Latest news with #RickBarry
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Nine rare moments in NBA history when the finals ended without a fight
NBA Finals sweeps are rare events. Only nine teams have achieved this feat. The Boston Celtics first swept the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959. Later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Bucks, Rick Barry's Warriors, and Moses Malone's 76ers also swept their rivals. The Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant's Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Kevin Durant's Warriors completed the list. A clean sweep in the NBA Finals doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it sticks in fans' minds for years. Just nine times in the league's history has a team won the championship without dropping a single game in the series. With big names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Rick Barry, and Kevin Durant at the center, every one of those moments tells a tale of power, unity, and full control on the sport's biggest platform. It's rare, yet powerful. These moments show top-level skill, but they also make people wonder, was the other side weak? Let's go back and see who made a sweep, and how! Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Rick Barry made it look easy Only nine times in NBA history has a team won in the Finals in four games. This is known as a "sweep." It has happened in just 11.6% of the 77 total NBA Finals. Led by Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics defeated the Minneapolis Lakers 4-0 in April 1959, in the first sweep. Russell pulled an average of 29.5 rebounds per game. Boston's eight-year championship started with this win. In April 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson helped the Milwaukee Bucks sweep the Baltimore Bullets. It was quick and powerful. But things changed after that. For a very long period, the Bucks would not sample another championship. Not until 2021. Led by Rick Barry, the Golden State Warriors stunned everyone in May 1975 by sweeping the Washington Bullets. The Bullets' season record was significantly better. Still, the Warriors won two of the games by just one point. With Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Andrew Toney, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers four straight in June 1983. Predicting sweeps in every round, Malone had said before the playoffs, "Fo', Fo', Fo'," Almost right he was; they lost only one game during the whole playoffs. The tables turned in June 1989, as the Detroit Pistons won every game in the previous rounds, crushing the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 2, however, Magic Johnson damaged his hamstring, further complicating the Los Angeles Lakers' circumstances. Nine rare moments in NBA history when the finals ended without a fight (Image Source : Getty Images) Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant , and Kevin Durant finished it fast In June 1995, the Houston Rockets vanquished the Orlando Magic. Hakeem Olajuwon scored more than 30 points in every game. Certainly. Playing in his first NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic, Shaquille O'Neal was given the Finals MVP honors. Shaq returned in 2002 along with Kobe Bryant. Together, they steered the Los Angeles Lakers to sweep over the New Jersey Nets. That triumph provided the Lakers with their third straight championship. In 2007, LeBron James carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Finals. Still, the Spurs were just too strong. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili kept them from breathing. San Antonio triumphed in every four games. LeBron saw a sweep one last time here. Led by Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors closed down the Cavaliers once again in 2018. Before he headed to Los Angeles, LeBron played Cleveland for the last time. Moses Malone stood in L.A. in 1983 following a commanding Finals and remarked, "We were too strong." The squad had swept the series just now. "We played by heart," he remarked, "We knew we could take all four." Also Read: Ernakulam schools hold sessions on life skills, wellness sessions
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cassava Drops 19% Pre-Market After Decision to End Alzheimer's Program
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ:SAVA) said Tuesday it will shut down its Alzheimer's disease program by the end of the second quarter after another Phase 3 trial failure for simufilam, its lead experimental therapy. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with SAVA. The announcement follows topline data from the discontinued REFOCUS-ALZ study, which showed simufilam did not meet any of its key endpointsincluding primary, secondary, or exploratory biomarkersin patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. The company had already halted the REFOCUS-ALZ trial in November, shortly after the ReThink-ALZ study also failed to show benefit in the same patient group. Cassava will discontinue all efforts to develop simufilam for Alzheimer's disease, CEO Rick Barry said. He noted the company aims to phase out the program by the end of Q2 2025. Cassava has begun early-stage studies evaluating simufilam for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-related epilepsy and continues to implement cost-cutting measures, Barry said. Shares of the company fell about 19% in premarket trading Tuesday following the announcement. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cassava Sciences Reports Topline Phase 3 REFOCUS-ALZ Data
