Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $140 Million to Develop PrEP Implant: VIDEO

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged up to $140 million to help biotech firm Intarcia Therapeutics develop an HIV prevention device.

The fund will help the Boston-based company to adapt its Medici implant technology program to deliver a steady stream of HIV medication to healthy patients over an extended period of time. The matchstick-sized device doses out medicine from a tiny pump embedded under the patient’s skin.

Intarcia gets another $206M and announces a new disease target: HIV t.co/B4IhxKQbMx

— Boston Business (@BosBizJournal) January 10, 2017

GeekWire reports:

The Gates Foundation contribution is divided into two parts. The Seattle non-profit behemoth is investing $50 million in Intarcia’s latest Series EE round and committing up to $90 million in grants to be awarded as the startup crosses certain milestones.

The anti-HIV prophylactic therapy would be administered to patients once or twice-yearly. Intarcia is also developing a drug delivery system to treat type 2 diabetes, using the Medici technology. The startup plans to begin delivering the diabetes medication to patients next year but development of the anti-HIV prophylactic is expected to take longer.

Intarcia’s pump will most likely begin rolling out in the U.S. and other wealthy countries, according to the Wall Street Journal. But the long-term goal is to bring the technology to parts of the developing world, like Sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV is endemic.

RELATED: Second Case of Daily PrEP User Contracting HIV Reported

In a press release, Intarcia CEO Kurt Graves said the company “is poised to open up a totally new category of important once- or twice-yearly treatment and prevention therapies for some of the world’s most serious chronic diseases − including those that disproportionately affect people with some of the greatest unmet needs.”

He added that Intarcia is “tremendously excited and humbled to work with an incredible organization as smart, forward-looking and purpose-based as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.”

Watch a Newsy report below.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $140 Million to Develop PrEP Implant: VIDEO

Watch Jeff Sessions Confirmation Hearing Live

www.advocate.com/politics/2017/1/10/watch-jeff-sessions-confirmation-hearing-live

WATCH: Neil Patrick Harris and James Corden battle in ‘Broadway riff-off’

Before joining Late Late Show host James Corden on his couch, television, film and Broadway star Neil Patrick Harris appeared on the stage to challenge the car karaoke crooner in a riff-off of Broadway show tunes.

Harris mocked his host for winning his Tony for his spoken-word performance in the play “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

Burn.

The boys were backed-up by Filharmonic, and sang their hearts out — so much so, that Harris later revealed he split his pants.

Watch the segment below:

www.queerty.com/watch-neil-patrick-harris-james-corden-battle-broadway-riff-off-20170110?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

AG Nominee Jeff Sessions’s Testimony Shows He’s Unchanged in Hostility to LGBT Rights, Protections: WATCH

Several times during his confirmation hearings today, anti-LGBT discrimination and LGBT rights were up for discussion.

In Sessions’ opening statement, he said “I understand the demands for justice and fairness made by our LGBT community” though his past actions reveal that he has fought against justice and fairness for the LGBT community at every turn.

Understanding something is not the same as siding with it.

Sessions: I will ensure civil rights protections for African-Americans, women and LGBT people if attorney general t.co/eNEbpB1Ly7

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 10, 2017

Sessions may understand the LGBT community’s concerns, but he opposes them.

The Alabama senator has been a vocal opponent of marriage equality. He also grilled then Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan on her opposition to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell during her senate confirmation hearings and said he would do crack cocaine at Sonia Sotomayor’s hearings. He also opposed the Matthew Shepard hate crimes act and supports the First Amendment Defense Act, the heinous bill that would allow businesses to cite religious beliefs as justification to discriminate against LGBT people. In 1996, as Alabama’s attorney general, Sessions fought tooth and nail to stop the Southeastern Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual College Conference from meeting at the University of Alabama but did not prevail.

When asked during the confirmation hearings, Sessions said that he would “follow” the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.

Considering that he has only supported Supreme Court candidates that oppose marriage equality, the statement is meaningless. If a new SCOTUS were to rule against marriage equality, his past actions show he’d be even more willing to “follow” that court’s ruling.

Watch:

Finally, Sessions was asked by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) about the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, which he strongly opposed.

In an appalling display for someone about to become the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, Sessions danced around his past statements that LGBT individuals don’t face discrimination or hate crimes, refusing to repudiate those statements.

Here’s our transcript:

LEAHY: In 2009 I offered the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act…you opposed it…you stated at a hearing that you’re not sure women or people of different sexual orientations face that kind of discrimination. And then you said ‘I just don’t see it.’ Do you still believe that women and LGBT individuals do not face the kind of discrimination that the hate crimes legislation was passed to prevent?”

