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Monday, April 20, 2026

Trump open to direct talks with Iran leaders

 United States President Donald Trump told The New York Post in an interview published on Monday that he would "have no problem meeting" the Iranian leadership if a breakthrough is achieved in the negotiations between the two countries.

"If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people — but I have no problem meeting them," Trump said, while also confirming that the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, is on its way to Pakistan for another round of talks with Iran. "They're heading over now," he confirmed. "They’ll be there tonight [Pakistan time]."

Furthermore, Trump stated that "we have pretty good ideas" about who is in charge of Iran now, adding that "we think we're dealing with the right people." Moreover, he reiterated that, for the negotiations to succeed, Iran must "get rid of their nuclear weapons," or "it wouldn't be pretty."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump-open-to-direct-talks-with-Iran-leaders/66105788

Netanyahu: We haven't finished job in Iran

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel has not "finished the work" in Iran.

Speaking at the Memorial Day ceremony in Jerusalem, Netanyahu claimed that the world recognizes Israel's commitment to self-defense and its determination "to defend mankind against barbarous zealotry." Furthermore, the Israeli prime minister stressed that his country and the United States "are carrying the entire Western civilization on their backs."

Previously, Netanyahu underlined that Israel is "ready for war with Iran at any moment," after US President Donald Trump decided to suspend the American-Israeli bombing of Iran for two weeks.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Netanyahu:-We-haven't-finished-job-in-Iran/66106056

Saylor's Strategy Holdings Top 800,000 Bitcoin After 3rd Biggest Purchase In History

 Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the world’s largest public Bitcoin holder, has blasted past 800,000 BTC in total holdings after announcing its latest purchases.

Strategy acquired 34,164 Bitcoin for $2.54 billion between April 13 and 19according to an 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

As Helen Partz reports for CoinTelegraph.com, the buy ranks as Strategy’s third-largest Bitcoin acquisition on record by coin count, behind purchases of 55,500 BTC and 51,780 BTC in November 2024.

Holding around 780,897 BTC after a $1 billion purchase just a week ago, the company now holds 815,061 BTC, purchased for $61.56 billion.

Source: SEC

The new acquisition was made at an average price of $74,395 per coin, slightly below the company’s average acquisition price of $75,527.

Strategy’s STRC funds more than 85% of the purchase

Similar to a few recent acquisitions, the majority of Strategy’s latest purchase has been funded through Stretch (STRC), the company's perpetual preferred security.

According to the filing, STRC generated $2.18 billion, or about 85.7% of total proceeds, while sales of Class A common stock (MSTR) contributed $366 million.

Source: SEC

Last week marked several new records for STRC, including the company’s largest single-day buying spree through its at-the-market, or ATM, program.

On April 13, STRC set a new estimated daily record of about 7,741 BTC, based on the sale of 11.9 million shares through its at-the-market, or ATM, program, generating more than $1 billion in trading volume, according to STRC Live.

The stock set another record the following day, with an estimated 9,364 BTC tied to 14.4 million shares sold through its at-the-market, or ATM, program. The two days combined brought an estimated 17,204 BTC, marking a 518% surge versus the four-week average.

Strategy co-founder Saylor had teased the purchase on Sunday, signaling another large bitcoin acquisition ahead of the announcement. The company also disclosed on Friday plans to pay STRC dividends twice monthly.

“If we were to move forward with paying STRC semi-monthly, we would be in category one, the only preferred in the world that pays semi-monthly dividends. We think this is unique and attractive,” Strategy CEO Phong Le said.

Market-Cap/NAV Nears 1 Again...

Finally, recent gains for Strategy stock have lifted its market cap above $54 billion...

Pushing it closer and closer back towards its net asset value (value of BTC holdings).

For many, a shift for Market-Cap/NAV back above 1 is the greenlight for stability and a sustained recovery in MSTR's stock.

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/saylors-strategy-holdings-top-800000-bitcoin-after-3rd-biggest-purchase-history

Novo positive Phase 3 SCD data for competing PK activator triggers sharp AGIO premarket drop

 

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Novo Nordisk announced that its Phase 3 HIBISCUS trial of etavopivat (an oral pyruvate kinase activator in the same class as mitapivat) met both co-primary endpoints versus placebo: a 27% reduction in annualized vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) rate and 48.7% of patients achieving a >1 g/dL hemoglobin increase (vs. 7.2% on placebo). It also extended median time to first VOC (38.4 vs. 20.9 weeks) and was well tolerated, with plans for regulatory submission in the second half of 2026. This contrasts with Agios’ earlier mixed RISE UP Phase 3 results for mitapivat in SCD (which improved hemoglobin but missed on VOC rates), intensifying competitive concerns for Agios’ SCD program and follow-on assets. The news, reported after the prior close, drove immediate selling in premarket trading on April 20, according to real-time commentary from analysts including Adam Feuerstein and market reports.

https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=AGIO&p=d

Passage Bio starts strategic review including M&A as FDA rules randomized registrational trial

 

Passage Bio starts strategic review including potential M&A as FDA requires randomized registrational trial for PBFT02 in FTD-GRN

  • Company reported updated interim biomarker and safety data from its Phase 1/2 upliFT-D trial of PBFT02.
  • FDA feedback indicated a randomized controlled registrational trial will be required for PBFT02 in FTD-GRN.
  • Passage Bio engaged Wedbush PacGrow as advisor to explore strategic alternatives, including potential merger and acquisition options.

Nektar positive 52-week Phase 2b topline results for alopecia areata

 

Nektar reports positive 52-week Phase 2b REZOLVE-AA topline results for rezpegaldesleukin in severe-to-very-severe alopecia areata

  • 52-week topline data come from Phase 2b REZOLVE-AA extension study and support advancement of rezpegaldesleukin into late-stage development.

Theriva FDA and EMA alignment on proposed pivotal Phase 3 in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer

 


Theriva Biologics secures FDA and EMA alignment on proposed pivotal Phase 3 trial in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer

Company to present new VIRAGE Phase 2b VCN-01 data at AACR 2026.