Former UPenn athletes sue school, Ivy League to vacate transgender swimmer collegiate records

 Three former University of Pennsylvania women’s swimmers alleged they suffered emotional trauma by having transgender swimmer Lia Thomas as a teammate as they called for the Ivy League to expunge Thomas’ records, according to a lawsuit.

UPenn alum Grace Estabrook, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist filed the suit on Tuesday, a day before President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s sports.

The three graduates allege their former school, Harvard University, the NCAA and the Ivy League Council of Presidents harassed, abused and violated federal laws when they allowed Thomas to compete on their team, according to the lawsuit obtained by Fox News.

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UPenn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the pool after winning the women’s 500-meter freestyle at Harvard on Jan. 22, 2022.AP

“The UPenn administrators told the women that if anyone was struggling with accepting Thomas’ participation on the UPenn Women’s team, they should seek counseling and support from CAPS and the LBGTQ center,” the lawsuit alleges. 

Kaczorowski and Holmquist, who graduated in 2024, and Estabrook, a 2022 graduate, claimed they were “repeatedly emotionally traumatized” because Thomas was allowed to compete with them, a violation of Title IX.

They claim school officials pushed their pro-trans ideology on the women throughout the time Thomas was on the team.

Administrators allegedly invited the swimmers to a talk titled “Trans 101” where they believed if they had a problem with a “trans-identifying male” on their team, they had psychological problems and needed to see a counselor.

The swimmers accused school officials of warning them against speaking out on Thomas or they’d be branded as a transphobe and risk not finding jobs in the future.

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Thomas stands on the first place podium as other medalists Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brooke Forde pose together at the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship on March 17, 2022.Getty Images

The lawsuit also accuses the four defendants of creating a culture of intimidation that forced young women to deny biology.

Thomas was not listed as a defendant in the filing.

Adding Thomas as a member to the women’s jeopardized the swimmers’ opportunities, privacy, and safety, the suit claims.

Thomas, who competed for the UPenn Men’s Swimming and Diving team from 2017 to 2020 was introduced to the women’s team as their incoming teammate in 2019.

Thomas came in first in the 500-, 200- and 100-yard freestyle races, setting pool and Ivy League records,

Thomas broke several women’s records at the Ivy League Championship meet in 2022, which was hosted at Harvard University.

The lawsuit asks the judge to declare Thomas was ineligible to compete in the women’s races and to vacate the records, The National News Desk reported.

The former Quaker swimmers accused school administrators, the NCAA, the Ivy League of coordinating together to ensure Thomas was eligible to compete on the women’s team for the 2021-2022 season.

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UPenn Women’s swimming & Diving teammates dry off next to Thomas after a warm up with Harvard.AP

Initially, the women were reportedly assured they wouldn’t be sharing a locker room with their new teammate, but the school changed policy and Thomas changed alongside them.

“When UPenn’s women’s swimmers returned to school in the fall of 2021 they were shocked to discover that Thomas was being allowed to use the women’s locker room at UPenn and would be allowed to use the women’s locker room at swim meets,” the lawsuit alleges.

“Margot [Kaczorowski] only learned that Thomas had been authorized by UPenn to use the women’s locker room when she walked in the women’s locker room to find Thomas in front of her changing his clothing,” the suit added.

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Protesters hold signs calling for no males competing against female athletes.AP

Kaczorowski allegedly confronted her coach Mike Schnur after the locker room incident.

“I know it’s wrong but there’s nothing I can do,” Schnur reportedly told her, according to the outlet.

The coach warned the women that he would be fired if he spoke out about Thomas’ use of the women’s locker room.

Trump’s executive order, signed on Feb. 5, pressures schools to comply with his order by threatening to pull federal funding.

