Toronto, le 18 août 2006 -De nouveaux médicaments sont actuellement en cours de développement pour mieux lutter contre le virus du sida et les résistances qu’il parvient à développer. Découvrez les principaux résultats présentés lors du congrès mondial 2006.
Plusieurs nouveautés ont été présentées lors du congrès mondial 2006 contre le sida. Les principaux résultats concernent des médicaments visent à offrir de nouveaux moyens d’agir au niveau du cycle de réplication du virus (et donc enrayer sa multiplication) ou de pouvoir conserver une efficacité malgré l’apparition de résistances.Empêcher l’entrée du virus dans la cellule

Les récents progrès réalisés en matière de traitement comprennent l’introduction de nouvelles drogues efficaces contre les souches virales pharmacorésistantes, et de nouvelles catégories de médicaments, tels les inhibiteurs de fusion et d’entrée. Ces classes thérapeutiques empêchent le virus d’entrer dans la cellule. L’enfuvirtide (Fuzeon® de Roche), appartenant à la nouvelle catégorie d’inhibiteurs d’entrée, a été approuvée, mais n’est disponible que sous forme de préparation injectable.
Plusieurs nouvelles générations d’inhibiteurs d’entrée démontrent des résultats intéressants :
· TRI-1144 et le TRI- 999 de Roche présentent une puissance accrues par rapport à l’enfuvirtide (Fuzeon®). Les formules à libération prolongée de ces médicaments sont divisées en doses hebdomadaires1,2 ;
· Une étude récente du vicriviroc de Shering Plough, un inhibiteur d’entrée expérimental démontre qu’il réduit la charge virale en 24 semaines de traitement dans une plus grande mesure que le fait le placebo3.
D’autres études sur ces inhibiteurs de fusion ont été présentées concernant les produits :Maviroc de Pfizer4, BMS-488 043 de BMS, le TNX-355 de Tanox5, le PRO-542 de Progenics… Attention cependant, la toxicité de ces produits est généralement importante. Le développement de l’un de ces composés développé par GSK a ainsi été arrêté pour cause de toxicité hépatique.
Mieux lutter contre les résistances
Ces antiviraux ont pour cible la protéase du virus, une enzyme participant à la synthèse des constituants du virus. En bloquant cette enzyme, les nouveaux virus sont défectueux et ne peuvent plus infecter d’autres cellules. Mais le virus est capable de développer des résistances vis-à-vis de ces produits. Quelques jours avant le congrès de Toronto, la prestigieuse revue scientifique The Lancet a publié les résultats d’une étude sur le tipranavir (Aptisvus® des laboratoires Boehringer-Ingelheim) chez des patients infectés par le VIH-1 et déjà traités auparavant. Cette étude témoigne de meilleurs résultats à 48 semaines que les autres inhibiteurs de protéase renforcés par du ritonavir6.
Un nouveau composé de cette même classe le darunavir (Prezista® de Tibotec) pourrait également constituer une alternative pour les patients en échec thérapeutique7.
Des données prometteuses sont également présentées au sujet des inhibiteurs de l’intégrase (une protéine permettant l’insertion du VIH dans l’ADN en tant que chromosome hôte) : ces produits sont le MK-0518 de Merck8 et le GS-9137 de Gilead. Enfin, des recherches fondamentales ont également soulevé la possibilité que des inhibiteurs à petites molécules de la protéine virale VIH puissent rejoindre les traitements antisida actuellement disponibles9.
David Bême
1 – THAA0303 – Next generation fusion inhibitor candidates TRI-1144 and TRI-999 have improved pharmacokinetics: progress towards once / week dosing- Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
2 – THPE0021 – New fusion inhibitor peptides, TRI-999 and TRI-1144, are potent inhibitors of enfuvirtide and T-1249 resistant isolates – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
3 – THLB0217 – ACTG 5211: phase II study of the safety and efficacy of vicriviroc in HIV-infected treatment-experienced subjects – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
4 – THLB0215 – Safety and efficacy of Maraviroc (MVC), a novel CCR5 antagonist, when used in combination with optimized background therapy (OBT) for the treatment of antiretroviral-experienced subjects infected with dual/mixed-tropic HIV-1: 24-week results of a phase 2b exploratory trial – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
5 – THLB0218 – TNX-355, in combination with optimized background regimen (OBR), achieves statistically significant viral load reduction and CD4 cell count increase when compared with OBR alone in phase 2 study at 48 Weeks – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
6 – Lancet 2006;368:466-75
7 – THLB0214 – Potent antiretroviral effect of MK-0518, a novel HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, as part of combination ART in treatment – naïve HIV-1 infected patients – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
8 – TUAB0104 – TMC114 provides durable viral load suppression in treatment-experienced patients: POWER 1 and 2 combined week 48 analysis – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book
Click Here: st kilda saints guernsey 20199 – THLB0305 – Drug candidate TAT0002, a telomerase activator, enhances antiviral functions of HIV-1-specific CD8 T cells – Aids 2006 – Abstract Book

