Anti-Israel vandal arrested after pepper-spraying two NYPD cops in Times Square

 A hateful anti-Israel vandal who was caught viciously ripping down Israeli child hostage posters while yelling “F–k Israel” after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack was arrested Wednesday after she pepper-sprayed two NYPD officers in Times Square — and tried to take a gun from one of them, according to law enforcement sources.

Dana Baraket approached the pair of officers at Broadway and 47th Street around 1:20 a.m. and doused them in the eyes and face, police and sources said.

The 19-year-old then tried to grab one of their guns as she repeatedly yelled at them to “kill me,” according to sources.

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The two officers were taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said.Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Baraket did not get the gun and was arrested at the scene, the sources added.

She was charged with assaulting a police officer, attempted robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, harassment and criminal possession of a noxious matter. 

The two cops were taken to a local hospital in stable condition, according to the NYPD.

“The officers did an excellent job under extreme pressure and stress when they were intentionally ambushed by the attacker,” a law enforcement source said.

“Within seconds of being attacked, they quickly de-escalated the situation without anyone being seriously injured, and placed the attacker in handcuffs.”

In October 2023 — just weeks after Hamas launched its bloody attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages — Baraket was filmed tearing down Israeli child hostage posters from a storefront window with her sister while yelling “F–k Israel” on the Upper West Side.

The siblings were confronted by Marilyn Adler and her two adult daughters, who said the pair then turned on them, leaving her frightened that they would harm her children.

In the video, shared widely online by the nonprofit StopAntisemitism, Adler’s daughter Melissa pleaded with the women to stop, stressing that those pictured on the posters were “innocent civilians.”

In response, one of the women yelled, “F–k you, f–k Israel.”

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Dana and Aya Baraket were filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages.twitter @ RitaPanahi

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The two cops were attacked at Broadway and 47th Street around 1:20 a.m.Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The sisters’ father, Hasan Bakaret, said he spoke with his daughters after the disturbing confrontation made The Post’s front page.

Hasan, a New Yorker who immigrated from Lebanon more than 35 years ago, said he disapproved of their offensive language but insisted they are not antisemitic and that their actions were taken out of context. 

The two women claimed they were provoked by Adler, who they claimed snatched a photo of a Palestinian baby from their hands, the dad said.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/02/us-news/anti-israel-vandal-arrested-after-pepper-spraying-two-nypd-cops-in-times-square-sources/

Argenx Makes $1.5B+ Play for UNP’s Macrocyclic Peptides Aimed at ‘Undruggable’ Targets

 

Macrocyclic peptides are designed to engage complex targets like biologics but pass through cell membranes like small molecule drugs.

Argenx has entered a multi-target research pact that could be worth up to $1.5 billion with Unnatural Products, Inc.—also known as UNP—to advance oral macrocyclic peptides for several “traditionally ‘undruggable’” disease targets.

Tuesday’s agreement involves a “double-digit million-dollar upfront payment” to UNP, though the companies did not provide an exact amount. UNP will also be eligible for up to $1.5 billion in future research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones and option commitments. California-based UNP is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of products arising from the collaboration.

In an email to BioSpace, a spokesperson for UNP noted that Tuesday’s announcement is the largest licensing deal to date in the macrocyclic peptide space. Argenx has also pledged to participate in UNP’s upcoming series B fundraising round, the spokesperson added.

At the center of this partnership is UNP’s proprietary drug discovery platform, an AI-driven engine that can generate synthetic peptides that mimic macrocycles. These naturally occurring molecules can bind to complex targets like biologics do, but can easily move through the cell membrane similar to small-molecule drugs.

Under the terms of Tuesday’s agreement, UNP will use its macrocyclic peptide technology to discover orally available drug candidates for multiple targets as determined by argenx. UNP will usher these molecules through early assessments until investigational new drug-enabling studies, after which argenx will have the option to take them into the clinic.

Argenx’s business is currently highly dependent on one asset: the FcRn blocker efgartigimod, which is approved as Vyvgart for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). A reformulated version of the drug called Vyvgart Hytrulo—which contains other components that allow it to be delivered subcutaneously—is also approved for gMG as well as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), according to the biotech’s website.

In April, the FDA approved a prefilled syringe version of Vyvgart Hytrulo for gMG and CIDP.

The Vyvgart franchise brought in $2.2 billion in 2024—earnings that could be put at risk in coming years once patent protections for the drug expire. Vyvgart is protected through at least 2033, but with Tuesday’s deal, argenx appears to be in the process of expanding and diversifying its pipeline. The biotech is also working on the complement blocker empasiprubart for CIDP, multifocal motor neuropathy and other indications, as well as ARGX-119, a MuSK-targeting candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and congenital myasthenic syndrome.

https://www.biospace.com/business/argenx-makes-1-5b-play-for-unps-macrocyclic-peptides-aimed-at-undruggable-targets

UK government, pharma industry still far away from life sciences plan agreement

 The British government and the pharmaceutical industry remain far apart in a dispute over drug pricing

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ASTRAZENECA-PLC-4000930/news/UK-government-pharma-industry-still-far-away-from-life-sciences-plan-agreement-50404519/

Del Monte Foods files for bankruptcy

Canned-food giant Del Monte Foods filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, the company announced in a statement.

Del Monte Foods began voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings and entered into a restructuring support agreement with a group of its lenders, they said. 

"This is a strategic step forward for Del Monte Foods," CEO Greg Longstreet said in a statement. "After a thorough evaluation of all available options, we determined a court-supervised sale process is the most effective way to accelerate our turnaround and create a stronger and enduring Del Monte Foods."

Del Monte said it has secured $912.5 million in financing from some of its existing lenders to support itself through the proceedings.