“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” Trump said during the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” he added.

https://nypost.com/2025/02/06/sports/upenn-lia-thomas-teammates-grace-estabrook-margot-kaczorowski-ellen-holmquis-file-lawsuit-against-ncaa/

Viking off on 'mostly incremental updates for its highly anticipated weight-loss drugs'

 Investors are closely watching the biotech company for its experimental obesity treatment, VK2735, a potential rival to shots from Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Eli Lilly (LLY). The company is often pegged as a possible takeover candidate, especially for big pharmas looking to get into the obesity space.

But on Wednesday's call, Viking didn't offer any material updates, William Blair analyst Andy Hsieh said in a report to clients.

In response, Viking Therapeutics stock tumbled 9.7% to 30.25.

Viking Therapeutics Stock: Rivaling Lilly, Novo

Viking's drug most closely resembles Eli Lilly's Zepbound. It mimics two hormones called GLP-1 and GIPR to improve feelings of satiety and markers of blood sugar

The company has said it's considering running a study of the drug, VK2735, as a monthly shot. Lilly's Zepbound and Novo's Wegovy are weekly injections.

But Wednesday's updates were mostly incremental.

Viking is planning to run a final-phase study of VK2735 in patients with obesity and obesity with type 2 diabetes. That test is planned for the second quarter. Later this year, the company expects to run a 13-week study of the oral formulation of VK2735.

Viking Therapeutics is also planning to begin testing a next-generation drug sometime this year. That drug would mimic amylin and calcitonin. Amylin plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels and satiety, while calcitonin regulates calcium levels in the blood.

Viking Therapeutics stock topped out at 99.41 last February. Shares have since fallen more than 66% since then.

https://www.investors.com/news/technology/viking-therapeutics-stock-weight-loss-drugs-earning-q4-2024/

Sensus Healthcare results, outlook

Shipped a record 39 SRT systems during the quarter; revenues of $13.1 million
Achieved fifth consecutive quarter of profitability; diluted EPS of $0.09

Conference call begins at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time

“Our fourth quarter performance capped an outstanding year with key metrics reflecting the growing adoption of our SRT systems. We are proud to have achieved record-high quarterly unit shipments, along with continued profitability,” said Joe Sardano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sensus Healthcare. “Our Fair Deal Agreement program serves new customers who are seeking clinical value and financial flexibility. Our primary focus is on securing exclusive agreements with corporate accounts, and then supporting a targeted, high-impact rollout utilizing our data, resources and unmatched experience. We have had great success with this program since its launch a year ago, and expect it to begin contributing to revenues in the second half of 2025.

“The sale of an SRT system to the Pompano Veterinary Clinic demonstrates the versatility of our technology and its potential to address needs in companion animal health,” he added. “Additionally, we’re making strategic progress on product innovation to expand our portfolio and market opportunities, with plans to re-submit our TDI 510(k) application in the first half of 2025. Throughout the year we will remain focused on driving growth and profitability by expanding patient access to non-invasive treatment solutions through vehicles such as Fair Deal Agreements, strengthening and growing customer relationships and enhancing market access.

“The first and third quarters are our seasonally softest, and three of this year’s four largest medical conferences are in the first quarter. These events impact sales as prospective customers are out of the office, and they also impact expenses as we leverage these important opportunities. Regarding sales, we expect that first quarter 2025 sales could be considerably lower than first quarter 2024 sales, with full-year sales growth in 2025 versus 2024,” he concluded.

Sensus Healthcare will host an investment community conference call today beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time during which management will discuss these financial results, provide a business update and answer questions.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call here to receive a unique dial-in number that will permit them to bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. Alternatively, participants can access the conference call by dialing 844-481-2811 (U.S. and Canada Toll Free) or 412-317-0676 (International). Please direct the operator to be connected to the Sensus Healthcare conference call. The call will be webcast live and can be accessed here or in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.sensushealthcare.com.

