Update (2135ET): The victims in today's deadly helicopter crash into the Hudson Riverhave been identified as Agustin Escobar, the CEO of Siemens' Spain division, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children,aged 4, 5, and 11 years-old. The pilot, 36, was also killed in the crash according toABC News.
The family was visiting NYC from Barcelona, Spain, two Spanish officials told the outlet.
The crash occurred at 3:17 p.m. off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey shortly after departing from the Wall St. Heliport. The craft reached the George Washington Bridge before turning south and crashing.
"Our hearts go out to the family and those on board," said NYC Mayor Eric Adams during a briefing.
The helicopter was a Bell 206 helicopter, and had been on its sixth flight of the day.
A Bell helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon—shortly after 3:00 p.m. ET—near West Side Highway and Spring Street, closer to the Jersey City side of the river. Six people have been reported as deceased in the crash.
The Coast Guard halted all maritime traffic in the area to establish a safety zone around the crash site. The NYPD is on scene.
"Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas," NYPD wrote in a statement on X.
Footage of the accident area has been posted on X by several users.
"Helicopter crashing into Hudson River. You can see the propellers falling. So sad …" one X user said.
Another X user said, "The helicopter that crashed in the Hudson appears to be N216MH, a Bell 206 owned by Meridian helicopters. Radar shows it suddenly dropping to the water just north of the Holland Tunnel."
Cleveland Clinic virology researchers have found that a specific protein modification to the immune protein MDA5 is key to how human bodies detect and respond to viruses and viral replication.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences publication explains how two protein modifications activate MDA5, an essential immune protein, to sense invaders, limit viral replication and fight infections. This process is key to preventing outcomes like virus-induced heart inflammation.
This most recent publication builds on a body of work from the lab of Michaela Gack, Ph.D., scientific director of Cleveland Clinic's Florida Research & Innovation Center, that seeks to improve our understanding of how bodies detect viruses. The team's long-term goal is to potentially translate these findings to anti-viral treatments that can combat multiple viruses.
Protein modifications are extra molecules or chemical groups added to a protein after it is made. Genes provide instructions to create proteins molecule-by-molecule, but the molecule isn't finished after that process is complete.
Cellular enzymes then add new pieces to the protein to set them up for certain functions or flag the protein for destruction. These protein modifications allow our bodies to regulate certain processes—or stop them entirely.
MDA5 is a protein involved in the very first step of how human bodies detect viruses. There are specific sites in MDA5 where protein modification occurs as part of the first step of responding to a virus. A small protein called ISG15 attaches to these sites—a process termed ISGylation, explains the study's first author, Lucky Sarkar, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Gack's lab.
To explore how critical this specific protein modification is to sensing viruses, researchers worked with the Case Western Reserve Transgenic and Targeting Facility to create a preclinical model harboring a version of MDA5 that lacked the sites necessary to attach to ISG15.
"Eliminating the protein's ability to be modified had almost the same effect as deleting it altogether," Dr. Sarkar said. "The data demonstrates that MDA5's ISG15 modification is key to activating innate immunity—our body's first line of defense."
Without MDA5 ISGylation, preclinical models of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection were more severe. Viral replication and heart inflammation increased significantly.
Previous work from Dr. Gack's Lab has shown that MDA5 senses many other families of viruses including coronaviruses and mosquito-transmitted diseases.
"We have demonstrated that MDA5 uses ISGylation to sense viral invaders once they enter our bodies," Dr. Gack says. "MDA5 ISGylation is a pivotal mechanism that helps our immune system to respond to a wide range of viruses. Understanding these fundamental processes behind how the body detects an intruder is critical to designing broadly antiviral treatments."
Drs. Gack and Sarkar say their findings could represent the first step to developing a broad-spectrum antiviral. Current research on combating viruses mainly focuses on virus-specific vaccines or antiviral treatments, Dr. Gack explains. While these are excellent tools to prevent specific infections, they are tailor-made for each virus or even only one strain of a virus.
"Right now, we are asking if we can modulate these protein modifications to boost our natural innate immune response for the development of a broadly antiviral approach for multiple viral infections," Dr. Gack says. "That would be a game-changer for new pathogens, and for situations where traditional approaches have failed."
More information: Lucky Sarkar et al, MDA5 ISGylation is crucial for immune signaling to control viral replication and pathogenesis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420190122
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. priced ¥90 billion ($628 million) of bonds on Friday, completing the yen deal even as sharp market volatility prompted several Japanese companies to cancel sales.
