act (H.R. 1574 / S. 708), the Patent Eligibility Restoration (PERA) Act (H.R. 3152 / S. 1546), and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act (H.R. 3160 / S. 1553). . . .

Issues related to taxes, digital goods and services, renewable energy tax credits, and international and corporate taxation, including H.R. 1 - To provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14. (P.L. 119-21), the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double Tax Relief Act (H.R. 33 / S. 199), and implementation of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97). . . .

Issues related to data protection, encryption, data retention, data breach notification, data security, cross border data flows, privacy, law enforcement access, fraud prevention, product safety related to the sale of counterfeit and/or stolen products, including the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (S. 1404 / H.R. 2853), cloud computing, and implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-314). Issues related to artificial intelligence safety and research and development, including the CREATE AI Act (H.R. 2385). . . .

Issues related to immigration, high-skilled immigration, and non-immigrant visas, including issues related to employment-based visas, green card backlog, and the STEM visa exemption provision. . . .

Issues related to technology, procurement, and space policy, including the Fostering Reform and Government Efficiency in Defense Act (draft bill - no numbers), implementation of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159), and the FoRGED Act (S. 5618) and implementation of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 119-60). . . .

Issues related to surface transportation, including autonomous vehicles, community infrastructure investments, hazardous materials, U.S. internal supply chain and goods movement, and maritime transportation; issues related to infrastructure. . . .

Issues related to USDA SNAP online purchasing, including reauthorization of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), Electronic Benefit Transfer, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and food safety. . . .

Issues related to health information technology, Medicare, healthcare, pharmacy policy, and telehealth, including the Telehealth Expansion Act (H.R. 1650 / S. 763), the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 1261), and the Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R. 5081 / S. 2709). . . .

Issues related to Amazon's Climate Pledge, including carbon-free energy development, grid modernization, energy and grid reliability, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act) (H.R.4776), and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 4553/S.3293). . . .

Now you know -- and come on, Tennessee! Give the Illini an easier path to glory, by taking out Michigan. Smile.

नमस्ते

Two Items, This Sunday: On Amazon -- Canadian Labor, And US Lobbying...

From time to time, we check in on Mr. Bezos' ongoing efforts to abuse the labor rights of various working people, on a global basis. That is our first story, today. The Canadian labor relations regulators have ruled that Amazon unlawfully retaliated against Vancouver BC area warehouse workers during contract negotiations, for the "offense" of voting in a. . . union.

Amazon stopped paying annual raises and bonuses, during the negotiations, while paying them out at all non-union shops. [There was a five year track record of annual raises and bonuses, in the facility -- before unionization.] What an out of touch billionaire-putz this Bezos guy is -- workers are teammates, and peers -- not serfs, in the 21^st Century. He needs a wake-up call. Here's that, from Friday, at a Canadian outlet:

. . .Employees at Amazon’s Delta warehouse on Annacis Island will be getting some back pay following a B.C. Labour Relations Board ruling last month.

Jonathan Hanvelt, vice-chair of the board, said that Amazon contravened Sec. 45 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Code.

That section says that wages and working conditions should remain unchanged during the time when talks for a first contract are underway at a newly certified operation. . . . one of those working conditions was regular, annual pay reviews and increases, which Amazon paid at its other locations, but missed in 2025 at the Delta location on Derwent Place because bargaining for a first contract with Unifor was underway. . . .

[T]he LRB’s decision. . . points out that from 2020 to 2025, Amazon has provided yearly pay reviews and wage increases at its metro Vancouver locations. Hanvelt said the question was whether Amazon had breached Sec. 45 last September by not providing the 2025 pay increases to YVR2 that it had given at other locations. . . .

“I find that this was a change from business as usual for the purposes of Section 45 and constitutes a breach of the Code,” Hanvelt wrote. Sec. 45 (1) (b), says that an employer can’t increase or decrease wages, or alter another term of employment, until either a new contract is signed or a year following certification, whatever comes first. . . .

Now you know. Amazon's 2025 lobby spend trends, next up -- down here in the USA. Stay tuned, while the March Madness rumbles onward on your tee-vees. Heh.

नमस्ते

Oddly, The Evanston Reparations "Strike Suit" Will Rumble On, For A Few More Months. Disappointing -- But Payments Are Regularly Going Out, Just The Same.

All of this -- from Tom Fitton-affiliated loons -- will never amount to a hill of beans. Everyone knows it -- including USDC Judge Kness. But here we are, almost two years later. . . and it drags onward.

In my opinion, USDC Judge Kness could have -- and should have -- used common sense (embedded in the federal rules), to conserve court's, and Evanston's, resources in the face of such a spurious "strike" suit -- and allowed a sworn question, one only (propounded by the City, to each of the supposed plaintiffs) -- "Did you live in Evanston at any time, between. . . 2019 through 2026, inclusive?"

If the sworn answer came back as "no" [or as "I cannot prove that I did. . . ."] -- the entire lawsuit is at an end. They are bounced out, on their ears.

[Moreover, these plaintiffs will owe the city of Evanston the legal fees Evanston spent, in defending this clearly vexatious suit.]