La maladie de Dupuytren touche près de 5 % des Français. C’est une affection évolutive et douloureuse, qui se caractérise par l’épaississement et le raccourcissement de la peau de la paume de la main. Ce qui entraîne la flexion progressive d’un ou plusieurs doigts de la main. Mais face à ce problème, la chirurgie n’est plus obligatoire.

La maladie de Dupuytren peut entraîner un handicap notoire, du fait de la flexion irréductible d’un ou plusieurs doigts, très gênante dans la vie quotidienne. Jusqu’à ces dernières années, elle relevait d’une intervention chirurgicale, mais son traitement est aujourd’hui bouleversé par une nouvelle technique : l’aponévrotomie à l’aiguille présentée lors du congrès de la société française de rhumatologie.
Selon Dr Henri Lellouch, rhumatologue à l’hôpital Lariboisière, ce traitement ne nécessite pas d’hospitalisation, et peut être pratiqué au cabinet de ville ou en consultation externe. L’important est qu’elle soit réalisée par un praticien expérimenté. Elle ne nécessite pas non plus d’anesthésie locorégionale, mais une simple anesthésie locale. Dès la fin de la séance, qui dure une quinzaine de minutes, le patient peut se servir de sa main pour les actes de la vie courante, à condition de ne pas faire d’efforts intenses pendant une dizaine de jours. Ce traitement ne nécessite ni rééducation, ni soins infirmiers. Les arrêts de travail sont rares.
Les résultats à cinq ans montrent que le taux de récidives est comparable à celui de l’aponévrectomie chirurgicale. Cette prise en charge donne un grand espoir à de nombreux patients handicapés dans leur vie quotidienne par leurs doigts rétractés. Elle devrait rapidement devenir le traitement de première intention de la maladie de Dupuytren.Source : Communiqué de l’Académie de médecine – Décembre 2007- Congrès de la Société Française de RhumatologieClick Here: gold coast suns 2019 guernsey

President TrumpDonald John TrumpChina’s top medical adviser warns country is vulnerable to second wave of COVID-19 infections Romney denounces multiple IG firings as ‘threat to accountable democracy’ MLB predicts billions in losses upon return to baseball season: AP MORE on Friday touted a mysterious new military asset: a missile that could travel significantly faster than any warhead the U.S. currently has in its arsenal.

“We are building, right now, incredible military equipment at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We have no choice. We have to do it with the adversaries we have out there. We have, I call it the super-duper missile, and I heard the other night — 17 times faster than what they have right now,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

 

Trump’s comments came during a White House event where he signed the 2020 Armed Forces Day Proclamation. During the ceremony, the administration also unveiled the flag of the country’s newest military wing, the Space Force. It’s the first new military flag to be unveiled in 72 years.

“Space is going to be the future, both in terms of defense and offense and so many other things,” Trump said. “And already, from what I’m hearing and based on reports, we’re now the leader in space.”

A Pentagon spokesman was asked about the “super-duper missile” during a subsequent press call and referred reporters back to the White House.

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Friday evening, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman tweeted, “The Department of Defense is working on developing a range of hypersonic missiles to counter our adversaries.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell shook markets and alarmed lawmakers this week with a dire warning: The U.S. could suffer through years of sluggish growth and meager job gains well after the pandemic passes without further economic stimulus. 

In a speech Tuesday, Powell urged lawmakers to set aside concerns about the mounting national debt and provide the fiscal support necessary to keep the economy from spiraling deeper into the worst downturn since the Great Recession.

“Additional fiscal support could be costly, but worth it if it helps avoid long-term economic damage and leaves us with a stronger recovery. This trade-off is one for our elected representatives, who wield powers of taxation and spending,” said Powell, a Republican who had urged Congress to cut deficits shortly before COVID-19 roiled the global economy.

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Powell’s comments came soon after White House officials and GOP leaders pumped the brakes on another fiscal stimulus package and declared a formal pause on negotiations even as the unemployment rate spiked to 14.7 percent and the U.S. lost 20.5 million jobs in April.