It was the smallest yen deal by Warren Buffett’s firm since it started tapping the Japanese market in 2019, Bloomberg-compiled data show. The six-part offering had tenors ranging from three years to 30 years.
Insulet Corporation, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, develops, manufactures, and sells insulin delivery systems primarily for individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes. The company's flagship product, the Omnipod Insulin Management System, represents a significant innovation in the diabetes management space. The company employs over 2,400 individuals globally with manufacturing facilities in the United States and China.
The insulin industry is vital for addressing diabetes - a major US health concern affecting 11.6% of the population (38.4 million people in 2021, according to the ADA). While medical advancements have made insulin more accessible, revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2025 to 2030, after reaching $19.5 billion in 2024, driven by rising diabetes rates worldwide, tech advances like automated pumps and insulin pens, and better insurance coverage. Despite rising demand, major manufacturers are cutting prices, which has driven revenue down. Additionally, strategic location choices based on skilled labor and market access, and growing competition from lower-priced generic drugmakers are key trends shaping the market.
Precedence Research
Insulet faces some tough competition in the diabetes care space. For example, Medtronic’s MiniMed series lost some market share even though its overall diabetes segment experienced modest growth, maintaining its position as a major player with a broad product lineup. Tandem, known for its sleek and user-friendly t:slim X2 pump, experienced a slight dip in performance as customer acquisition slowed. Abbott Laboratories is making waves too, with its FreeStyle Libre system showing robust growth, while Dexcom’s G6 and G7 systems have also demonstrated strong performance, acting as both competitors and partners in some areas. Then there’s Eli Lilly, leveraging its vast resources to explore treatments like tirzepatide that could reduce insulin dependency, and Novo Nordisk, which continues to dominate the insulin market.
Insulet’s business model is built on an initial device placement combined with recurring revenue from disposable pods—replaced every 72 hours at about 122 pods per patient each year. While they sell the Omnipod PDM controller, most revenue comes from these disposables, supported by customer retention rates exceeding 95% and a strong shift toward pharmacy distribution (63% of US customers as of Q2 2024). Their flagship Omnipod is celebrated for being tubeless, waterproof, and user-friendly, integrating with Dexcom’s G6 CGM to automate insulin delivery and cut hypoglycemia by 67%, with 86% of users appreciating its hassle-free design.
Insulet’s strengths include a robust portfolio of over 750 patents, offering the only tubeless insulin pump system in major markets, and achieving over 95% customer retention. Its manufacturing efficiencies have notably boosted margins, and Omnipod 5’s first-mover advantage has spurred a 37% YoY jump in new customer acquisitions. The launch of Omnipod 5 in the U.S. for users aged 2 and older and more recently the FDA clearance extended to include infants as young as 6 months allowed it to be the only automated insulin delivery system available for that age group. The device expanded internationally with launches in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Norway and even the Netherlands while digital integration has advanced through partnerships with Glooko and Tidepool.
Opportunities lie in expanding Medicare coverage, penetrating international markets like Japan and China, tapping into the larger Type 2 diabetes segment, and further integrating digital health solutions. Insulet faces threats from increasing competition with emerging tubeless options from traditional pump makers, potential shifts in insulin dependency due to GLP-1 agonists, reimbursement pressures, and supply chain disruptions. The group is also challenged by its heavy reliance on Dexcom’s CGM systems, higher R&D expenses relative to larger competitors, significant U.S.-centric revenue, and pricing pressures in certain international markets.
In 2024, the Group’s revenue surged to $2.1 billion—a 22.1% jump that beat expectations—driven largely by Omnipod, which raked in $2.0 billion, growing 22.4% overall (20.6% in the U.S. and 27.6% abroad).
Improved efficiency pushed gross margins to 69.8%, operating income to $308.9 million (14.9% of revenue), and net income more than doubled to $418.3 million ($5.78 per share), with strong gains in adjusted net income and EBITDA, plus robust operating and free cash flows of $430.3 million and $305.4 million, respectively. Looking ahead to 2025, revenue is expected to grow 16–20%, with Omnipod leading at 17–21%—and potentially 22–25% in Q1—while international Omnipod might see up to 31% growth in the first quarter, despite a possible double-digit drop in Drug Delivery. Meanwhile, the Group recently topped 500,000 active global Omnipod users (365,000 on Omnipod 5), integrated Omnipod 5 with Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus in the U.S., defended its IP against EOFlow Co., launched Omnipod 5 in several European countries, and published SECURE-T2D trial results highlighting Omnipod 5’s benefits for people with type 2 diabetes.
