Category: Perspectives

Point of views, angles and perspectives that are sometimes religious

Categories
Culture Education Entertainment News International & World Lifestyle Perspectives

‘The Crime Is Mine’ review: Everyone wants to be a murderess in François Ozon’s feathery French farce

Isabelle Huppert shows up late and in style to a party mostly centered on Nadia Tereszkiewicz’s fame-hungry ingenue, eagerly standing trial for a murder she may or may not have committed.

 

 

Quick, silly and lent weight only by the costume department’s copious wigs and furs, “The Crime Is Mine” finds tireless French auteur François Ozon in the playful period pastiche mode of “Potiche” and “8 Women.”

 

It’s a film less about any frenetic onscreen shenanigans as it is about its own mood board of sartorial and cinematic reference points — Jean Renoir, Billy Wilder, some vintage Chanel — and as such it slips down as fizzily and forgettably as a bottle of off-brand sparkling wine.

 

This story of an aspiring stage star standing trial for a top impresario’s murder (and making the most of her moment in the tabloid flashbulbs) may be based on a nearly 90-year-old play, but for those versed more in Hollywood and Broadway than in French theater, Ozon’s adaptation resembles a kind of diva fanfic: What if Roxie Hart went up against Norma Desmond, except in rollicking 1930s Paris?

 

As it happens, Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil’s 1934 comedy “Mon crime” has twice been adapted into Hollywood screwball romps: 1937’s Carole Lombard vehicle “True Confession” and the lesser 1946 remake “Cross My Heart,” starring Betty Hutton. Returning to the milieu of its source, “The Crime Is Mine” nonetheless updates proceedings with a righteous dose of post-#MeToo gender politics: Whether its blonde-bombshell heroine is guilty of the crime or not is ultimately immaterial to a case that builds to an impassioned defense of a woman’s right to defend herself from unwanted patriarchal advances, by any means necessary. That her lawyer is a gal pal, rather than a male love interest as in previous iterations, ups the ante, though the relative earnestness of the film’s feminism stands in contrast to an otherwise wholly flippant exercise.

 

“Some women are born to love, others to listen,” sighs cash-strapped junior attorney Pauline (Rebecca Marder), with one of many lingering Sapphic gazes at her platinum-bobbed roommate Madeleine (Nadia Tereszkiewicz). Madeleine is firmly in the former camp, though her covert romance with spineless tire-factory heir André (a winsome Edouard Sulpice) is of less importance to her than her budding acting career. We first encounter her storming out of the sprawling Art Deco mansion of star-making theater producer Montferrand (Jean-Christophe Bouvet), with whom she had an auspicious afternoon appointment; when he’s found dead later that day, with a bullet in his skull, she’s the prime suspect.

 

When bumbling investigating judge Rabusset (a drolly pompous Fabrice Luchini) first interrogates her, Madeleine flatly denies any culpability. With Pauline’s counsel, however, she swiftly settles on another narrative, one that rests on Montferrand’s reputation for being more than a little handsy with his ingenues: She killed him in the face of an attempted rape. “Bit melodramatic,” mutters Rabusset after their explanation — dramatized in glamorously silvery black-and-white — as if the film’s entire construction hasn’t been gleefully heightened from the jump. His misgivings, however, aren’t shared by the jury, the public or the tabloid press, as Madeleine’s teary self-defense story, cannily coached by Pauline, captures the popular imagination and makes her an overnight celebrity.

 

Is it true? Who cares? Nobody, it seems, except faded silent-movie siren Odette Chaumette (Isabelle Huppert), who strides in past the one-hour mark with conflicting evidence and a welcome surge of vampish venom, just as Ozon’s energy is beginning to flag. Comeback-seeking Odette is after Madeleine’s spotlight, but Huppert herself hardly has to wrest it from the game, fluttery Tereszkiewicz: The camera all but genuflects the second the veteran makes her imperious entrance, crowned in feathers and a frizzy copper coiffure, and vocally asserting her right to its continued attention. Huppert has little to do but spit out pithy lines with her signature disdain, and cast the odd lascivious glance at a duly mesmerized Pauline — but it hardly takes a lot to stroll off with a film this light.

 

With its distinguished scenery-chewer finally present, then, it’s a pity that “The Crime Is Mine” oddly peters out in its final third — the script averting seemingly pre-ordained clashes in the name of female solidarity, but also pulling back from its queerest and most subversive possibilities. A witty script sidebar details how Madeleine’s case inspires other women to consider bumping off the men in their lives to improve their standing and peace of mind, though it never escalates to dizzier farcical heights, even as it gifts us the film’s best line: Asked by André why he was spared the bullet, Madeleine shrugs, “I can’t kill everyone.” There are passing pleasures, too, to be had in Manu Dacosse’s buttery lensing and the silky gloss of the production and costume design alike. Yet “The Crime Is Mine” never aspires to the exacting postmodern formal rigor of “8 Women”: An out-and-out divertissement, Ozon’s latest is at pains only to avoid trying too hard.