“We think we ought to take a pause here, do a good job of evaluating what we’ve already done,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFed chair issues dire warnings on economy Red-state cities get cool reception from GOP on relief aid Sunday shows preview: Congress spars over next round of coronavirus relief; GOP seeks offensive after news of Flynn ‘unmasking’ MORE (R-Ky.) last week, shooting down the prospect of further aid passing before the summer as House Democrats passed another $3 trillion rescue package on Friday.

Powell’s call this week for aggressive fiscal action was not his first since the coronavirus pandemic forced thousands of businesses to close and millions of Americans to lose their jobs. He urged lawmakers in a speech on April 29 to unleash the “great fiscal power” of the U.S. to defeat COVID-19, and has warned throughout the crisis the Fed’s unprecedented response alone would not save the economy.

“There is a growing sense that the recovery may come more slowly than we would like, but it will come. And that may mean that it’s necessary for us to do more,” Powell said during a webcast interview following his Tuesday remarks. 

Powell is also the latest in a line of Fed chiefs — including his past two predecessors, Janet YellenJanet Louise YellenFed chair issues dire warnings on economy Black Caucus moves to front and center in COVID fight Forget the ‘veepstakes’ — Biden should make history with finance picks MORE and Ben Bernanke — to nudge Congress toward spending more than it might be comfortable spending.

“He is really telling Congress, ‘Do not fall back on making monetary policy the only game in town’ because that’s not going to resolve this sort of terror in the economy,” said Sarah Binder, a political scientist at George Washington University and co-author of “The Myth of Independence: How Congress Governs the Federal Reserve.”

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“In these types of crises, the central banks can’t solve them, and so it’s not unusual to see either some coordination or some cooperation,” she continued, even with the Fed’s already ambitious response.

Since March 15, the Fed has dropped its baseline interest range to just above zero, purchased more than $6 trillion in bonds and securities, and stood up nearly a dozen emergency lending facilities set to finance more than $2 trillion in aid.

Powell was among the first federal officials to express concerns with COVID-19’s potential economic threats to the U.S. as President TrumpDonald John TrumpChina’s top medical adviser warns country is vulnerable to second wave of COVID-19 infections Romney denounces multiple IG firings as ‘threat to accountable democracy’ MLB predicts billions in losses upon return to baseball season: AP MORE and his top aides initially appeared to brush off the rising danger. He told reporters during a January 29 press conference that the virus posed “very serious” economic challenges that could spread beyond China, where the virus is believed to have originated.

Less than a month later, Powell had spent a steadily increasing portion of each day meeting or speaking with fellow Fed board members, reserve bank presidents, U.S. and global financial regulators, Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinFed chair issues dire warnings on economy DOJ subpoenas big banks over info on loans to small businesses: report The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former Rep. Harman says Russia is trying to exploit America; Mylan’s Heather Bresch says US should make strategic reserve in medicines; Trump unveils leaders of ‘Warp Speed’ MORE, counterparts at global central banks, professors, and lawmakers, according to his schedule released by the Fed, including three calls with Trump within two months.

By Friday Feb. 28, Powell’s schedule was filled with 10 to 12 hours of back-to-back phone calls and meetings as the stock market crashed shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of an “inevitable” U.S. outbreak. He issued a statement later that afternoon hinting toward a potential rate cut in between 18 meetings and phone calls over the course of that day.

After a weekend of growing panic in financial markets, Powell spent March 2 in almost 10 consecutive hours of phone calls and meetings, followed by an emergency summit of the bank’s policymaking arm, the Federal Open Market Committee. 

The Fed announced an emergency 0.5 percentage point interest rate cut the following day, and dropped rates to a 0 to 0.25 percent range less than two weeks later on March 15. Powell began working out of his Maryland home the next day as states across the East coast implored residents to bunker down. 

“These are real professionals.They’re not scientists, but they’re social scientists and they approach things that way. If there’s a chance of a crisis, you know they will be wargaming it out,” said New York University economics professor Mark Gertler, a frequent research partner of Bernanke. Gertler and five other prominent economists met with Powell and Fed staff in Washington on Feb. 25, roughly a week before the first March rate cut.

“I don’t know what the rules are, whether I can say what was said in that meeting,” Gertler responded when asked if the pandemic was discussed. “But I can say that they’re always planning ahead.”

The Fed’s swift response helped stabilize financial markets as the U.S. began to lock down and earned Powell near unanimous praise. Even Trump, who promoted Powell to the Fed chairmanship and floated firing him less than a year later, called him his “Most Improved Player” despite Powell’s fierce defense of its political independence.

“He has done a very good job over the last couple of months, I have to tell you that,” Trump told reporters during a meeting this week.

Powell’s next challenge is to convince fellow Republicans to overlook their ideological opposition to deficits and steer the country through a crisis.