After significantly increasing its debt in 2022 to over $4.1 billion, Insulet brought it down to $1.9 billion by 2024. Over the same period, its return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) stabilized at solid levels - 16% and 27%, respectively, for the 2024 fiscal year. The company’s free cash flow (FCF) has grown steadily, rising from $879 million in 2016 to $4.6 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $7.6 billion by 2027. Its FCF margin has consistently ranged between 28% and 33%. On the valuation side, Insulet remains expensive. Its P/E ratio has hovered around 61x between 2022 and 2024 - well above its 10-year average of 54x - even though it's expected to drop to 43x in 2025. Competitors are also trading at high multiples in 2024: Dexcom at 54.8x, Roche at 24.8x, Novo Nordisk at 27.6x, Eli Lilly at 65.9x, and Medtronic at 28.9x. Insulet’s 2024 price-to-book ratio (P/B) stands at 9.84x, noticeably lower than its 10-year average of 16.1x. Meanwhile, its EV/EBITDA multiple is 27.9x, slightly above the 10-year average of 25.5x.
Insulet has been shaking up diabetes management with its innovative Omnipod system, and its market share has steadily increased, challenging established players like Medtronic. With only a fraction of Type 1 patients using insulin pumps and expanding Medicare coverage and international reach, there's plenty of room to grow. Looking ahead, despite a premium valuation, Insulet's continued innovation and market expansion signal a promising future in a competitive landscape.
Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) struggled to find records belonging to Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, the director of the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office, while trying to comply with a subpoena from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) for vaccine safety data.
“HHS officials recently informed me that Dr. Shimabukuro’s records remain lost and, potentially, removed from HHS’s email system altogether,” Johnson wrote in a Wednesday letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and acting HHS watchdog Juliet Hodgkins.
Dr. Tom Shimabukuro remains at the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office.CDC
“Dr. Shimabukuro’s potential mishandling of his official records is highly concerning.”
It is not clear what specific records are missing, but Johnson’s team was told HHS was struggling to locate information for which Shimabukuro had responsibility and that should exist, an aide explained to The Post.
Last November, Johnson had asked HHS, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration to “preserve all records referring or relating to the development, safety, and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.”
In January, after becoming chair of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Johnson blasted out a subpoena for records on internal COVID-19 vaccine safety communications, which led to HHS discovering the potential discrepancies with Shimabukuro’s emails.
“Any attempt to obstruct or interfere with my investigatory efforts would be grounds for contempt of Congress,” Johnson wrote Wednesday.
Contempt of Congress is punishable by up to a six-figure fine and 12 months in prison.
Under the Federal Records Act, government officials are required to preserve materials “made or received by a Federal agency under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business.”
Johnson is calling upon the FBI, DOJ and HHS Inspector General’s Office to probe whether Shimabukuro and other federal health officials “deleted or destroyed official agency records.”
Sen. Johnson is probing the government’s handling of COVID-19 vaccine safety concerns.Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
He is also demanding an inquiry into whether records were intentionally deleted to “avoid or subvert Congressional oversight or the Freedom of Information Act.”
The Post reached out to Shimabukuro, HHS, and the CDC for comment.
The Wisconsin senator’s concerns about Shimabukuro’s adherence to recordkeeping requirements comes on the heels of revelations that National Institutes of Health (NIH) senior adviser Dr. David Morens “retained very few emails or documents” pertaining to the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morens later indicated that he couldn’t remember whether he deleted emails.
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic found evidence that Morens sought guidance from the NIH’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office on how to avoid records requests.
“I had always suspected that Dr. Morens was not the sole evader of federal recordkeeping requirements at HHS,” Johnson remarked.
The COVID-19 vaccine was produced in record time under Operation Warp Speed.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
“The extent to which HHS officials systemically mishandled, deleted, or destroyed their communications, data, and other information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccines must be thoroughly investigated.”
Johnson and other Republican lawmakers in Congress have battled with the HHS watchdog for months, trying to get it to conduct a more thorough investigation into Morens.
“If the allegations regarding Dr. Shimabukuro’s mishandling of agency records are true,” Johnson warned, “then it will certainly raise questions about the effectiveness of the HHS OIG’s oversight and cast doubt on whether the HHS OIG actually did what I asked it to do nineteen months ago.”