Following the conclusion of the conference call, a replay will be available until March 5, 2025 and can be accessed by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S. Toll Free), 855-669-9658 (Canada Toll Free) or 412-317-0088 (International), using replay code 5636219. An archived webcast of the call will also be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250205958169/en/

Trump’s Ban of Trade Loophole Will Cut China Growth, Nomura Says

 

• Chinese reported $23 billion in package exports to US in 2024
• Nomura estimates the total might have been double that

The decision by President Donald Trump to ban Chinese companies from using a US tariff loophole will hit tens of billions of dollars of trade and reduce China’s economic growth this year, according to new estimates by economists at Nomura Holdings Inc.

Last year, companies such as Shein and Temu shipped $46 billion worth of small parcels to the US to take advantage of the rule that allows items with a declared value under $800 to enter the US tariff-free, according to Nomura’s estimates.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/us-banning-trade-loophole-will-cut-china-s-growth-nomura-says

Bain Is Said to Near $3 Billion Deal for Mitsubishi Pharma Unit

• Firms are aiming to announce an agreement as soon as Friday
• Potential deal would add to ongoing dealmaking boom in Japan

 

Bain Capital is nearing a deal to buy Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.’s pharmaceutical unit, people familiar with the matter said, adding to a dealmaking boom in Japan.

The US-based private equity firm and Mitsubishi are finalizing details of a transaction that could be announced as soon as Friday, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. A deal could value Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma at more than ¥500 billion yen ($3.3 billion), the people said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/bain-is-said-to-near-3-billion-deal-for-mitsubishi-pharma-unit

"Where The Big Money Fraud Is Happening": DOGE Dives Into Medicare Payment Malarkey

 Representatives of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) - who just obtained security clearances, have been embedded at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week, gaining access to critical payment and contracting systems, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing multiple individuals familiar with the situation.

The DOGE representatives have been on site at the agency’s offices this week, the people said, and they are looking at the systems’ technology as well as the spending that flows through them, with a focus on pinpointing what they consider fraud or waste. DOGE representatives are also examining the agency’s organizational design and how it is staffed, the people added.

Musk confirmed his interest in CMS oversight in a social media post, writing on X: "Yeah, this is where the big money fraud is happening."

The White House and DOGE officials declined to comment on the matter. In the last week, Musk’s DOGE team has been moving swiftly to gain access across multiple federal agencies, including the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to uncover fraud, abuse, and excessive spending.

A CMS official told the Journal that the agency has assigned “two senior agency veterans who are leading the coordination with DOGE," and that leaders are "taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient spending in line with meeting the goals of President Trump."

CMS sits at the heart of the nation’s healthcare economy, managing a budget of approximately $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2024 - roughly 22 percent of total federal spending. The agency employs around 6,710 people and administers Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs vital to millions of Americans. Many of its employees have spent decades navigating the complex regulatory and operational framework underpinning the healthcare system.

Among the systems DOGE representatives have accessed is CALM, the CMS Acquisition Lifecycle Management system, which contains contract data, sources said. However, they noted that DOGE personnel have not yet gained entry to databases containing personally identifiable health information of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. They also have not accessed HIGLAS, the Healthcare Integrated General Ledger Accounting System, a key accounting platform for CMS payments.

One person familiar with DOGE’s work at CMS emphasized that the current level of access is "read-only," preventing Musk’s team from making modifications to the systems.

The intervention has raised concerns among CMS veterans and healthcare policy experts. The agency’s payment structures are notoriously complex, involving multiple layers of contractors and private insurers, especially within Medicare. Medicaid, jointly administered by federal and state governments, follows different financial pathways, with federal funding typically flowing to state agencies.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/where-big-money-fraud-happening-doge-dives-medicare-payment-malarkey

FDA Dysfunction Rewards Chinese Black Marketeers At The Expense Of Kids

 by Michael Chamberlain via RealClearHealth,

If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), he has vowed to reform the agency. His work is cut out for him: HHS’s size and scope are matched only by its dysfunction.