But instead, Judge Kness will wait for "regular" discovery -- where this same question and answer will generate this same result: dismissal of the Fitton acolytes. See this Friday order, then:

. . .Disputes over the merits, and consequently, the timeliness of Plaintiffs’ claims are best resolved through ordinary merits discovery, where the Court can benefit from a full factual record. . . .

In this case, the City contends Plaintiffs’ complaint is. . . devoid of any allegations regarding the timing of Plaintiffs’ knowledge of the Program, whether they could have applied, or how they could have satisfied what Defendant claims were the Program’s residency and housing-related eligibility requirements. (Dkt. 13 ¶ 14.) Plaintiffs were not “able” to apply to the Program, the City maintains, because, although their relatives once lived in Evanston, nothing in Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges that Plaintiffs live in or own property they intended to improve in Evanston. . . .

Factual development in the ordinary course of this litigation may well bear out the truth of the City’s contention. . . .

A status hearing will be set by separate order.

Signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 3/27/2026. . . .

Well -- this is a waste of time -- as the City will surely establish, by discovery, that not one of these "recruited" plaintiffs live in Evanston (nor lived here in the past immediately before the program was adopted by Evanston), and that none of them were even aware of the program, until AFTER applications were closed. In sum, they were recruited by far right idiots like Tom Fitton, solely because they at one point had a WHYTE ancestor who'd lived in Evanston. Damn. What a waste of time -- and money.

However, in much better news, my baby girl flew in from London tonight -- and is here until the 10^th… Woot!

नमस्ते

Saturday Trivia -- And "No Kings" -- The Opposite Of Trivia...

Please do stand up for your right to live in a society governed by ordered liberty -- a society ruled by laws, not men. That is entirely non-trivial, and requires all of us to. . . act.

And, in the most trivial of laughing "science experiments", I can report (also at right) that I did not regress to some hominid in the tank yesterday afternoon, and I saw two great roundball games, last night at the United Center. Here's the ACLU, in Chicago:

. . .Across the country, people are mobilizing to stand up for our democracy and against the Trump Administration’s abuse of power. On March 28, 2026 – the ACLU of Illinois will join Indivisible Chicago and partner organizations for a mass demonstration to defend our freedoms.

Join us on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 1:30PM at Butler Field at Grant Park (East Jackson Drive & South Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL, 60603). We will be passing out posters, stickers, and know your rights cards on your way into the rally location. We will be at the Southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Drive starting at 12:30PM. and encourage you to stop by to pick-up posters, stickers, and know your rights cards on your way into the rally location. . . .

So now, on to the trains -- to get together with likely 250,000 fellow believers in. . . freedom, from MAGA repression.

नमस्ते

EU Regulator Decides Against Tecovirimat SIGA, As An Mpox Therapeutic...

As we mentioned last month, the would-be treatment did no better than placebos, in animal models -- CHMP has declared, at the EMA.

No double-blinded human trials were run, as there were too few Mpox patients (at the time) to evaluate it against.

The path of bio-science is inexorably littered with blind alley detours, as here.

Here's all of that -- from MedScape:

. . .The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended that Tecovirimat SIGA should no longer be used for the treatment of mpox.

A review of the antiviral medicine was initiated at the request of the European Commission following evidence from clinical trials suggesting a lack of effectiveness in the treatment of mpox. The CHMP’s decision does not affect the drugs other uses, including in the treatment of smallpox, cowpox, and complications from smallpox vaccines. . . .

Onward, smiling -- to a 90 minute isolation/flotation tank this afternoon [I will report here, scientifically if I am able to regress -- to some primordial soup state(!)] -- then the NCAAs tonight with buddies (at the United Center!), and "No Kings" again marching, down in the 40 degree Chi weather, tomorrow!

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In Which Mr. Obama Beats Me, Again…

I had selected Houston to win the national championship this year. Mr. Obama has Arizona. He also had Illinois to beat Houston, here in the Sweet 16. And that just happened.

I didn't think the Illini could get by a tough Houston team. But they did.

Tonight's game puts a fork in it for me -- I have no chance of catching him now.

Take me off the grill; I'm cooked.

So now, in over 21 years I've only ever beaten him four times.

I guess there's always next year!

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[U] A Day Late On This… But Good News, For Rahway…

Updated @ 4 PM EDT: Well, at least one Leerink analyst feels that this proposal undervalues the portfolio of Terns' onco-candidates -- and he expects a bidding war / hostile topping offer to emerge. I am not too sure about that. End, updated portion.

Mr. Davis continues to position the company for the 2030s -- and beyond. [There should be no problem clearing Hart-Scott on this deal.]

While I am still out of pocket, this did happen yesterday, and I wanted to note it:

. . .[Merck and Terns Pharma] today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire Terns for $53.00 per share in cash for an approximate equity value of $6.7 billion. This equates to approximately $5.7 billion net of acquired cash and represents an approximate premium of 31% to the 60-day and 42% to the 90-day volume-weighted average stock price on March 24, 2026.

“The acquisition of Terns builds on our growing presence in hematology with TERN-701, a potential best-in-class candidate for the treatment of certain patients with chronic myeloid leukemia,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “This transaction further diversifies and strengthens our position in oncology as we continue to look for opportunities to broaden our portfolio into other therapeutic areas. . . .”

Now you know. Departing from Iowa's med center in about six hours. . . grin.

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