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☆ Novo hires Thermo Fisher as second manufacturer for Wegovy weight-loss drug - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Maggie Fick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A selection of injector pens for the Wegovy weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) has hired Thermo Fisher (TMO.N) as its second contract manufacturer for its hugely popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Thermo is doing the filling of the Wegovy injection pens at its factory in Greenville, North Carolina, the source said, declining to be named because the information is confidential. Novo Chief Financial Officer Karsten Munk Knudsen told Reuters in May the company had signed up a second contract manufacturer in the United States, but the identity of the company has not previously been reported. Wegovy launched in the United States in June 2021, the first-to-market in a new class of highly effective weight-loss drugs.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Karsten Munk Knudsen, Wegovy, Knudsen, Catalent's, Maggie Fick, Josephine Mason, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Novo Nordisk, Reuters, Novo, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Greenville , North Carolina, United States, Danish, Brussels, Belgium

☆ Montana AG asks court to reject TikTok challenge to state ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A separate lawsuit has been filed by TikTok users in Montana. Knudsen said in a legal filing that Montana can ban harmful products, saying it does not violate free speech rights. The law does not impose penalties on individual TikTok users. TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people. The American Civil Liberties Union this month called TikTok's ban unconstitutional and "a direct restriction on protected expression and association."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, China's ByteDance, General Austin Knudsen, " Knudsen, Donald Trump, Knudsen, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, Republican, HK, Biden, American Civil Liberties Union, Thomson Locations: Montana

☆ Judge sides with young activists in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Youth plaintiffs in the climate change lawsuit, Held vs. Montana, arrive at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, on June 20, 2023, in Helena, Mont., for the final day of the trial. A Montana judge on Monday sided with young environmental activists who said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by permitting fossil fuel development without considering its effect on the climate. That leaves slim chances for immediate change in a fossil fuel-friendly state where Republicans dominate the statehouse. Julia Olson, an attorney representing the youth, released a statement calling the ruling a "huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate." "Montanans can't be blamed for changing the climate — even the plaintiffs' expert witnesses agreed that our state has no impact on the global climate.

Persons: Lewis, Kathy Seeley, Judge Seeley, Julia Olson, Olson, Emily Flower, Austin Knudsen Organizations: Republicans, Montana, Trust, Montana Attorney Locations: . Montana, Clark, Helena, Mont, Montana, U.S, West, Oregon

☆ Montana judge hands young plaintiffs significant victory in landmark climate trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Montana judge handed a significant victory on Monday to more than a dozen young plaintiffs in the nation’s first constitutional climate trial, as extreme weather becomes more deadly and scientists warn the climate crisis is eroding our environment and natural resources. While Seeley’s ruling won’t prevent mining or burning fossil fuels in the state, it will reverse a recently passed state law that prohibits state agencies from considering planet-warming pollution when permitting fossil fuel projects. “Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. The federal climate case alleges the federal government’s activities allowing further fossil fuel development, including permitting and leasing for oil and gas drilling, is violating young people’s constitutional rights to life, liberty and property. Olson recently told CNN she hopes the state case will boost the Juliana case.

Persons: Kathy Seeley, Montana’s, ” Seeley, ”, Julia Olson, Montana didn’t, general’s, Emily Flower, Austin Knudsen, ” Flower, “, Pat Parenteau, Olson, Biden, Daniel Farber, Juliana, it’s, ” Olson, ” Michael Gerrard, Gerrard, ” Farber Organizations: CNN, Trust, Montana, CNN Experts, Montana Supreme, Environmental, Vermont Law School, University of California, United, Children’s Trust, Biden administration’s Department of Justice, Court, Sabin, Climate, Columbia University Law School Locations: Montana, ” Montana, Hawaii, University of California Berkeley, United States

☆ Insight: Wegovy weight-loss injection factory plagued by sterile-safety failures
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Maggie Fick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Microbial contamination of drugs injected into the body, rather than swallowed, can be deadly, the people said - although the FDA inspectors didn't report any signs of this sort of contamination at the Brussels factory. In both visits, the FDA inspectors found Catalent staff had repeatedly failed to investigate why equipment was malfunctioning. BLINDSIDED BY BOOMING DEMANDWithin months of launching Wegovy, Novo Nordisk was overwhelmed by demand in America, and told shareholders that its initial supply would not keep pace. From December that year and throughout 2022, Novo repeatedly pushed out the timeline for when the supply constraints would end. In late December 2022, Novo announced all five dose strengths were available again in the United States.