 

 

— Variety

Categories
Art & Life Education International & World Perspectives Regulations & Security Science Travel & Leisure

More than a century-old, buried documents throw doubt on fate of condemned man

NEW YORK — Patrick O’Donnell survived the seemingly unsurvivable — including the Great Hunger, the aptly nicknamed Coffin Ships and the infamous Typhoid Sheds — on his way to the hangman’s noose in December 1883.

 

Having traveled from Ireland to the United States in search of a better life, Patrick O’Donnell sealed his grim fate when he committed murder, but there is so much more to his life than was ever revealed — until now.

 

In his unforgettable new book, The Execution, Life and Times of Patrick O’Donnell, author Gavin O’Donnell uses an epistolary technique to reconstruct the story of Patrick’s remarkable life using a series of letters purportedly written by Patrick as he awaited the hangman’s noose — letters smuggled from his death cell in his wife Margaret’s petticoats and that have remained undiscovered for 133 years.

 

“There has in my family always been a belief that we are related to a man named Patrick O’Donnell,” Gavin O’Donnell explained in an interview. “There is some evidence to support this but it’s patchy and not strong. … but it is the reason I took an interest in the man.”

 

Gavin O’Donnell blends real world events, biographical information about Patrick and his own imagination to create a compelling narrative that follows Patrick’s path through the Great Hunger to the typhoid sheds of Quebec; from his service in the Confederate army and capture at Chattanooga in 1863 to the grisly O’Donnell massacre at Wiggan’s Patch, Pennsylvania; and ultimately to that fateful day off the coast of Port Elizabeth where Patrick put three bullets into James Carey, and in so doing sealed his own fate and his place in history — but for the wrong reasons.

 

“He was a real person, but how I draw him is how I imagine him to have been as he faced his lifelong challenges and as he sat in his death cell,” Gavin O’Donnell said.

 

Included are accounts of letters of clemency sent to Patrick’s trial and indeed to Queen Victoria herself by Victor Hugo, (the great author but also well-known campaigner against capital punishment), and from U.S. President Chester Arthur. Interventions which hint at an extraordinary life for an Irish peasant.

 

“History tells us that Patrick O’Donnell was hanged in Newgate Prison in December 1883 for the murder of James Carey,” Gavin O’Donnell added. “History, however, tells us almost nothing of his remarkable life. Was he a British agent, hero of Ireland or something else altogether?”

 

About the Author

Gavin O’Donnell grew up in Wales, Ireland, North Africa and England. A selective mute until age 5, he was unable to read properly at age 11 and was classified as “Educationally Sub Normal.” He studied Construction Management in Limerick, obtaining a degree, and later, at age 40, by way of distance learning, he obtained a Bachelor of Laws honors degree at Nottingham.

 

While vacationing in Bordeaux in 1990, he and his wife lost their daughter in a fire, and their son was badly injured. Later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD partly as a result of the trauma, he retired from his career in Project Management and concentrated on property development.

 

He and his wife, Linda, refurbished several cottages in Southern France and built up a small holiday business before selling up and returning to rural South Wales. They now reside in a self-built stone cottage along with three cats, Jess, Bob and Kpo; a few thousand bees, whom they have not named; and several chickens. Two grown children and one grandchild live nearby.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.patrickodonnell.uk or  https://www.facebook.com/executionpatrickodonnell

Categories
Art & Life Culture Lifestyle Perspectives

Keke apologizes to LAMH group as Martell turns up about Melody allegedly cheating

On tonight’s “Love and Marriage: Huntsville,” Keke appears in Houston. Unfortunately, her presence causes chaos among the group. Despite apologizing to everyone for her previous actions, LaTisha tells Nell that she felt blindsided by Keke’s presence and wants her to leave.

Photo Credit: OWN

 

Nell obliges and tells Keke she can’t stay at the house. However, this leads to an outburst from Martell regarding Melody allegedly cheating on him years ago. Melody explains what occurred, but Martell stands firm on his allegations.

 

Fortunately, a session with the therapist seemingly allows the group to move forward.

 

Here’s the recap for “Houston, we Have a Keke!”

 

 

The post LAMH Recap: Keke Aplogizes to the Group + Martell Turns Up About Melody Allegedly Cheating appeared first on Urban Belle Magazine.