The nearly 140-year-old company is known for its Del Monte brand of canned fruits and vegetables, broth and stocks brand College Inn and tea brands like Joyba.

Del Monte Foods said it intends to remain open and continue operations throughout the bankruptcy. 

Certain of its non-U.S. subsidiaries are not included in the Chapter 11 proceedings and will continue to operate as usual, the company added.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
FDP	FRESH DEL MONTE	32.97	-0.28	-0.85%

A filing with the New Jersey bankruptcy court obtained by Reuters estimates the company’s assets and liabilities at between $1 billion and $10 billion, while the number of creditors is estimated at between 10,000 and 25,000.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/del-monte-foods-files-bankruptcy

'Teary' UK Chancellor Reeves Is Safe For Now But The Gilt Market Maybe Not

 Ten-year gilt yields just spiked by more than 10 bps on rumors that UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves was about to resign or be ousted.

The pressure on Reeves comes after Starmer — in a dramatic climbdown on Tuesday — abandoned controversial plans to restrict benefit payments to some disabled people, a reform pushed by the chancellor which would have saved some £5 billion ($6.9 billion), and was key to meeting her self-imposed budgetary rules at her spring statement in March.

Bloomberg reports that the welfare reform package was widely opposed by Labour MPs, with more than 120 originally threatening to vote against the policy in parliament.

Even after the last-ditch decision to drop the most contentious changes, 49 Labour MPs still voted against the bill on Tuesday, a sign of the scale of discontent.

The rebellion and U-turn are a serious blow to Starmer’s political authority as he approaches the first anniversary of Labour’s election win last July.

The decision to ditch the welfare reforms also leaves Reeves facing a widening fiscal hole of more than £6 billion to fill, including the need to fund a separate about-turn on a plan to cut winter fuel payments to pensioners.

As Bloomberg further reports, Starmer’s press secretary, Sophie Nazemi, quickly clarified his position to reporters after PMQs, saying that Reeves was going nowhere.

“She has the prime minister’s full backing,” Nazemi said.

“He’s said it repeatedly.”

The combination of Starmer’s failure to back his chancellor, and Reeves’ tears, prompted speculation about her position until the Treasury clarified that the reason for her demeanor was a personal issue.

“It’s a personal matter, which - as you would expect - we are not going to get into,” the Treasury said in a statement.

“The chancellor will be working out of Downing Street this afternoon.”

But, as Bloomberg's Simon White notes, the rapidity of the move shows the precariousness of the UK’s debt situation.

The government had planned a series of cuts to welfare and sickness benefits, but had to drastically scale them back in the face of huge opposition from backbench MPs.

The watered down changes are estimated to deliver no savings overall.

A new chancellor might drop Reeves’ commitment to not borrow more for day-to-day activities, or increase spending, justifying a deepening concern for the gilt market.

Cable tumbled...

Yields are still near their day’s highs, while a risk measure for the UK, based on asset swaps, country bond spreads and basis swaps, has widened notably.

Keep watching.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/teary-uk-chancellor-reeves-safe-now-gilt-market-maybe-not

Oscar Health drops as Barclays sees asymmetric downside, initiates at Underweight

 Oscar Health fell 14% to $17.58 on Wednesday after Barclays began coverage with an Underweight rating, warning that the stock’s recent rally leaves it vulnerable to pullbacks as policy risks mount.

Shares surged more than 50% in June, driven largely by retail speculation following a bullish investor day, but Barclays said the optimism ignores emerging threats to Oscar’s profitability.

Analysts said it sees an asymmetric downside risk with regulatory uncertainty, potential changes to federal subsidies, and tariff-related costs hurting growth and margin targets.

The firm set a $17 price target, just below current levels.

Oscar, a digital-focused insurer operating exclusively on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, laid out plans in June to more than double margins and deliver $2.25+ per share profit by 2027.

Barclays is skeptical, projecting $1.28 instead, 25% below consensus, and modeling medical loss ratio (MLR) pressure into next year.

With new rules and subsidy expirations on the table, Oscar may have to raise premiums and lose members.

Barclays estimated over 100 basis points of MLR headwinds in most 2026 scenarios, which could shave at least 30 cents off EPS.

Proposed changes to cost-sharing reduction (CSR) funding add another layer of risk.

Though the Senate’s latest version of the reconciliation bill dropped CSR provisions, the House kept them, and Barclays said such a move could strip away no-premium bronze plans for low-income enrollees.

With 34% of Oscar’s base in bronze plans, that could drive outsized attrition and degrade the risk pool.

Oscar turned profitable only this year, and Barclays used a 14x multiple on its 2027 EPS forecast to derive its target, well below the 21x multiple assigned to prior high-growth insurers like WellCare and Molina in similar phases.

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/oscar-health-drops-as-barclays-sees-asymmetric-downside-initiates-at-underweight-4121179

Instil Bio OKd for Phase 1 Trial in Relapsed/Refractory Solid Tumors

 US phase 1 trial of ‘2510 is expected to be initiated before the end of 2025

Anticipate ImmuneOnco sharing initial safety and efficacy results from phase 2 trial of ‘2510 + chemo in 1L NSCLC in the second half of 2025

Instil Bio, Inc. (“Instil”) (NASDAQ: TIL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of novel therapies, today announced the clearance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for AXN-2510 (“’2510”) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Instil expects to initiate a phase 1 trial of ‘2510 as monotherapy for patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors before the end of 2025. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ‘2510 in patients with solid tumors. Additionally, Instil continues to anticipate that initial safety and efficacy results from the ongoing phase 2 study of ‘2510 in combination with chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC in China will be shared in the second half of 2025 by ImmuneOnco.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/instil-bio-announces-u-f-100000075.html