Simufilam did not show a significant reduction in co-primary endpoints of cognitive or functional decline versus placebo in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease Simufilam continued to demonstrate an overall favorable safety profile Cassava's Alzheimer's disease development program with simufilam will be completely discontinued by the end of Q2 2025 AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cassava Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVA, 'Cassava', the 'Company'), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing a novel, investigational treatment for central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related epilepsy, today shared topline results from the Phase 3 REFOCUS-ALZ study of simufilam in mild-to-moderate AD. Topline data indicate that REFOCUS-ALZ did not meet each of the prespecified co-primary, secondary and exploratory biomarker endpoints. The co-primary endpoints were the change in cognition and function from baseline to the end of the double-blind treatment period at week 76, assessed by the ADAS-COG12 and ADCS-ADL scales, comparing simufilam to placebo. REFOCUS-ALZ enrolled 1,125 patients and was discontinued on November 25, 2024, following the report that a prior 52-week Phase 3 study, RETHINK-ALZ, did not meet its co-primary endpoints. A large portion of subjects enrolled in REFOCUS-ALZ completed their final study visit prior to the termination of the trial. Simufilam continued to demonstrate an overall favorable safety profile. 'We are disappointed that the results of REFOCUS-ALZ and RETHINK-ALZ showed no treatment benefit for patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. These results were unambiguous. Working with patients, their families and their caregivers has brought a special dignity to our Phase 3 Alzheimer's disease clinical trial program and to each of us at Cassava. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and committed efforts of study investigators and site teams, who enabled us to conduct these trials with integrity and scientific rigor and whose efforts provided a clear data read out,' said Rick Barry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cassava. 'Cassava will discontinue all efforts to develop simufilam for Alzheimer's disease and we expect to phase out the program by the end of Q2 2025,' continued Mr. Barry. 'We remain dedicated to our mission of developing novel medicines for central nervous system disorders. While we have initiated preclinical studies to evaluate simufilam's potential as a treatment for TSC-related epilepsy, we maintain ongoing strategic expense management efforts.' Eric Schoen, Chief Financial Officer of Cassava commented, 'We remain focused on the interests of Cassava shareholders and are committed to enhancing shareholder value. Cassava is well-capitalized with approximately $128.6 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024.' Summary Study Results: Primary Endpoint Data Co-Primary Endpoints LS means change from baseline to the end of the double-blind treatment period N=372 N=376 N=372 ADAS-COG12 (±SE) 4.97 (± 0.46) 4.70 (± 0.46) 0.27 (± 0.63) P=0.67 5.26 (± 0.46) 4.70 (± 0.46) 0.56 (± 0.63) P=0.37 N=373 N=376 N=373 ADCS-ADL (±SE) - 6.27 (± 0.57) - 5.32 (± 0.57) - 0.95 (± 0.79) P=0.23 - 6.43 (± 0.57) - 5.32 (± 0.57) - 1.10 (± 0.79) P=0.16 *Based on the intent-to-treat population BID = twice daily ADAS-COG12 = The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (a lower number represents less cognitive impairment) ADCS-ADL = Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study – Activities of Daily Living (a higher number represents less functional impairment) Safety Data: The table below provides a high-level summary of the patient demographic and safety data. Simufilam continued to demonstrate an overall favorable safety profile. Metrics for Simufilam and Placebo Simufilam 100 mg BID Simufilam 50 mg BID Placebo BID Baseline* N=374 N=376 N=375 Age, mean (SD), in years 73.6 ± 8.2 74.5 ± 7.6 73.7 ± 7.9 Sex, n (%) female 208 (55.6%) 207 (55.1%) 214 (57.1%) MMSE Score (No.%,) 21-27 240 (64.2%) 242 (64.4%) 235 (62.7%) 16-20 134 (35.8%) 134 (35.6%) 138 (36.8%) Race/Ethnicity White 326 (87.2%) 326 (86.7%) 313 (83.5%) Black 17 (4.5%) 23 (6.1%) 21 (5.6%) Asian 28 (7.5%) 21 (5.6%) 32 (8.5%) Other 3 (0.8%) 6 (1.6%) 9 (2.4%) Safety** N=374 N=376 N=373 Any Adverse Event (AE) 286 (76.5%) 288 (76.6%) 282 (75.6%) Serious AEs 43 (11.5%) 61 (16.2%) 45 (12.1%) Death 2 (0.5%) 6 (1.6%) 3 (0.8%) AEs leading to discontinuation from the study 32 (8.6%) 34 (9.0%) 17 (4.6%) Most Frequent AEs ≥ 5.0% 1: COVID-19 45 (12.0%) 49 (13.0%) 40 (10.7%) 2: Urinary Tract Infection 32 (8.6%) 41 (10.9%) 34 (9.1%) 3: Fall 32 (8.6%) 43 (11.4%) 51 (13.7%) 4: Dizziness 26 (7.0%) 11 (2.9%) 23 (6.2%) 5: Diarrhea 14 (3.7%) 19 (5.1%) 15 (4.0%) *Based on the intent-to-treat population **Based on the safety population BID = twice daily AD = Alzheimer's disease MMSE = Mini-Mental State Examination About REFOCUS-ALZ REFOCUS-ALZ (NCT05026177) is a Phase 3 trial designed as a multi-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized parallel group study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two doses of