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Powell caught the attention of the Obama White House in 2011 when the future Fed chairman implored Republicans to raise the federal debt limit when he was a fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Obama nominated Powell to the Fed alongside a stalled Democratic nominee, former Fed Governor Jeremy Stein, and broke the partisan logjam when the Senate confirmed both on May 2012.

Eight years later, Powell is again imploring Republicans to loosen the federal pursestrings for now and tackle the long-term challenge of the $24 trillion debt amid a partisan showdown with dire implications.

Democrats have seized on Powell’s comments to boost pressure on Republicans to approve more spending Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiFed chair issues dire warnings on economy Sunday shows preview: Congress spars over next round of coronavirus relief; GOP seeks offensive after news of Flynn ‘unmasking’ Paycheck protection is a good idea, but Treasury should include more small businesses MORE (D-Calif.) echoed Powell on the House floor Friday ahead of the chamber’s passage of the latest $3-trillion coronavirus package, insisting that the costliest choice was inaction. 

“We have the responsibility and the opportunity to think big, as he advised, and act now for the people,” Pelosi said. 

And while McConnell has shot down any chance of passing the new Democratic measure, he acknowledged on Thursday that there was a “high likelihood” that Congress would need to pass another round of stimulus.

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“I’m certainly not ruling out another fiscal package, and I would say the chairman of the Fed and I and the administration are not necessarily in different places,” he continued. 

The European Commission announced Thursday it suspended shipments of 10 million masks made in China after two countries complained about their quality, Al Jazeera reported.

Following the first disbursement of 1.5 million mask deliveries to 17 out of 27 member states and the U.K., Poland’s Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski said at least 600,000 masks the country received lacked European certificates and did not meet required medical standards.

The Netherlands also reported similar quality complaints about the masks the country received.

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The commissioner for health and food safety, Stella Kyriakides, advised other countries who already received masks to provide feedback on the quality of their face covers, the report added.

Commission health spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker said deliveries of the masks would be suspended, adding, “We will then see what action needs to be taken if there is indeed a quality problem with these masks.”

De Keersmaecker said the European Commission carefully selected the masks before purchasing, also verifying their usability.

“If necessary, we will of course take any necessary legal action,” De Keersmaecker said. “It is of utmost importance that personal protective equipment sent out by the Commission is of very high quality.” 

The Trump administration is facing intense criticism for the lack of a national plan to handle the coronavirus pandemic as some states begin to reopen.

Public health experts, business leaders and current administration officials say the scattershot approach puts states at risk and leaves the U.S. vulnerable to a potentially open-ended wave of infections this fall.

The White House has in recent days sought to cast itself as in control of the pandemic response, with President TrumpDonald John TrumpState Department inspector general fired House passes massive T coronavirus relief package Analysis: Most states fall short of recommended coronavirus testing levels as some reopen MORE touring a distribution center to tout the availability of personal protective equipment and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany detailing for the first time that the administration did have its own pandemic preparedness plan.

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Still, the White House lacks a national testing strategy that experts say will be key to preventing future outbreaks and has largely left states to their own devices on how to loosen restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus. Trump this week even suggested widespread testing may be “overrated” as he encouraged states to reopen businesses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday night issued long-awaited guidance intended to aid restaurants, bars and workplaces as they allow employees and customers to return, but they appeared watered down compared to previously leaked versions. 

Some experts said the lack of clear federal guidance on reopening could hamper the economic recovery. 

“A necessary condition for a healthy economy is a healthy population. This kind of piecemeal reopening with everyone using different criteria for opening, we’re taking a big risk,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.

The lack of coherent direction from the White House was driven home this week by damaging testimony by a former top U.S. vaccine official who claims he was ousted from his post improperly.

“We don’t have a single point of leadership right now for this response, and we don’t have a master plan for this response. So those two things are absolutely critical,” said Rick Bright, who led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority until he was demoted in late April.

The U.S. faces the “darkest winter in modern history” if it does not develop a more coordinated national response, Bright said. “Our window of opportunity is closing.”

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From the start, the White House has let states chart their own responses to the pandemic.

The administration did not issue a nationwide stay-at-home order, resulting in a hodgepodge of state orders at different times, with varying levels of restrictions.

Facing a widespread shortage, states were left to procure their own personal protective equipment, ventilators and testing supplies. Trump resisted using federal authority to force companies to manufacture and sell equipment to the U.S. government. 

Without clear federal guidance, state officials were competing against each other and the federal government, turning the medical supply chain into a free-for-all as they sought scarce and expensive supplies from private vendors on the commercial market. 