 

 

— Urban Belle Magazine

Categories
Culture Entertainment News Lifestyle Perspectives Sports & Gaming

Hate it or love it? Unbothered Simone Biles & Jonathan Owens seemingly shade backlash over baller’s claims he was ‘the catch’

Some may know Jonathan Owens as a football player, but most know him as Simone Biles‘ husband. He’s facing much backlash from his recent interview with The Pivot podcast about their marriage.

 

Source: Carmen Mandato / Getty

The Green Bay Packers safety appeared as the latest guest on the popular sports podcast, The Pivot. The hosts questioned him about a lot of topics, especially his famous love story.

 

Considering that he’s married to one of the most decorated athletes of all time, AKA the GOAT gymnastics, co-host Channing Crowder, asked the question we all want to know! “How in the hell did you pull Simone Biles?”

 

His answer, however, sent social media up in a frenzy! He replied, saying, “It’s really how she pulled me.” He emphasized that he “didn’t know who she was” when they first connected, noting he “never really paid attention” to gymnastics.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pivot Podcast (@thepivot)

Jonathan went on to say that, eventually, he caught wind of who she was as an Olympic gold medalist.

 

“The first thing that I saw was that she just had a bunch of [Instagram] followers,” he said. “So in my mind I’m like, ‘Okay, she’s gotta be good.’”

 

The two connected during the coronavirus pandemic, so dating looked a bit different for them.

 

“She came down to Houston,” Jonathan, who played for the Texans at the time, recalled. “She lived in the suburbs, so she had to drive about 45 minutes. Then the rest is history.”

 

Co-host Ryan Clark followed up by asking if Owens thought he was the catch. Owens replied, “I always say that the men are the catch.”

 

“I was fighting it,” he continued. “I was afraid to commit. But it happened when I least expected it, and we hung out, and we hit it off instantly.”

 

View this post on Instagram

Social Media drags Jonathan Owens’ claims that he was “The Catch” for Simone Biles

Source: Michael Reaves / Getty

 

Owens’ iconic wife Simone sat by his side during the interview. Clips showed her smiling from ear to ear nonstop as her husband played back the events of their early dating history.

 

However, fans on the web weren’t all smiles and giggles when they heard Jonathan’s comments. Many took to the comment section saying, “GIRL GET UP!!!! don’t let him disrespect u like that”

 

Another user wrote, “This is really odd that you would degrade your wife like this on a public platform. You will forever be known as Simone [Biles’] husband. You’re not the catch lmao.”

 

Even Shannon sharpe and Chad done told simone biles husband to shut up. You know you on the wrong side of history when men and women of all races looking at you like excuse us?? pic.twitter.com/dJEfjDBAIB

— The Neighborhood Publicist (@nhoodpublicist) December 23, 2023

 

The worst part of that interview is Simone saying “in a couple years no one will be calling him Simone Biles husband they’ll be calling me (whatever his name is) wife” girl PLEASE

— fragrance and foolishness (@Brieyonce) December 23, 2023

 

Another wild part of this whole Simone Biles’ husband debacle is that that man would not have even been invited on that podcast if he weren’t Simone’s husband.

 

So he gets opportunities b/c of his association w/ her and still can’t even recognize/acknowledge her accomplishments.

— Oni Blackstock, MD, MHS (@oni_blackstock) December 23, 2023

 

Not everyone found Owen’s comments distasteful. Some users chimed in with their opinions, saying, “So y’all are telling Simone Biles to divorce her husband Jonathan Owens b/c y’all didn’t like what he said on a podcast (The Pivot) about who is the catch and if he knew who she was when they met? It doesn’t seem to bother Simone Biles. That’s their happily married business.”

 

“Simone Biles does not feel the need to compete with her husband’s ego. Instead, she strokes it and lets him have his moment. It’s okay to let him think that he’s the catch too!”

 

This whole Simone Biles situation reminds me why I probably won’t get married again.

 

People took 60 seconds from a podcast and tried to inflate that into her husband being a lying piece of garbage whom she should divorce ASAP.

 

Most people do not take marriage seriously.

— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL) 🇺🇸 (@ANTHONYBLOGAN) December 23, 2023

 

Jonathan Owen, the husband of Simone Biles is 5’11, college educated, a professional athlete at the highest level, a millionaire, no felonies, no baby mommas, but let people tell it he is not a good catch 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RYSTqgaSDq

— Black Millionaires ® (@Blackmillions_) December 22, 2023

 

As for the lovebirds, they seem pretty unbothered by the backlash. Owens took to Instagram, captioning a photo of him and Biles with “Unbothered … just know we locked in over here” as the caption.

 

View this post on Instagram

His wife on the other hand went even shorter with one word in a fun photo from their wedding: “Mood.”

View this post on Instagram

How do you feel about Jonathan’s comments? Do you think he was wrong? Let us know your thoughts!