SESSIONS: “Having discussed that issue at some length that does not sound like something I said or intended to say.”

LEAHY: “You did say it.”

SESSIONS: “I understand but I’ve seen things taken out of context and not given an accurate picture. My view is and was a concern that it appeared that these cases were being prosecuted effectively in state courts where they were normally be expected to be prosecuted. I asked Attorney General Holder to list cases that he had that indicated they were not being properly prosecuted…I noted that Mr Byrd was given the death penalty in Texas for his offense, and Mr Shepard, there were two life sentences imposed as a result of the situation in his state. So the question simply was do we have a problem that requires an expansion of federal law into an area that the federal government has not been historically involved. Senator Hatch had a proposal that we do a study to see the extent of the problem and that we should have evidence that indicates a shortage of prosecutions and a lack of willingness to prosecute before adding this law.”

LEAHY: “Last year the FBI said that LGBT individuals were more likely to be targeted for hate crimes than any other minority group in the country. We can study this forever but that’s a pretty strong fact. And in 2010 you stated that expanding hate crimes protections to LGBT individuals was unwarranted, possibly unconstitutional. You said the bill has been said to cheapen the civil rights movement. Especially considering what the FBI is found, do you still feel that way?”

SESSIONS: “Mr. Chairman the law has been passed, the Congress has spoken, you can be sure I will enforce it.”

Watch:

The post AG Nominee Jeff Sessions’s Testimony Shows He’s Unchanged in Hostility to LGBT Rights, Protections: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

AG Nominee Jeff Sessions’s Testimony Shows He’s Unchanged in Hostility to LGBT Rights, Protections: WATCH

HRC Responds to Leahy Exchange in Sessions Hearing

Given the Leahy exchange in the Sessions hearing, here’s a quote from David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign Director of Government Affairs:

“Want to predict how vigorously an Attorney General nominee will enforce federal hate crimes law? Look at his voting record on hate crimes legislation. Jeff Sessions didn’t only vote against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes law, he led its opposition. We need an AG who takes these crimes seriously and pursues justice aggressively. We have serious doubts he can do so.”

Here’s a sampling of his record.

• 2009: He tried to insert a poison pill amendment to derail the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes law, and later voted against it. 
• 2009: Sessions Said he Would Vote Against Bill That Included Pay Raise For Military Members Because It Included Federal Hate Crimes Laws To Cover Crimes Motivated By A Victim’s Gender Identity Or Sexual Orientation.
• 2007: Sessions Effectively Voted Against Expanding Federal Hate Crimes Laws To Include Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identification.
• 2004: Sessions Warned Adding LGBT To Hate Crimes Was Going One Step Further Than The Original Hate Crime Bill Which Was A Result Of Prosecutors “Ignoring Violent Crimes Against Blacks” And Said “We Ought Not To Do That.”
• 2002: Sessions Effectively Voted Against Expanding Federal Hate Crimes Laws To Include Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identification.
• 2000: Sessions Voted Against Expanding Federal Hate Crimes Laws To Include Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identification.

   

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-responds-to-leahy-exchange-in-sessions-hearing?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Billy Eichner just had an epic Twitter throwdown with Meghan McCain over Streep speech

Who knew Billy Eichner was such a badasss?

Related: Would You Have A Threesome With Billy Eichner And Jon Hamm?

The Billy on the Street star effortlessly eviscerated Meghan McCain after the Republican talking head (who’s Senator McCain’s daughter) opined that “this Meryl Streep speech is why Trump won,” recommending that “people in Hollywood” need to “start recognizing it.”  

Related: Is Billy Eichner Underappreciated By The Gay Community?

Eicher wasn’t having none of that, responding:

Um she asked him not to make fun of disabled people and advocated for the freedom of the press and the arts you f–king moron…”

And it only gets more ruthless from there:

This Meryl Streep speech is why Trump won. And if people in Hollywood don’t start recognizing why and how – you will help him get re-elected

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 9, 2017

Um she asked him not to make fun of disabled people and advocated for the freedom of the press and the arts you fucking moron t.co/IzZexd7Bb4

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

.@billyeichner calling republicans like me “fucking morons” is a great way for Hollywood to bridge the cultural divide. Enjoy your bubble.

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 9, 2017

.@MeghanMcCain I rather live in a bubble than live with people who don’t feel a need to respect the disabled, freedom of speech & the arts!!