“The fact that we had questions about our ability to have enough mechanical ventilators, and you had states basically bidding against each other, trying to secure personal protective equipment …  it shouldn’t be happening during a pandemic,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.

Internally, the administration struggled to mount a unified front as various agencies jockeyed for control. Multiple agencies have been providing contradictory instructions.

At first, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar led the White House coronavirus task force.

Roughly a month, later he was replaced by Vice President Pence. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was later tasked with leading the response to get supplies to states, while senior White House adviser Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerCoronavirus Report: The Hill’s Steve Clemons interviews Jane Harman Trump nominee for Consumer Product Safety Commission involved in CDC guidance shelving: AP GOP chairman dismisses moving Election Day: ‘No justification for changing the elections’ MORE led what has been dubbed a “shadow task force” to engage the private sector. Now, FEMA is reportedly winding down its role, and turning its mission back over to HHS.

The CDC has been largely absent throughout the pandemic. Director Robert Redfield has drawn the ire of President Trump as well as outside experts, and he has been seen infrequently at White House briefings.

“I think seeing the nation’s public health agency hobbled at a time like this and looking over its shoulder at its political bosses is something I hoped I would never see, and I’ve been working with the CDC for over 30 years,” said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health at Georgetown University. 

“I think that people will die because the public health agency has lost its visibility and its credibility and that it’s being politically interfered with,” he added.

The administration recently has taken some steps to improve on the initial response to the pandemic. 

Ventilator production has increased, and the U.S. is no longer seeing a shortage of the devices. 

Testing has improved dramatically as well, though experts think the U.S. needs to be testing thousands of more people per day before the country can reopen.

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The administration also unveiled plans to expand the Strategic National Stockpile’s supply of gowns, respirators, testing supplies and other equipment, after running out of supplies early in the pandemic.   

Adalja said the administration’s positive steps are coming way too late. 

“It’s May 15, we should have been in this position January 15,” he said.

McEnany on Friday for the first time detailed the White House’s preparedness plan that replaced the Obama-era pandemic playbook, an acknowledgement that Trump’s predecessor did leave a road map, despite claims to the contrary from some of the president’s allies.

She did not give many specifics on the previously unknown plan. Instead, McEnany declared the Trump administration’s handling of the virus had been “one of the best responses we’ve seen in our country’s history.”

Yet as states look to reopen businesses and get people back to work, the White House is taking a back seat as governors set their own guidelines for easing stay-at-home orders and restrictions on social activities. 

The White House in April issued a three-step plan for states to reopen their economies, but it has largely been ignored by states and by the president.

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Dozens of governors have begun easing restrictions on businesses and social activities without meeting the White House guidelines. Trump has been urging them to move even faster, backing anti-lockdown protesters in Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

Even scaled-down guidance from federal agencies is critical for providing a road map for state and local leaders, and for businesses considering how best to resume operations, said Neil Bradley, chief policy officer with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We need guidance because it helps instill confidence about the right types of approaches to take, but when you begin to move away from guidance and into either regulations or very strict approach, then that’s increasingly going to be unworkable in lots of different locations,” Bradley said.

  

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday halted the expansion of mail-in voting in the state during the coronavirus pandemic.

The court issued the stay after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) asked the Lone Star State’s top court to take action in a letter earlier this week.

The state Supreme Court has set oral arguments in the case for Wednesday.

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Democrats and voting rights advocates have pushed for mail-in voting to be expanded during the pandemic, while Paxton has repeatedly argued that large-scale by-mail voting will lead to rampant voter fraud and corruption.

“Among the State’s highest and most profound interests is protecting the integrity of its elections,” Paxton wrote Wednesday. “To advance that interest, the Texas Legislature requires almost every voter to vote by personal appearance at a designated polling place, where trained poll workers confirm the voter’s identity before issuing him a ballot.”

A day after Paxton’s letter, the 14th Court of Appeals of Texas upheld a previous ruling by a Texas state judge that deemed mail-in voting acceptable during the pandemic.

The Texas Supreme Court has not weighed in on the merits of the case but its decision Friday means the initial ruling will be blocked until an appeal for that case moves forward.

Paxton praised the court in a statement after its decision.

“Protecting the integrity of elections is one of my most important and sacred obligations. The Legislature has carefully limited who may and may not vote by mail,” Paxton said. “The Travis County trial court’s decision to allow everyone to vote by mail is contrary to state law and will be reversed on appeal. I am pleased that today the Texas Supreme Court confirmed that my office may continue to prosecute voter fraud and issue guidance on mail-in ballots while that appeal plays out.”