 

 

 

— Bossip

Categories
Business Culture Digital - AI & Apps Lifestyle Perspectives Politics Regulations & Security Technology

Elon Musk is fielding complaints about Grok giving liberal responses on diversity, transgender rights, and inequality, despite promising an ‘anti-woke’ chatbot

—  Grok, launched this month on X, has angered conservatives by endorsing diversity.  Musk says he’s trying to fix it.

 

Will Oremus / Washington Post:

 

 

Decrying what he saw as the liberal bias of ChatGPT, Elon Musk earlier this year announced plans to create an artificial intelligence chatbot of his own.

 

In contrast to AI tools built by OpenAI, Microsoft and Google, which are trained to tread lightly around controversial topics, Musk’s would be edgy, unfiltered and anti-“woke,” meaning it wouldn’t hesitate to give politically incorrect responses.

 

That’s turning out to be trickier than he thought.

Two weeks after the Dec. 8 launch of Grok to paid subscribers of X, formerly Twitter, Musk is fielding complaints from the political right that the chatbot gives liberal responses to questions about diversity programs, transgender rights and inequality.

“I’ve been using Grok as well as ChatGPT a lot as research assistants,” posted Jordan Peterson, the socially conservative psychologist and YouTube personality, on Wednesday. The former is “near as woke as the latter,” he said.

The gripe drew a chagrined reply from Musk. “Unfortunately, the Internet (on which it is trained), is overrun with woke nonsense,” he responded. “Grok will get better. This is just the beta.”

Grok is the first commercial product from xAI, the AI company Musk founded in March. Like ChatGPT and other popular chatbots, it is based on a large language model that gleans patterns of word association from vast amounts of written text, much of it scraped from the internet.

Unlike others, Grok is programmed to give vulgar and sarcastic answers when asked, and it promises to “answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems.” It can also draw information from the latest posts on X to give up-to-date answers to questions about current events.

Artificial intelligence systems of all kinds are prone to biases ingrained in their design or the data they’ve learned from. In the past year, the rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other AI chatbots and image generators has sparked debate over how they represent minority groups or respond to prompts about politics and culture-war issues such as race and gender identity. While many tech ethicists and AI experts warn that these systems can absorb and reinforce harmful stereotypes, efforts by tech firms to counter those tendencies have provoked a backlash from some on the right who see them as overly censorial.

Touting xAI to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in April, Musk accused OpenAI’s programmers of “training the AI to lie” or to refrain from commenting when asked about sensitive issues. (OpenAI wrote in a February blog post that its goal is not for the AI to lie, but for it to avoid favoring any one political group or taking positions on controversial topics.) Musk said his AI, in contrast, would be “a maximum truth-seeking AI,” even if that meant offending people.

So far, however, the people most offended by Grok’s answers seem to be the people who were counting on it to readily disparage minorities, vaccines and President Biden.

Asked by a verified X user whether trans women are real women, Grok answered simply, “yes,” prompting the anonymous user to grumble that the chatbot “might need some tweaking.” Another widely followed account reposted the screenshot, asking, “Has Grok been captured by woke programmers? I am extremely concerned here.”

A prominent anti-vaccine influencer complained that when he asked Grok why vaccines cause autism, the chatbot responded, “Vaccines do not cause autism,” calling it “a myth that has been debunked by numerous scientific studies.” Other verified X accounts have reported with frustration about responses in which Grok endorses the value of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which Musk has dismissed as “propaganda.”

The Washington Post’s own tests of the chatbot verified that, as of this week, Grok continues to give the responses illustrated in the screenshots.

David Rozado, an academic researcher from New Zealand who examines AI bias, gained attention for a paper published in March that found ChatGPT’s responses to political questions tended to lean moderately left and socially libertarian. Recently, he subjected Grok to some of the same tests and found that its answers to political orientation tests were broadly similar to those of ChatGPT.

“I think both ChatGPT and Grok have probably been trained on similar Internet-derived corpora, so the similarity of responses should perhaps not be too surprising,” Rozado told The Post via email.

Earlier this month, a post on X of a chart showing one of Rozado’s findings drew a response from Musk. While the chart “exaggerates the situation,” Musk said, “we are taking immediate action to shift Grok closer to politically neutral.” (Rozado agreed the chart in question shows Grok to be further left than the results of some other tests he has conducted.)

Other AI researchers argue that the sort of political orientation tests used by Rozado overlook ways in which chatbots, including ChatGPT, often exhibit negative stereotypes about marginalized groups.

A recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing showed that xAI is seeking to raise up to $1 billion in funding from investors, though Musk has said that the company isn’t raising money right now.