simufilam compared to a placebo in a study involving over 75 clinical trial sites in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and South Korea. The clinical trial sites that conducted REFOCUS-ALZ were completely distinct from the clinical trial sites that conducted RETHINK-ALZ. REFOCUS-ALZ randomized approximately 1,125 people utilizing the same eligibility criteria as RETHINK-ALZ. Subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to receive simufilam, dosed in 50 mg or 100 mg tablets, or a matched placebo, dosed orally twice daily (BID) for 76 weeks. On November 25, 2024, the Company announced plans to discontinue the REFOCUS-ALZ study and its intention to report topline data from that trial, including the complete 52-week dataset and a large portion of 76-week data. The prespecified co-primary endpoints for this study included the change in cognition and function from baseline to the end of the double-blind treatment period at week 76, assessed by the ADAS-COG12 and ADCS-ADL scales, comparing each dose of simufilam to placebo. Secondary endpoints included several well validated measures of neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver burden. Safety was evaluated by adverse event monitoring, as well as standard laboratory and ECG assessments. The study also included an evaluation of changes in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers from baseline to week 76, including P-tau217 (phosphorylated tau at threonine 217), GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and NFL (neurofilament light chain), as well as an evaluation of various brain volumes using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and amyloid and tau deposition using PET (positron emission tomography) scans from baseline to week 76. About Simufilam Simufilam is a proprietary, investigational oral small molecule that targets the filamin A protein. About Cassava Sciences, Inc. Cassava Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel, investigational treatments for central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related epilepsy. Simufilam is a proprietary, investigational oral small molecule that targets the filamin A protein. The Company is based in Austin, Texas. For More Information Contact: Investors Sandya von der Weid Media Company Eric Schoen, Chief Financial Officer (512) 501-2450 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that include but are not limited to statements regarding: REFOCUS-ALZ and RETHINK-ALZ, the timing for discontinuation of our Alzheimer's disease development program, our plans for the development of investigational treatments for central nervous system disorders, our plans to conduct preclinical studies of simufilam relating to seizures in TSC, the potential for simufilam as a treatment for TSC-related epilepsy, our strategic expense management efforts and the timing of anticipated milestones. These statements may be identified by words such as 'anticipate', 'before', 'believe', 'could', 'expect', 'forecast', 'intend', 'may', 'pending', 'plan', 'possible', 'potential', 'prepares for', 'will', and other words and terms of similar meaning. Such statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, those risks relating to the ability to efficiently discontinue the Company's Alzheimer's disease development program, the ability to advance preclinical studies related to TSC-related epilepsy, and other risks inherent in drug discovery and development or specific to Cassava Sciences, Inc., as described in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and future reports to be filed with the SEC. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations in any forward-looking statement. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements and events discussed in this news release are inherently uncertain and may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Except as required by law, we disclaim any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements. For further information regarding these and other risks related to our business, investors should consult our filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at All of our pharmaceutical assets under development are investigational product candidates. They have not been approved for use in any medical indication by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction and their safety, efficacy or other desirable attributes, if any, have not been established in any patient population. Consequently, none of our product candidates is approved or available for sale anywhere in the world. Our clinical results from earlier-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of future results from later-stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements or any scientific data we present or publish. We are in the business of new drug discovery, development and commercialization. Our research and development activities are long, complex, costly and involve a high degree of risk. Holders of our common stock should carefully read our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in their entirety, including the risk factors therein. Because risk is fundamental to the process of drug discovery, development and commercialization, you are cautioned to not invest in our publicly traded securities unless you are prepared to sustain a total loss of the money you have invested.