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The Texas Democratic Party’s general counsel Chad Dunn had celebrated the earlier ruling this week while calling “for a few state officers to stop trying to force people to expose themselves to COVID-19 in order to vote.”

What had been an initial victory for Texas Democrats has now turned into a waiting game.

“This is a dark day for our democracy. The Republican Texas Supreme Court is wrong to force the people of Texas to choose between their health and their right to vote. They would have Texans die, just so they can hold on to power,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said.

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He added: “Voters should have the ability to vote-by-mail during a pandemic if they feel their health is in danger. Every single justice who ruled today should be ashamed of themselves. They are the new Republican death panel.”

Welcome to Hillicon Valley, The Hill’s newsletter detailing all you need to know about the tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. If you don’t already, be sure to sign up for our newsletter with this LINK.

Welcome! Follow our cyber reporter, Maggie Miller (@magmill95), and tech reporter, Chris Mills Rodrigo (@chrisismills), for more coverage.

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Wednesday, May 20: The Vir[tech]ual World Ahead

On Wednesday, May 20 The Hill Virtually Live will explore the lessons we are learning in our new digital reality. Accommodating the new normal means an increased reliance on telecommunication networks and an accelerated digitalization of industries. Yet, digital literacy is uneven, as is basic access to the internet. How should policymakers approach the goals of coverage, access, affordability and capacity? Editor-at-large Steve Clemons will be joined by Rep. Suzan DelBeneSuzan Kay DelBeneHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Democrats introduce coronavirus-focused privacy legislation The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Moniz says U.S. needs energy jobs coalition and Manchin says Congress is pushing Wall Street solutions that don’t work for Main Street; Burr to step aside MORE (D-WA), FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly and more. RSVP today! 

FISA REAUTHORIZATION: The Senate on Thursday passed legislation reauthorizing three intelligence programs that lapsed earlier this year amid a GOP stalemate.

Senators voted 80-16 on the bill, which pairs the reauthorization of provisions of the USA Freedom Act with some changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, also known as the FISA court.

The Senate changed the bill, which originally passed the House in March, during a two-day floor debate, adding more legal protections for some individuals targeted by the court.

The proposal, which was spearheaded by Sens. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added legal protections In win for privacy hawks, Senate adds more legal protections to FISA bill MORE (R-Utah) and Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added legal protections In win for privacy hawks, Senate adds more legal protections to FISA bill MORE (D-Vt.), would increase the role of outside legal experts in FISA court hearings, including allowing them to weigh in on some FBI surveillance requests.

Because the Senate changed the bill, it will now have to be sent back to the House, which is expected to return on Friday. House Democratic leadership has not said if or when they will take up the amended bill. 

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It also remains unclear if President TrumpDonald John TrumpSusan Rice says she would ‘certainly say yes’ to be Biden’s VP Jim Jordan requests documents from Pompeo regarding Hunter Biden, Burisma  Graham rebuffs Trump over Obama testimony: ‘It would be a bad precedent’ MORE would sign the bill should it reach his desk. The president has railed about his campaign being “spied” upon as result of the FISA court and has sent mixed signals to lawmakers about if he supports the legislation.

Read more about the legislation here.

ACLU WEIGHS IN: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is calling on the House to revive an amendment to the measure that would block law enforcement from being able to access web browsing data without a warrant after the measure fell short by one vote in the Senate.

The amendment was introduced by Sens. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill ACLU calls on House to revive measure blocking warrantless web browsing surveillance Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added legal protections MORE (R-Mont.) and Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill ACLU calls on House to revive measure blocking warrantless web browsing surveillance Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added legal protections MORE (D-Ore.) but narrowly missed a 60-vote threshold, failing 59-37 on Wednsday.

Several senators who were expected to vote in favor of it, including Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersOn The Money: 3 million more Americans file for unemployment benefits | Sanders calls for Senate to ‘improve’ House Democrats’ coronavirus bill | Less than 40 percent of small businesses have received emergency coronavirus loans Overnight Health Care: Trump says testing may be ‘overrated’ | Ousted official warns national virus plan needed | NIH begins studying drug combo touted by Trump Hillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill MORE (I-Vt.), were not present for the session.

“It is now time for the House to do what the Senate has done and further improve this legislation,” Neema Singh Guliani, ACLU senior legislative counsel, said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday.

“Yesterday’s vote demonstrated there is overwhelming support for protecting our internet search and browsing histories from warrantless searches. This important reform shouldn’t be left out of the final legislation merely because not all members were present to vote. We urge House leadership to add protections for Americans’ online search and browsing histories to the Senate bill.”

Read more here.