Musk and X did not respond to requests for comment as to what actions they’re taking to alter Grok’s politics, or whether that amounts to putting a thumb on the scale in much the same way Musk has accused OpenAI of doing with ChatGPT.

 

 

 

— Techmeme

Categories
Business Culture Digital - AI & Apps Healthcare Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security Science

HealthEC, LLC data event impacts companies nationwide, including Corewell Health

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

 

The updated release reads:

HEALTHEC, LLC DATA EVENT IMPACTS COMPANIES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING COREWELL HEALTH

 

Population health management platform HealthEC, LLC, is notifying people nationwide of a data security event that happened earlier this year. For more information, please see HealthEC’s news release.

 

The company enables value-based health systems to identify high-risk patients, close gaps in care and recognize barriers to optimal care. HealthEC is a vendor for Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan.

 

The information of approximately 1 million patients of Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan could be impacted by the HealthEC data event. HealthEC is sending letters to every person who was impacted.

 

Not all individuals have the same data impacted, but the possible impacted data could include: Name; address; date of birth; Social Security number; medical record number; medical information like diagnosis, diagnosis code, mental/physical condition, prescription information, and provider’s name; health insurance information including beneficiary number, subscriber number, Medicaid and/or Medicare identification; billing and claims information including patient account number, patient identification number, treatment cost information. This event did not impact platforms such as Epic and MyChart and they are safe to use.

 

HealthEC is offering 12 months of credit monitoring and identity protection services through TransUnion. Instructions on how to activate these services is being sent to all impacted people.

 

Those seeking additional information can contact HealthEC toll-free at 1-833-466-9216 or visit the HealthEC website. People can also write to HealthEC at Attn: Compliance Officer, 343 Thornall St., Suite 630, Edison, NJ 08837.

Contacts

Ellen Bristol, Ellen.Bristol@corewellhealth.org

Categories
Business Healthcare Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security Science

Patritumab Deruxtecan granted Priority Review in the U.S. for certain patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer

  • Submission based on HERTHENA-Lung01 results showing patritumab deruxtecan demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable responses in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with two or more systemic therapies
  • Application being evaluated under FDA Real-Time Oncology Review
  • If approved, patritumab deruxtecan would be a first-in-class HER3 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate for these patients

 

 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & RAHWAY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and Merck (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada) (NYSE: MRK) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted Priority Review to the Biologics License Application (BLA) for patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with two or more systemic therapies.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date, the FDA action date for their regulatory decision, is June 26, 2024. The Priority Review follows receipt of Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted by the FDA in December 2021.

 

The FDA grants Priority Review to applications for medicines that, if approved, would offer significant improvements over available options by demonstrating safety or efficacy improvements, preventing serious conditions or enhancing patient compliance. The BLA is being reviewed under the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) program, an initiative of the FDA which is designed to bring safe and effective cancer treatments to patients as early as possible. RTOR allows the FDA to review components of an application before submission of the complete application.

 

Patritumab deruxtecan is a specifically engineered potential first-in-class HER3 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and Merck.

 

The BLA is based on the primary results from the HERTHENA-Lung01 pivotal phase 2 trial and data results presented at the IASLC 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (#WCLC23), which were simultaneously published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

 

In HERTHENA-Lung01, patritumab deruxtecan was studied in 225 patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC following disease progression with an EGFR TKI and platinum-based chemotherapy, which demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 29.8% (95% CI: 23.9-36.2), including one complete response and 66 partial responses. The median duration of response was 6.4 months (95% CI: 4.9-7.8). The safety profile of patritumab deruxtecan observed in HERTHENA-Lung01 was consistent with previous phase 1 clinical trials in NSCLC with a treatment discontinuation rate of 7.1% due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Grade 3 or higher TEAEs occurred in 64.9% of patients. The most common (≥5%) grade 3 or higher TEAEs were thrombocytopenia (21%), neutropenia (19%), anemia (14%), leukopenia (10%), fatigue (6%), hypokalemia (5%) and asthenia (5%). Twelve patients (5.3%) had confirmed treatment-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) as determined by an independent adjudication committee. One grade 5 ILD event was observed.

 

“The FDA’s prioritization of the BLA submission reflects the strength of the data from HERTHENA-Lung01 and emphasizes the need to provide new options to patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with two or more systemic therapies,” said Ken Takeshita, MD, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo. “If approved, patritumab deruxtecan could become the first HER3 directed medicine approved in the US and the second DXd antibody drug conjugate approved from Daiichi Sankyo’s oncology pipeline.”