New York Times
14-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
In 1967 NBA All-Star Game, the league's best played in a rodeo venue near San Francisco
DALY CITY, Calif. — As if returning to a perfectly preserved childhood bedroom, Rick Barry stepped into the Cow Palace locker room to find it exactly as he'd left it. 'My God,' the 80-year-old former San Francisco/Golden State Warriors star gasped upon stepping through the door. 'It was old when I was here. And it doesn't look much different.' Advertisement Built in 1941, the Cow Palace originally was envisioned as a showcase for livestock. A bale of hay or two wouldn't feel out of place even now. The active venue will host the Grand National Rodeo this October. The off-white walls of this bygone home for the Warriors remain listless and barren. Barry settled his 6-foot-7 frame onto a bench and leaned into the row of vintage lockers. He then kept lobbing up memories as if they were his trademark underhand free throws. Barry recalled how players had to do their own laundry back in the day, so sometimes they'd shower in their uniforms and hang their jerseys to dry on a hook in the locker room. Nowhere in these Spartan accommodations is a trace of the luxury awaiting players arriving for the NBA All-Star Game a few miles up the road this weekend at Chase Center, a corporate darling built for $1.4 billion. But once upon a time, this glorified barn just below San Francisco's southern border hosted basketball royalty. On Jan. 10, 1967, a small forward named Richard Francis Dennis Barry III soared above them all. Barry scored 38 points that day to capture MVP honors in the last NBA All-Star Game played on this side of the San Francisco Bay. (The Warriors last hosted in 2000, but in Oakland.) A 22-year-old Barry did his damage against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson during an era when — and this might be the hardest thing for modern fans to comprehend — players exerted at least an iota of effort on defense in All-Star Games. Shocking, but true. 'We played a serious, highly contested game,' Barry said. 'It was serious basketball to prove who could win. I mean, that was basketball. It was the best players in the world playing seriously.' The Hall of Famer lives in Colorado these days but returned to this time capsule over the summer for the sole purpose of reminiscing about the good ol' days — two great ol' days, in particular. Barry toured the locker room, wandered through the halls adorned with photos from his glory days and roamed the floor where he cemented his stardom, first as an All-Star MVP in 1967 and as NBA Finals MVP in '75. Advertisement While he cringed a bit at the locker room, it was clear Barry savored reimagining the basketball court. He said the soft, forgiving rims at the Cow Palace allowed even some bad bounces to flow through. 'I called them sewer pipes,' he said. 'They weren't collapsible rims. You hit one of these non-collapsible rims, and it's like a trampoline sending the ball into outer space.' Barry's home-palace advantage came in handy during his landmark All-Star Game, played before an adoring crowd of 13,972 there to root on Barry and Nate Thurmond from the team then known as the San Francisco Warriors. They got what they came for. In a game featuring 18 All-Stars who made it to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as either players or coaches, Barry made 16 of 27 shots from the field and added six rebounds and three assists to lead the Western Conference to a breezy 135-120 victory over the East. 'Yeah, it was pretty damn good — 38 points against all those guys,' Barry said. Looking at the rosters, they could have called this the GOAT Palace. The last 2,000 tickets for the 1967 All-Star Game went on sale for $2 and $3, and for that price, the paying fans got to see greatness. (* Hall of Fame) West starters Coach: Fred Schaus Nate Thurmond* Rick Barry* Jerry West* Guy Rodgers* Elgin Baylor* West reserves Dave deBusschere* Jerry Sloan* Bill Bridges Lenny Wilkens* Darrall Imhoff East starters Coach: Red Auerbach* Wilt Chamberlain* Oscar Robertson* Hal Greer* Willis Reed* Bailey Howell* East reserves Don Ohl Chet Walker* Jerry Lucas* Bill Russell* John Havlicek* In all, 13 of the players from that game were among the 50 greatest players in NBA history, chosen in 1996 for the league's 50th anniversary. Though in just his second year in the league, Barry hardly cowered at the Cow Palace in the face of such famous competition. He was audacious enough to pull into the parking lot that day in a red Porsche 911, then kept up that brash energy on the court. His 27 field goal attempts were an All-Star record at the time and still rank sixth in the game's history. (It should be noted Anthony Davis blew away that mark with the current record, 39 attempts(!) and that Stephen Curry took 27 3-point attempts in 2022.) Advertisement With his barrage in '67, Barry was making up for lost time. A year earlier as a rookie, he fouled out after playing just 17 minutes and scoring 10 points. 'When has anybody fouled out of an All-Star Game now, right?' Barry said, still incredulous. 