REMOTE VOTING MOVES FORWARD: The House Rules Committee on Thursday advanced a measure to enact a set of changes that will allow lawmakers to vote and hold meetings remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The full House is slated to adopt the rules changes on Friday, when lawmakers are also planning to vote on Democrats’ $3 trillion coronavirus relief package.

Enacting the changes will allow House Democrats to revive legislative and oversight work that has largely been on hold for the last two months due to safety concerns about gathering all 430 members and their staffs together in the Capitol during the pandemic.

The Rules Committee approved the resolution along party lines, 8-4, after six hours of debate with dozens of failed GOP amendments to limit the changes, foreshadowing what’s expected to also be a partisan vote when it hits the House floor given the widespread opposition from Republicans to voting remotely.

The changes would enable proxy voting, in which absent lawmakers could authorize colleagues physically present in the House chamber to cast votes on their behalf. But a single member would be limited to serving as a designated proxy for a maximum of 10 members, meaning that dozens of lawmakers would still have to be physically present in the Capitol. And any lawmakers who still want to cast their own votes in person could still do so.

Committees would also be permitted to conduct hearings, depositions and markups of legislation virtually. There would be some flexibility for committees to conduct business meetings either in a “hybrid” setting with some lawmakers in a room and others participating remotely — which the Senate has done in recent days — or with everyone dialing in from afar.

Read more about the voting change here.

PRIVACY PROTECTIONS: Democrats in both chambers introduced legislation Thursday aimed at protecting the privacy and security of health data during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Public Health Emergency Privacy Act would place strict limits on what and by whom data collected for public health purposes can be used, implement data minimization procedures for that info and require opt-in consent for any efforts.

The legislation comes as health agencies and tech companies are developing contact tracing and monitoring tools to contain the pandemic.

It would bar conditioning the right to vote based on use of such services of a medical condition.

The bill would also formally mandate data collected to fight the pandemic be deleted after the public health emergency.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerRubio seen as possible successor to Burr as Intelligence chairman Hillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Democrats introduce coronavirus-focused privacy legislation MORE (D-Va.) introduced the legislation in the Senate.

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“Legal safeguards protecting consumer privacy failed to keep pace with technology, and that lapse is costing us in the fight against COVID-19,” Blumenthal said in a statement.

“Americans are rightly skeptical that their sensitive health data will be kept safe and secure, and as a result, they’re reluctant to participate in contact tracing programs essential to halt the spread of this disease,” he added.

Reps. Anna EshooAnna Georges EshooHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Democrats introduce coronavirus-focused privacy legislation Hillicon Valley: Experts raise security concerns about online voting | Musk finds supporter in Trump | Officials warn that Chinese hackers targeting COVID-19 research groups MORE (D-Calif), Jan SchakowskyJanice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyHillicon Valley: Senate votes to reauthorize intel programs with added protections | ACLU calls on House to block warrantless web browsing surveillance | Dems introduce COVID-19 privacy bill Democrats introduce coronavirus-focused privacy legislation Donald Trump is proposing attacks on Social Security and seniors; here is what we should do instead MORE (D-Ill.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) introduced the House version.

Read more about the new legislation here.

TIKTOK IN HOT WATER: A group of children’s and consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Thursday alleging that TikTok broke privacy commitments it had made to resolve a prior complaint. 

The short-form video-sharing platform last year agreed to settle charges that one of its predecessors, Musical.ly, violated the federal law governing privacy safeguards for children online.

Under the 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), developers of apps geared toward children cannot collect personally identifiable information on users under the age of 13 without consent from parents or legal guardians.

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The complaint, which also resulted in a $5.7 million fine, alleged the company collected without consent the names, emails and videos of users under the age of 13.

TikTok agreed as part of the settlement to obtain parental permission before collecting personal information and to delete any information about users identified as under 13.

The 20 groups said in their complaint Thursday that TikTok has failed to meet those commitments.

The complaint identifies videos posted by children under the age of 13 still on the app.

It also raises concerns over a specific service the company developed for users under 13, TikTok for Younger Users.

Read more about the complaint here.

RUSSIA’S BACK, BACK AGAIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers on Wednesday that she has seen “hard evidence” pointing to Russia being responsible for hacking attempts targeting her emails and those of the nation’s lawmakers.

In a speech to Germany’s parliament, Merkel vowed to continue seeking improved diplomatic relations with Russia but asserted that “outrageous” spying attempts, such as attacks targeting emails from 2015, made such progress difficult, Euronews reported.

“I can say honestly that this pains me. On the one hand, I work every day for a better relationship with Russia, and when you see on the other hand that there is such hard evidence that Russian forces are involved in acting this way, this is an area of tension,” she said.