Mr. Kennedy has singled out the Food and Drug Administration for attention. Let’s hope he doesn’t overlook the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). CTP is responsible for licensing the sale of all nicotine products in the U.S., a job it doesn’t want to do and is quite successful at avoiding. As of June 2024, the CTP hadn’t authorized the sale of an e-cigarette or vaping system during the entire Biden-Harris administration. It had authorized just 1/1,000th of one percent of the applications it’s received and had a backlog of 557,000 pending applications for new products. That’s impressive inaction. Meanwhile, the U.S. market is flooded with illicit Chinese-made vapes.

The FDA has been so resolute in refusing to approve flavored vapes in particular that the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court in January 2024 decided against it in a case brought by a manufacturer. The judge writing the opinion for the court pulled no punches:

[FDA] sent manufacturers … on a wild goose chase. First [giving] manufacturers detailed instructions for what information [it] needed to approve e-cigarette products … [and saying] manufacturers’ marketing plans would be “critical” to the success of their applications. [It] promulgated hundreds of pages of guidance documents, hosted public meetings, and posted formal presentations … all with the (false) promise that a flavored-product manufacturer could, at least in theory, satisfy FDA’s instructions. The regulated manufacturers dutifully spent untold millions conforming …. Then, months after receiving hundreds of thousands of applications predicated on its instructions, FDA … pretended it never gave anyone any instructions about anything, imposed new testing requirements without any notice, and denied all one million flavored e-cigarette applications for failing to predict the agency’s volte face. Worse … FDA candidly admitted that it did not read a single word of the one million [marketing] plans … [and] denied that its voluminous guidance documents and years-long instructional processes meant anything.

But while the agency was playing “switcheroo” with regulated companies, black-market manufacturers weren’t inactive. Chinese companies rake in $3.5 billion a year here with illegal and potentially more harmful products while regulated U.S. manufacturers’ scientifically researched products sit in CTP limbo. What’s more, those black-market manufacturers don’t scruple at selling flavored e-cigarettes with kid-attractive names and packaging.

That’s the public price of the FDA preference for prohibition of all nicotine products. The other price – the one tobacco companies pay in “user fees” to submit products for FDA approval – it would rather you didn’t know about.

Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) submitted FOIA requests in early 2023 for documentation on how the agency spends those user fees but was forced to sue later that year to access the documents. Even after we sued, FDA dragged its feet and acted as if it didn’t understand what we wanted. Now we know why. The CTP’s statutory mandate is to regulate the tobacco industry in an efficient, lawful, and objective manner. But it turns out the CTP is taking user fees from tobacco companies and handing them over to anti-tobacco special interests who want to ban all nicotine products.

FDA gave $472,756 to The Truth Initiative. It gave $195,600 to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and it gave $145,068 to the Michael Bloomberg-affiliated Bureau of National Affairs for tobacco prohibition activism. And its ties to these groups go deeper than money. As reported last June, CTP official Cathy Crosby allegedly improperly solicited gifts in the form of tickets to a gala hosted by the Center for Tobacco-Free Kids. Shortly after chatting at that event with a board member of The Truth Initiative, she left CTP to become its CEO.

Of the $1.235 billion in user fees the FDA has expended during the previous four fiscal years the agency awarded a whopping 41 percent to a single entity – a communications company. So, while a million applications were languishing in FDA purgatory, while “regulated manufacturers dutifully spent untold millions conforming,” and while Chinese black-market manufacturers were raking in nearly $15 billion off the illegal U.S. market, FDA spent over a half-billion dollars trying to tell the American public what a great job it’s doing.

Every dollar sent to prohibitionist activists or spent on self-promotion is a dollar that could be used to get potentially dangerous illegal Chinese products off the shelves and out of the reach of kids. But FDA acts like just another of the anti-nicotine special interest groups uninterested in harm-reduction. It shares money and an active revolving door with activist groups, at the expense of its statutory responsibilities and ultimately of kids

The FDA’s prohibitionist zealotry is more than just wrong-headed. Mr. Kennedy should take note.

Michael Chamberlain is the Director of Protect the Public’s Trust.

https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/fda-dysfunction-rewards-chinese-black-marketeers-expense-kids