'There's no defense now! It's not even a game. It's just throwing the alley-oops and the dunks. 'It's fine if you want to be entertained, and it is entertaining. But it's not a game. They're trying to find ways to make it more competitive. It's just never gonna happen.' In the 2024 game, the East beat the West in a 211-186 eyesore, prompting radical changes to this year's format. There was no such need for gimmicks in 1967 because players were motivated by a payday, even if it looks quaint in retrospect. 'Back when we played, I think it might have been $3,000 for the winners … maybe that much,' Barry said. 'I only made about a $15,000 salary, so if I got $3,000, I just made one-fifth of my salary playing in the All-Star Game. 'I sure as hell wanted to win. Different world.' Rick Barry visited the Cow Palace today and signed his photo on the wall. The Warriors legend thinks it was his first time here since 1975. — Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) July 11, 2024 The San Francisco Warriors had reached the All-Star break in first place in the Western Division standings that season, eight games ahead of the St. Louis Hawks, with Barry on his way to leading the NBA in scoring with 35.6 points per game. And which of the legendary foes from the East did he match up against in the All-Star Game? Barry pondered the question for a few seconds and fell silent — a rarity. He finally shrugged. 'Didn't matter,' he said. 'I always say, 'Take enough shots, you can score,' right?' Barry ventured that he was pitted most often against Havlicek because that happened a lot during the regular season. 'We became friends,' he said. Advertisement Barry also had help from Thurmond, who made a more subtle case for MVP honors. Thurmond, who was 25 at the time, went hightops-to-hightops against Chamberlain (age 30) and Russell (nearly 33). Thurmond had 16 points and 18 rebounds and tied an All-Star Game record by playing 42 minutes. Chamberlain finished with 14 points in 39 minutes, while Russell had two points in 14 minutes. 'I was a good rebounder, and I got jacked up going against those two guys on national television,' Thurmond told Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle in 2000. 'You don't want to be embarrassed in your own backyard. Your body can do magnificent things when you're excited, motivated and young.' In the end, this was Barry's show. It usually was. But he said he did not step on court that day planning to take over. 'I never thought about that. We just played,' he said. 'When I got the ball, I tried to find a way to score. I wasn't a selfish player. If I had a teammate in a better position, he's getting the basketball. That's just the way that I always played the game. 'It's pretty remarkable to get 38 points in a game like that with all those great players. So, it was just an honor to be there.' The Warriors played at the Cow Palace from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1966 to 1971. When Golden State shocked the universe by reaching the NBA Finals in 1975, the team had to play Game 3 there because the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum already had scheduled an Ice Follies performance. In that Game 3 against the heavily favored Washington Bullets, Barry scored 38 points as the Warriors were en route to a stunning series sweep. Barry remembers that part fondly. He is less enthusiastic when recalling that he did not get to drive home in a new Corvette, as previous NBA Finals MVPs did. 'That year, they switched sponsors. It was AMC,' Barry said, 'and I got a freaking Pacer.' It was yet another chapter of quirky, eye-popping history for the Cow Palace. The Beatles kicked off their U.S. tour there in 1964. The Who played there in 1973, although during the concert, drummer Keith Moon passed out after reportedly taking horse tranquilizers. When KISS played there on Aug. 16, 1977, they dedicated 'Rock and Roll All Nite' to Elvis Presley, who died earlier that day. Advertisement The Cow Palace twice hosted the Republican National Convention, nominating Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and Barry Goldwater in 1964. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the latter event. Evel Knievel jumped over cars there in 1972. This was the first NHL home for the San Jose Sharks, from 1991 to 1993, until the completion of the San Jose Arena, now the SAP Center at San Jose. By around 2010, the Cow Palace aged and fell into a state of financial disarray and physical disuse. As budget woes paralyzed California lawmakers every summer, the landmark faced threats that it would be shuttered and sold. But the arena kept plowing ahead, albeit with a much lower profile. The upcoming concert calendar includes the ToxicWinter musical fest, featuring bands such as Emorfik, Chibs and Infekt. To Barry, it will always be the home of the day he was the star among stars. It might not be as glamorous as the Chase Center, but he has no beef with the Cow Palace. 'It was great. The arena was packed,' he said. 'We always had great fans. It just got bigger and better.' (Top photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors)