“Of course we always reserve the right to take measures, including against Russia,” Merkel continued.

Russia has reportedly denied any involvement in the hacking of Merkel’s emails, which was first reported in German magazine Der Spiegel last week.

Read more here.

AMAZON FACE SHIELDS: Amazon announced Thursday that engineers from its drone delivery unit are developing face shields that will soon be sold to medical professionals on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus. 

Brad Porter, the vice president of Amazon Robotics, said in a blog post that members of Prime Air’s mechanical design and hardware teams are taking the lead in crafting the shields. The company has already delivered 10,000 to medical workers and is hoping to give 20,000 more in the near future.

“Developing a safe and more comfortable design that had never been seen before was one area we used our talents of invention and bias for action to make things better during this crisis,” Porter said. “Because of the design innovations and capabilities of our supply chain, we are confident we will be able to list them at a significantly lower price than all other reusable face shields currently available to frontline workers.”

Amazon will initially limit sales of the shields to front-line workers but intends to ultimately provide the products for public consumption.

A spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the face shields could cost one-third the price of reusable face shields currently on the market, which range from $15 to $35 on Amazon’s website.

Read more about the face shields here.

Lighter click: This seems secure

An op-ed to chew on: America’s digital Sputnik moment

NOTABLE LINKS FROM AROUND THE WEB: 

Amazon’s been under fire for price gouging. Here’s why it wants a federal ban (Protocol / Emily Birnbaum) 

Trump extends U.S. telecom supply chain order aimed at Huawei and ZTE (Reuters / David Shepardson and Karen Freifeld) 

Amazon’s showdown in France tests its ability to sidestep labor (The New York Times / Liz Alderman and Adam Satariano)

More pajamas, please: Online comfort shopping sales spike (The Washington Post / Rachel Lerman)

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The Senate Intelligence Committee announced Friday it has submitted the fifth and final volume of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election for classification review, marking one of the last steps before the sprawling probe concludes.

The committee sent the fifth bipartisan report, which pertains to its counterintelligence findings, to the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for review. The panel also said it submitted nearly 1,000 pages with redaction recommendations in the hopes that it may help speed up the review process for an unclassified version of the report to be approved.

“The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has submitted the fifth and final volume of its bipartisan investigative report into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election to the Office of Director of National Intelligence for classification review,” said Intelligence Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrOn The Money: Hopes fade for coronavirus relief deal this month | Burr problem grows for GOP | Layoffs hit record high of 11 million in March Hillicon Valley: Commerce announces new Huawei restrictions | Russian meddling report round five | Google’s ad business in spotlight Senate panel submits final volume of Russian interference probe for classification review MORE (R-N.C.) and Vice Chairman Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerHillicon Valley: Commerce announces new Huawei restrictions | Russian meddling report round five | Google’s ad business in spotlight The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former Rep. Harman says Russia is trying to exploit America; Mylan’s Heather Bresch says US should make strategic reserve in medicines; Trump unveils leaders of ‘Warp Speed’ Senate panel submits final volume of Russian interference probe for classification review MORE (D-Va.), who have led the panel’s Russia probe.

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The committee previously released four other volumes that examined election security, Russia’s disinformation campaign, the Obama administration’s handling of Russian interference and the committee’s review of the intelligence community assessment.

One day before the classification announcement, Burr announced that he was temporarily stepping aside as chairman of the Senate panel amid an investigation into his stock trades made shortly before the coronavirus outbreak.

Burr said in a statement that the panel’s work is “too important hindering it in any way.”

It is unclear who will take Burr’s place in the interim.

The Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation will conclude after the panel spent more than three years examining the Kremlin’s impact on the presidential race between President TrumpDonald John TrumpState Department inspector general fired House passes massive T coronavirus relief package Analysis: Most states fall short of recommended coronavirus testing levels as some reopen MORE and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonCalifornia AG Becerra: Criticism of Biden Latino outreach is ‘hogwash’ Hickenlooper endorses Biden for president Hillary Clinton calls armed Michigan lockdown protests ‘domestic terrorism’ MORE.

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It will be the last investigation into the 2016 election to wrap up, following former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE‘s investigation that ended last year and the House Intelligence Committee’s probe which concluded in 2018.

Mueller’s probe did not find evidence that members of the Trump campaign coordinated or conspired with Russia during the 2016 election, but he did not make a determination either way as to whether Trump obstructed justice. The former FBI chief’s report extensively detailed years-long, multi-pronged attacks by Russia to sow discord in the U.S. through cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.