Persons: Wegovy, Catalent, Eli Lilly, LLY.N, Susan Bain, Karsten Munk Knudsen, Ambre James, Brown, James, Knudsen didn't, Steven Lynn, Lynn, David Talmage, didn't, Novo, Maggie Fick, Vincent Flasseur, Michele Gershberg Organizations: U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Reuters, FDA, Novo Nordisk, University of Southern, Novo executives, Novo, U.S, Manufacturing, Parenteral Drug Association, Thomson Locations: U.S, Brussels, Danish, University of Southern California, Wegovy, Novo, America, United States

☆ Republicans question BlackRock fund governance, revisiting old concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 7 (Reuters) - A group of 15 Republican state attorneys general have questioned whether directors of BlackRock mutual funds are sufficiently independent of the world's largest asset manager. The letter was addressed to ten individuals listed in a BlackRock filing as nominees to a board that oversees BlackRock closed-end mutual funds. Among other things, they said BlackRock fund trustees who serve as directors of companies where BlackRock owns more than 5% of shares could lead to independence concerns. They also cite how BlackRock fund directors are responsible for dozens of funds - exceeding BlackRock's own "overboarding" guideline for public company boards. Critics have raised similar issues in the past about whether well-paid mutual fund directors are positioned to speak up.

Persons: Austin Knudsen, Ross Kerber, Diane Craft Organizations: Republican, Reuters, Montana Attorney, BlackRock, AGs, Thomson Locations: Montana, BlackRock

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - TikTok Inc on Wednesday asked a U.S. judge to block enforcement of a Montana state ban on use of the Chinese-owned app before it takes effect on Jan. 1. Chandlee said if the ban takes effect "we expect that additional advertisers and business partners will pull back from working with TikTok Inc (which is the entity that receives income from U.S. advertisers, including in Montana)." Montana could impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok. TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people. TikTok's lawsuit names Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who is charged with enforcing the law.

Persons: China's ByteDance, Donald W, Molloy, Blake Chandlee, TikTok, Chandlee, Donald Trump, Austin Knudsen, David Shepardson, Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel Organizations: Inc, Wednesday, U.S, District, TikTok, Business, Constitution's, TikTok Inc, HK, Montana Attorney, Thomson Locations: Montana

☆ AGs Want Their Lawsuit Money Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-association-of-attorneys-general-lawsuit-montana-utah-dave-yost-austin-knudsen-7e17a3c6

Persons: Dow Jones, yost, knudsen Organizations: austin, 7e17a3c6 Locations: utah

☆ A lawsuit brought by kids in Montana could determine if the state has a constitutional duty to protect its residents from climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A lawsuit brought against the state of Montana by a group of kids heads to trial on Monday. The outcome has the potential to set an important precedent in the fight against climate change. "We've seen repeatedly over the last few years what the Montana state Legislature is choosing," Gibson-Snyder said. He argued climate change could ultimately benefit Montana with longer growing seasons and the potential to produce more valuable crops. A ruling in favor of the Montana plaintiffs could have ripple effects, according to Philip Gregory, Our Children's Trust attorney.

Persons: Grace Gibson, Snyder, she's, We've, Gibson, Austin Knudsen, Kathy Seeley, Seeley, Jim Huffman, Huffman, Terry Anderson, Anderson, Philip Gregory, Gregory said, John Roberts, Julia Olson, Jonathan Adler, Adler, I've Organizations: Service, Republican, Gibson, Montana's Constitution, Montana Attorney, Lewis & Clark Law School, Trust, U.S, Supreme, Lawmakers, Case Western Reserve University, Yale University Locations: Montana, U.S, Missoula, Montana's, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Portland , Oregon, Helena, Hawaii, Oregon, Montana and Oregon, Cleveland, New Haven , Connecticut

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte on Wednesday signed legislation to ban TikTok in the state, effective Jan. 1. The TikTok users argue the state seeks to "exercise powers over national security that Montana does not have and to ban speech Montana may not suppress." The suit adds users believe the law violates their First Amendment rights. "Montana can no more ban its residents from viewing or posting to TikTok than it could ban the Wall Street Journal because of who owns it or the ideas it publishes," the lawsuit said. TikTok has faced growing calls from U.S. lawmakers and state officials to ban the app nationwide over concerns about potential Chinese government influence over the platform.

☆ Novo Nordisk cuts some U.S. supply of Wegovy obesity drug as demand soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk said Thursday it was cutting the supply of starter doses of its obesity drug Wegovy in the U.S. as it struggles to keep up with surging demand. Novo Nordisk reported forecast-beating first-quarter sales Thursday following a spike in demand for its blockbuster weight-loss drug. Still, shares of the pharmaceutical giant were down 7% on Thursday morning on news of the supply cut. He added that there were further plans to increase production in the coming years. "This is also a reflection of a very big market and a very big unmet need for safe and efficacious medication, and that's where Wegovy comes in, being very efficacious and safe for patients [with obesity]," he said.