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

.@MeghanMcCain Oh & another message from my bubble-can u ask dad to give back the MILLIONS he’s received from the NRA? MERYL FUCKING STREEP!

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

Love being told I live in a bubble by the daughter of a millionaire politician who sometimes guest co-hosts Hoda and Kathie Lee.

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

And I have no desire to “bridge the cultural divide” with ignorant voters who don’t respect other cultures!

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

And now if you’ll excuse me I’m late for the Weinstein/Netflix party.

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

It doesn’t matter what Trump thinks of Meryl. What matters is he’s ignoring American intelligence agencies, which is a threat to our…

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

…nat’l security, pushing a racist to be Attorney General & Congress sidestepping standard ethics reviews of cabinet members. FOCUS ON THAT

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017

“Never get in a wrestling match with a pig because you both get dirty and the pig likes it”. Done talking Hollywood and d-list comedians.

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 9, 2017

www.queerty.com/billy-eichner-just-epic-twitter-throwdown-meghan-mccain-streep-speech-20170110?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Laverne Cox, Betsy DeVos, Julian Assange, Trevor Noah, Joan Collins, Meryl Streep: HOT LINKS

A LOOK pic.twitter.com/ZlIEMCP5z2

— aaron (@lustdad) January 6, 2017

FIERCE FASHION. High schooler’s T-shirt goes viral.

JULIAN ASSANGE. The Wikileaks founder did an AMA on Reddit.

BETSY DEVOS. Confirmation hearing for anti-gay billionare Secretary of Education pick delayed a week: “The move comes after Democrats had raised concerns about the wealthy philanthropists’ incomplete financial disclosures and unfinished ethics review, as Politico reported last week. The top Democrat on the HELP committee asked for a rescheduled hearing, saying she was concerned about “extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interest,” Politico says.”

TRIFECTA OF GLAMOUR. Joan Collins, Donna Mills, and Naomi Campbell join forces.

STEPHEN COLBERT. Let’s have a ‘Million Meryl March’.

STREEPED. Committee to Protect Journalists gets 140x more donations than usual after Meryl Streep speech: “A typical Sunday evening brings in about five donations, said Courtney Radsch, the group’s a dvocacy director. However, in the wake of Streep’s comments, the non-profit received about 700 online donations on Sunday night, or 140 times the typical amount for that time. The CPJ has yet to calculate the total amount raised since Streep’s speech, but Radsch said most of the gifts were small. Streep’s nod to the organization also brought increased traffic to the group’s website and social media pages.”

DENVER. Police horse dies after officer forgot he had no food or water.

TWIN PEAKS. The David Lynch reboot finally got a premiere date: “Network president David Nevins announced the news at the Television Critics Association 2017 winter press tour, revealing that the long-in-the-works new season will debut with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, May 21 at 9 p.m. Additionally, the third and fourth episodes of the new season will be available on Showtime’s streaming and on demand platforms that same night. The 2017 season will be 18 hours in total.”

BYSTANDERS OF ATROCITY. On recognizing everyday authoritarianism.

BRACE, BRACE, BRACE. LGBT activists prepare to resist Trump administration: “They view President-elect Donald Trump and many of his Cabinet selections as disinterested — and in some cases hostile — when it comes to the various issues of civil rights and anti-discrimination protections that concern lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.”

LAVERNE COX. It’s “really special” to be playing a black trans woman in Doubt.

CHARLOTTE. Human Rights Campaign appears to have pulled its award from the City Council: “On the HRC Charlotte website, hrccarolina.org, the page dedicated to this year’s awardees still shows the transgender activists as the Person of the Year winners, but the Organization of the Year is noticeably absent…A Google search for “hrccarolina.org charlotte city council awards” brings up the result hrccarolina.org/awards-2, which when clicked takes you to a 404 page, with text reading, ‘This is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it? It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for.’”

DAILY SHOW. Trevor Noah comes down on Meryl Streep for criticizing football and MMA fans: “I understand what Meryl Streep was trying to do, and I don’t know if I could have done better, but here’s the thing I feel like we could all learn as people,” Noah said. “You don’t have to make your point by shitting on someone else’s thing, because a lot of people love football and the arts.”

TOO HOT FOR TUESDAY. Donovan Michaels.

The post Laverne Cox, Betsy DeVos, Julian Assange, Trevor Noah, Joan Collins, Meryl Streep: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Laverne Cox, Betsy DeVos, Julian Assange, Trevor Noah, Joan Collins, Meryl Streep: HOT LINKS