 

“The acceptance of the BLA submission of patritumab deruxtecan marks an important step in potentially bringing this new medicine to previously treated patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer who often experience recurrence and have few remaining treatment options,” said Marjorie Green, MD, Senior Vice President and Head of Late-Stage Oncology, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “Today is the first of many important milestones from our collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, as we work together to bring new and potentially first-in-class antibody drug conjugates to people living with cancer.”

 

About HERTHENA-Lung01

HERTHENA-Lung01 is a global, multicenter, open-label, two-arm phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of patritumab deruxtecan in patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC following disease progression with an EGFR TKI and platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 5.6 mg/kg (n=225) or an uptitration regimen (n=50). The uptitration arm was discontinued as the dose of 5.6 mg/kg of patritumab deruxtecan was selected following a risk-benefit analysis conducted from the phase 1 trial assessing the doses in a similar patient population.

 

The primary endpoint of HERTHENA-Lung01 was ORR as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Secondary endpoints included duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), disease control rate, and time to response – all assessed by both BICR and investigator assessment – as well as investigator-assessed ORR, overall survival, safety and tolerability.

 

HERTHENA-Lung01 enrolled patients in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

 

About EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.1 NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers – 55% having distant spread at diagnosis – with EGFR mutations occurring in 14% to 38% of all NSCLC tumors worldwide.2,3,4

 

About HER3

HER3 is a member of the EGFR family of receptor tyrosine kinases.5 It is estimated that about 83% of primary NSCLC tumors and 90% of advanced EGFR-mutated tumors express HER3 after prior EGFR TKI treatment.6,7 There is currently no HER3 directed therapy approved for the treatment of any cancer.

 

About Patritumab Deruxtecan

Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) is an investigational HER3 directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology, patritumab deruxtecan is composed of a fully human anti-HER3 IgG1 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

 

Patritumab deruxtecan was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2021 for the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with disease progression on or after treatment with a third-generation TKI and platinum-based therapies.

 

Patritumab deruxtecan is currently being evaluated as both a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies in a global development program, which includes HERTHENA-Lung02, a phase 3 trial versus platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC following disease progression on or after treatment with a third-generation EGFR TKI; a phase 1 trial in combination with osimertinib in EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC; and a phase 1 trial in previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC. A phase 1/2 trial in HER3 expressing metastatic breast cancer also has been completed.

 

About the Daiichi Sankyo and Merck Collaboration

Daiichi Sankyo and Merck entered into a global collaboration in October 2023 to jointly develop and commercialize patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) and raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd), except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo will maintain exclusive rights. Daiichi Sankyo will be solely responsible for manufacturing and supply.

 

About the DXd ADC Portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo

The DXd ADC portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo currently consists of six ADCs in clinical development across multiple types of cancer. ENHERTU, a HER2 directed ADC, and datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), a TROP2 directed ADC, are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with AstraZeneca. Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), a HER3 directed ADC, ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), a B7-H3 directed ADC, and raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd), a CDH6 directed ADC, are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with Merck. DS-3939, a TA-MUC1 directed ADC, is being developed by Daiichi Sankyo.

 

Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology to target and deliver a cytotoxic payload inside cancer cells that express a specific cell surface antigen, each ADC consists of a monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

 

Datopotamab deruxtecan, ifinatamab deruxtecan, patritumab deruxtecan, raludotatug deruxtecan and DS-3939 are investigational medicines that have not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

 

About Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi Sankyo is an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society that discovers, develops and delivers new standards of care to enrich the quality of life around the world. With more than 120 years of experience, Daiichi Sankyo leverages its world-class science and technology to create new modalities and innovative medicines for people with cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases with high unmet medical needs. For more information, please visit www.daiichisankyo.com.

 

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

 

References

1 World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lung Fact Sheet. Accessed September 2023.

2 Economopoulou P, et al. Ann Transl Med. 2018; 6(8):138.

3 Chen R, et al. J Hematol Oncol. 2020; 13(1):58.

4 Zhang Y-L, et al. Oncotarget. 2016; 7(48):78985-78993.

5 Mishra R, et al. Onco Rev. 2018; 12(355):45-62.

6 Scharpenseel H, et al. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9:7406.

7 Yonesaka K, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2022; 15:28(2):390-403.

Contacts

Daiichi Sankyo
Global/US Media:
Jennifer Brennan

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

jbrennan2@dsi.com
+1 908 900 3183 (mobile)

Japan Media:
Koji Ogiwara

Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

Ogiwara.koji.ay@daiichisankyo.co.jp
+81 3 6225 1126 (office)

Investor Relations Contact:
DaiichiSankyoIR@daiichisankyo.co.jp

Merck
Media:
Robert Josephson

+1 203 914 2372

robert.josephson@merck.com

Investors:
Peter Dannenbaum

+1 732 594 1579

peter.dannenbaum@merck.com

Categories
Business Culture Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security