☆ Novo Nordisk cuts some supply of Wegovy obesity drug as demand grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNovo Nordisk cuts some supply of Wegovy obesity drug as demand growsKarsten Munk Knudsen, chief financial officer at Novo Nordisk, says the company is halving the supply of starter doses of its Wegovy weight loss drug to ensure "continuity of care" for existing patients.

☆ How Did ‘Beau Is Afraid’ Land a Mariah Carey Song? Indies Have Their Ways.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Leah Greenblatt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beau, the addled midlife wreck played by Joaquin Phoenix in “Beau Is Afraid,” isn’t just afraid, he is terrorized: harassed, beaten, stabbed and even kidnapped in a surreal black comedy that often feels less like a conventional film than a three-hour panic attack. (In the hands of high-anxiety auteur Ari Aster, of “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” fame, consider that a compliment.) Thanks to his monstrous mother, he has become a man resigned to life without love or companionship. For Aster, it turns out, there was never a second choice. There was a feeling like, ‘Look, we’ll try, but we likely won’t be able to afford it.’”

☆ Transgender Lawmaker Sues Over Removal From Montana House Floor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jacey Fortin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The NewsA state representative in Montana asked a court on Monday to allow her to return to the House floor for the rest of the state’s legislative session, arguing that her First Amendment rights had been violated after an escalating standoff over her remarks on transgender issues. Representative Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat from Missoula, was barred last week from participating in deliberations in the House chamber after she made impassioned comments in opposition to a ban on hormone treatments and surgical care for transgender minors. The bill, which passed, has since been signed by Gov. “I’m determined to defend the right of the people to have their voices heard,” Ms. Zephyr, who is transgender, tweeted on Monday when announcing her lawsuit, adding that the rights of her 11,000 constituents had also been violated. Four of them were also named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and other lawyers.

☆ The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

The GOP needs a net gain of one or two seats to flip the chamber, depending on which party wins the White House in 2024, and it’s Democrats who are defending the tougher seats. Jim Justice announcing his Senate bid in West Virginia – the seat most likely to flip party control in 2024. In a presidential year, the national environment is likely to loom large, especially with battleground states hosting key Senate races. Two businessmen with the ability to tap into or raise significant resources could be in the mix – Eric Hovde, who lost the GOP Senate nomination in 2012, and Scott Mayer. Still, unseating Cruz in a state Trump won by nearly 6 points in 2020 will be a tall order.

☆ Researchers Identify Possible New Risk for Breast Cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Roni Caryn Rabin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Now, a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer could “be updated every time she gets a new mammogram.”Background: Breast Density MattersBreast density is now an acknowledged risk factor for breast cancer, albeit one of many. Dozens of states have started requiring mammography centers to notify women if they have dense breast tissue. In March, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that providers tell women about their breast density. But this is the first study to measure changes in density over time and to report a link to breast cancer. One next step may to be examine breast density over time in women taking medication to prevent breast cancer to see if the density decreases, Dr. Knudsen suggested.

Meanwhile, Republicans, many from energy-producing states, have raised a growing chorus of challenges on ESG. This can be a problem for fund participants who do not share ESG goals, the Republicans wrote. Asset managers have argued that such memberships align with their fiduciary obligations, and some are giving clients more control over proxy votes. "Asset managers voting for the exclusion of one of their competitors has clear antitrust implications," the letter states. The resolutions were filed by activist shareholder group As You Sow, which the Republicans suggested had targeted Vanguard over its withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Republicans, many from energy-producing states, have raised a growing chorus of challenges on ESG. The latest letter built on concerns many of the same attorneys general brought to BlackRock last August. This can be a problem for fund participants who do not share ESG goals, the Republicans wrote. Another section of the Republicans' letter cites several pending shareholder resolutions that ask corporations to dial back the use of Vanguard Group retirement plan funds because of Vanguard's fossil fuel holdings. "Asset managers voting for the exclusion of one of their competitors has clear antitrust implications," the letter states.

☆ Visa, Mastercard pause work on new payments code for firearms sellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved the new merchant category code (MCC) in September to help detect suspicious firearms and ammunition sales to combat gun violence. A Mastercard representative said on Thursday via email that such bills would cause "inconsistency" in how the code could be applied by merchants, banks and payment networks. "It's for that reason that we have decided to pause work on the implementation of the firearms-specific MCC," said the Mastercard representative, Seth Eisen. Accordingly, Visa is pausing implementation of the MCC," Visa said in a statement sent by a spokesperson. The moves mark a setback for gun-control activists, though the payment networks stopped short of saying they would reject the code outright.

☆ Mielle, in the spotlight after going viral on TikTok, joins P&G
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Nicole Shinn | Nicole Shinn Is An Nbc News Fellow. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Black-owned hair care brand Mielle Organics announced Wednesday that it will join P&G Beauty, which is part of the major conglomerate that owns some of the biggest personal care brands in the world, including Always and Olay. P&G Beauty will work with Mielle Organics to expand access to the brand in Black communities and fund research and innovation in hair care for underserved communities, Lela Coffey, vice president of P&G’s multicultural hair business, said in a statement. Mielle co-founder Monique Rodriguez said of the partnership, “I am thrilled that we will make an even greater impact in how we give back to the community.”This comes weeks after Mielle Organics became the subject of controversy after its rosemary mint scalp and strengthening oil went viral on TikTok. Mielle Organics. Najeera Williams, who owns the natural hair care brand Chairish Naturals and is a Mielle Organics customer, explained the collective concern among Black consumers in a TikTok post.

☆ 'Borgen' character drew inspiration from Danish PM
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - The screenwriter of hit series "Borgen" says the main theme in the show's latest season - the darker side of holding power - drew inspiration from Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has been criticised for centralising authority. "We have a premise for Borgen ... Can you remain in power and still remain true to yourself?," Price told Reuters during an interview in Copenhagen. 1/3 Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks during a news conference in front of Marienborg in Copenhagen, Denmark October, 5 2022. "Naturally, we are also inspired by elements in the character of our current Prime Minister," Price said, adding that Nyborg's character was also influenced by many other current and former political personalities. "I'm sure a lot of people in the UK would enjoy that, especially if we weren't very friendly towards Brussels," Price said.

☆ Venezuela rejects U.N. report detailing rights abuses, torture allegations
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Hector Constant Rosales, Venezuela’s ambassador in Geneva, rejected the report released last week by the experts working for the U.N.’s Human Rights Council as a “pseudo report” that masked “obscure interests” opposed to the South American country. The government had not previously responded to the report — the third in a series from the council’s fact-finding mission on Venezuela. It also said Maduro had ordered torture in some cases, but provided no details of specific instances. The main targets included opposition leaders, students, journalists and people working for nongovernmental organizations, it said. Maduro’s government has not allowed the U.N.-backed experts to enter Venezuela or responded to over 20 letters they sent to authorities.

☆ GOP attorneys general call on credit card companies to drop plans for gun store code
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Two dozen Republican attorneys general are urging Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to drop their plans to adopt a new merchant category code for gun retailers, saying the move would infringe on consumers' privacy. In a letter sent to the companies Tuesday, the attorneys general warn the credit card companies that they could face legal action if they move forward with the code adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). On Saturday, Senate Republicans sent a similar letter to the three credit card companies. The letters come after the credit card companies announced plans to start applying the new sales code to transactions made at gun stores. "A fundamental principle for Visa is protecting all legal commerce throughout our network and around the world and upholding the privacy of cardholders who choose to use Visa," Visa said in a statement last week.

☆ GOP attorneys general threaten Visa, American Express and MasterCard over gun-store code
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Two dozen Republican attorneys general warned Visa, American Express and MasterCard on Tuesday not to go ahead with their plans to add a new merchant category code for gun retailers. In a letter to the CEOs of the card giants, the officials expressed serious concern that adopting a new sales code for gun stores would harm the constitutional rights of gunowners and potentially violate consumer protection and antitrust laws. Previously, gun store sales were classified under a general merchandise or sporting goods category. In other words, legal gun purchases won’t be blocked by this new merchant category code, or MCC. “We do not believe private companies should serve as moral arbiters,” Visa said in a blog post last week.

☆ Montana defies order on transgender birth certificates
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

— Just hours after a Montana judge blocked health officials from enforcing a state rule that would prevent transgender people from changing the gender on their birth certificate, the Republican-run state on Thursday said it would defy the order. District Court Judge Michael Moses chided attorneys for the state during a hearing in Billings for circumventing his April order that temporarily blocked a 2021 Montana law that made it harder to change birth certificates. Moses said there was no question that state officials violated his earlier order by creating the new rule. ACLU attorney Malita Picasso expressed dismay with the agency’s stance and said officials should immediately start processing requests for birth certificate changes. State officials denied that the new rule preventing birth certificate changes was adopted in bad faith.

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