AM Best assigns Credit Ratings to Federal Life Insurance Company

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance—AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Federal Life Insurance Company (Fed Life) (Riverwoods, IL). The outlook assigned to these Credit ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Fed Life’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

The ratings also reflect AM Best’s assessment that, based on Fed Life’s business plan, the company will build and maintain a balance sheet assessment of very strong supported by risk-adjusted capitalization also at the very strong level, as measured by Best Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital contributions in 2023 and retained earnings through the forecast period are expected to support net premium growth. Direct premium growth is expected to be relatively rapid based on projections, but capital at Fed Life is anticipated to be managed through affiliated reinsurance and capital infusions as necessary. Financial flexibility is viewed as positive as the company has access to additional capital at the holding company level (Federal Life Group, Inc.), and from its ultimate parent organization, Insurance Capital Group, LLC (ICG). The holding company has access to additional capital from the ultimate owner, ICG. Investment risk is projected as low but may increase to moderate depending on the evolution of the liability profile of the company, which could impact future balance sheet metrics.

 

The adequate operating performance assessment and the neutral business profile assessment are based on Fed Life’s business plans presented to AM Best. The plan includes an expectation of rapid premium growth and improving operating profitability that supports an adequate operating performance assessment. In addition, it also includes the introduction of additional products, which in combination with a larger and more geographically diversified premium base, would support a neutral business profile assessment. Should Fed Life materially underperform its business plan these assessments would no longer be supported. An ERM structure has been established and is expected to evolve alongside the product risks and operational complexity of the business.

 

Fed Life, originally incorporated in 1899 and mutualized in 1962, was demutualized in 2018 and under its new ownership is focused now on a portfolio of accident and health, as well as life and annuity (L/A) products, which it plans to market nationwide. The company engaged with a largely new management team in 2022 and 2023 to support the plan, and introduced its first new product, a hospital indemnity product, in 2022. Additional new products are in development to supplement the company’s hospital indemnity product and legacy L/A book of business. Rapid premium growth in 2022 and 2023 evidence early successes of the plan; however, successful launches of new products and further development of distribution are key to realizing the growth and expansion milestones presented to AM Best. AM Best will monitor the performance of Fed Life against key milestones set out in the business plan and internal expectations to evaluate if ongoing performance remains supportive of the adequate operating performance and neutral business profile assessments.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

John McGlynn

Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 2106
john.mcglynn@ambest.com

Joseph Zazzera
Director
+1 908 882 2442
joseph.zazzera@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture Economics Education Environment Foodies/Tastylicious Government Healthcare Lifestyle Perspectives

United Natural Foods releases ‘Better for All’ environmental, social, and governance report for fiscal year 2023

Details significant progress on the Company’s key areas of focus – delivering positive impact, operational efficiency, and reinforcing its value proposition to stakeholders.

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (the “Company” or “UNFI”) today released its 13th annual Better for All Report detailing UNFI’s progress on its social, environmental, and governance objectives during the Company’s 2023 fiscal year, ended July 29, 2023.

 

The report demonstrates the success of the Company’s enhanced focus on its most pressing impact areas – safety, well-being, waste, climate, sourcing, and community. It underscores that UNFI’s initiatives benefitting the planet, society, and the food industry can also directly benefit the Company’s business performance, resulting in enhanced value for all of its stakeholders.

 

UNFI’s Better for All strategy continues to focus on establishing the Company as a key connector within the food system value chain, creating and growing critical linkages among farmers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

 

“UNFI is building a company that creates sustainable value for stakeholders and shareholders, and a better food system for all,” said Sandy Douglas, President and CEO of UNFI. “In FY2023, we issued new responsible sourcing policies and position statements, expanded supplier diversity efforts, reaffirmed our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), started work on our ninth and largest on-site solar array, completed LED lighting conversions across all of our distribution centers (DCs), and deployed a new system that helps us reduce food waste in our DCs.”

 

As a result of these efforts across the Company during fiscal 2023, UNFI reported the following milestones toward its goal to build a food system that is better for its people, its communities, and the planet:

  • Published, in connection with the Company’s new Supplier and Vendor Code of Conduct, both a formal policy designed to support the goal of zero deforestation across our primary deforestation-linked commodities by 2025, and a position statement and action plan for animal welfare standards in our supply chain. These have allowed the Company to work more efficiently and effectively with suppliers and vendors in pursuing these goals.
  • Completed a roof-mounted solar array installation, the Company’s largest to date, at its Howell, New Jersey distribution center, with a new, even bigger roof-mounted solar array at its Riverside, CA distribution center slated for the near future. UNFI’s solar array initiatives lower the Company’s carbon footprint and provide an excellent return on investment while also reducing the energy cost of operating a distribution center.
  • Launched the Climate Action Partnership to encourage suppliers to make credible climate commitments and provide innovative and scalable resources specific to the food system. This forum allows the Company to share best practices with suppliers who have common goals and drive more collaboration and efficiency across supply chains.
  • Reaffirmed its commitment to DEI and continued to build a diverse, high-performing, and agile workforce by delivering more DEI programming to employees. These initiatives help UNFI recruit talented associates and benefit from their diverse perspectives, whether they work in Company distribution centers or corporate offices.
  • Successfully completed an electric vehicle (EV) Blueprint that outlines how the Company plans to transition to zero-emission vehicles in the state of California. This reduces fuel and maintenance costs while also improving air quality.
  • Completed LED lighting conversions in all distribution centers, which not only decreases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lowers cost but also improves safety by increasing lighting and limiting maintenance work throughout the facility.
  • Deployed a Reverse Logistics Disposition Reporting (RLDR) system at all UNFI distribution centers that increases inventory visibility, improves operating efficiency, reduces food waste, and minimizes waste disposal costs, contributing to lower shrink in distribution centers.
  • Supported the “Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture” program, launched by The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), to improve the Company’s relationships with an excellent source of high-quality producers.

 

Mr. Douglas added, “Our associates can be very proud of the solid progress on company sustainability and operational efficiency goals. I look forward to what we’ll accomplish together in 2024.”

 

About UNFI

UNFI is North America’s premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, eCommerce providers, and foodservice customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary technology, data, market insights, and shelf management to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is committed to building a food system that is better for all and is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is delivering value for its stakeholders, visit www.unfi.com.

 

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements include those described in the Company’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023 filed with the SEC on September 26, 2023 and other filings the Company makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company is not undertaking to update any information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. Any estimates of future results of operations are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur. These estimates are subject to change and could differ materially from final reported results.

Contacts

For UNFI Investors:
Kristyn Farahmand

401-213-2160

kristyn.farahmand@unfi.com
-or-

Steve Bloomquist

952-828-4144

steve.j.bloomquist@unfi.com

For Media:
UNFI
Charles Davis

215-539-1696

cdavis@unfi.com

Categories
Art & Life Culture Digital - AI & Apps Education Lifestyle Perspectives

On the 800th anniversary of the Christmas nativity scene a story emerges that takes readers back to that time

FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s rare to find a holiday book like A Bellwether Christmas: It tells a story that can entertain every member of the family regardless of age; it reveals history about a beloved Christmas tradition, and it features charming animal characters.

 

Laurel Guillen’s work of fiction was inspired by a life-changing trip to Italy and years of caring for some remarkable farm animals.

 

“Many years ago,” Guillen said, “I visited central Italy and came away with a burning desire to write a novel set in the time of Francis of Assisi and the early Franciscans. I did extensive research, but nothing ever came of it. In the meantime, I raised a son who adopted farm animals, including a horse, two sheep and two donkeys. One Christmas season a few years ago, the plot for this novel suddenly downloaded into my brain in a few minutes.”

 

She added that she suddenly realized “I was being given the chance to write a novel that combined my knowledge of 13th-century history as well as farm animals. I knew it was supposed to be a children’s novel, but one that adults would love also.”

 

A Bellwether Christmas depicts medieval rural life from its songs to work, food to customs, and each chapter begins with a beautifully drawn illustration that evokes the style of medieval woodcut art. Guillen also includes “afterwords” to help readers understand St. Francis’s life and his importance to the Church, and to introduce readers to the real-life farm animals her characters are based upon.

 

Bart is a curious, impetuous lamb who lives in a tiny village in medieval Italy. He is always getting into trouble and feels like he doesn’t belong. In chance encounters with a hare, a lark and then a terrifying wolf, he learns about the poor man from Assisi who loves all creatures and talks to them about love, honor and belonging. Bart is convinced that this man, and the new kind of celebration he is planning for Christmas Eve, holds the key to understanding his own destiny. But when Christmas Day dawns, he faces his biggest challenge yet: a dangerous mission to bring the gift of love to a friend. Will he be brave enough and finally find the place where he belongs?

 

The winner of multiple awards, including a First Place Christian Indie Award and Finalist in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards, A Bellwether Christmas is full of historical details to entertain kids and adults alike and offers a perfect opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about the meaning of Christmas.

 

Laurel Guillen is a Cornell University graduate and former radio, newspaper, and television journalist who has always loved medieval tales. She helped her husband, Michael Guillen, PhD, produce the award-winning family movie Little Red Wagon and now writes the blog God and Gardening on Facebook.