Latest news with #RonCooper
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oregon hatred and beyond
A Pride flag, Oregon flag and U.S. flag rest on a desk in the Oregon Capitol. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The 2000 report on hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center showed five hate groups active in Oregon. Its 2024 counterpart report just released this month found 24. The difference is a matter of apples and oranges between these reports, which reflects a changing landscape in the area of extremism and hate groups. The SPLC's traditional focus on hate groups — it started as an anti-racist tracker and researcher, after all — has been expanded to include groups more devoted to relatively extreme positions on various cultural and political issues. Inclusion of anti-government groups, as distinct from groups more specifically focused on race, religion or other identifiers, has changed and even muddied the picture. Oregon's experience — as the new report shows — suggests how. Hate groups have been a factor in Oregon for a long time. The state's early founders included many sympathizers with the Confederacy, and a century ago, Oregon was the number two state in the nation for Ku Klux Klan activity. It has been more notable in recent decades for pushback against bigotry, but hatred has not disappeared. The SPLC long has been a national touchstone for tracking angry extremist groups. It said its current report 'documented 1,371 hate and anti-government extremist groups across the United States. These groups use political, communication, violent, and online tactics to build strategies and training infrastructure to divide the country, demoralize people, and dismantle democracy.' They're not all exactly 'hate groups,' however. A minority of the groups were labeled as anti-immigrant (Oregonians for Immigration Reform), anti-LGBTQ (Pacific Justice Institute), 'general hate' (Proud Boys and Rense Radio Network), Neo-Völkisch (Asatru Folk Assembly), and white nationalist (Active Club, Occidental Observer, Patriot Front). The Asatru Folk Assembly formerly was called the Viking Brotherhood. But the real growth has been in the anti-government category. The SPLC categorizes more than half of those listed in Oregon as anti-government (American Patriot Party, ASN Study Guide & University, American State Nationals, Constitution Party, Embassy of Heaven, Moms for Liberty Deschutes and Douglas, Oregon Parents Involved in Education, Oregon Statewide Jural Assembly, Parents Rights in Education Oregon, People's Rights, State of Jefferson, American State Assembly, Timber Unity). In 2000, of the five extremist groups listed for Oregon, three were neo-Nazi and two were racist-skinhead. In 2012, the nine groups cited for Oregon included white nationalist, Christian identity, Black separatist, neo-Nazi, racist skinhead and general hate, but none described as principally anti-government. Even as those groups steadily expanded over successive years, to 15 in 2021, no anti-government groups were listed. Since 2021, the number of groups other than 'anti-government' has diminished or stabilized. The makeup of the list changed dramatically in 2022, and has remained so. The previous roster of hate groups remained similar but diminished slightly, while in 2022 a large group of anti-government groups were added. You can find similar trends in other states. SPLC said of that, 'For the last several years, the conspiracy theories and claims made by anti-government groups have penetrated the mainstream, making extremism and fascism central to discourse and politics in the country. In 2021, the conspiratorial and dubious view of government was pervasive, as evidenced by the movement's popular rhetoric on such issues as COVID-19 regulations, local school curriculum, the 'Big Lie' of voter fraud, and border security. These views largely continued in 2024, but with a marked and troubling rise in anti-government activity against inclusive public schools and the continued incorporation of white Christian nationalist ideas. The Jan. 6 insurrection was the most public moment for the movement since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.' Many Oregonians will point out that however extreme some positions taken by some of these groups may be, many are largely political actors, such as Moms for Liberty, Timber Unity and the State of Jefferson. The Constitution Party is a political organization in Oregon and many other states, fields candidates and argues for policies recognizably within our political system. One of those listed for Oregon in recent years is not an organization but rather a podcast, or bundle of podcasts, based at Ashland, called the Rense Radio Network. There's a clear argument for tracking extremist groups, which can in some cases make cause with hate groups. But they still aren't quite the same thing. So what should count as a hate group? When does a political stance — albeit a harder-edged and more extreme one — slide over into something that fits more neatly with hatred and bigotry? And should the two be meshed together with only categorical distinctions? Maybe the SPLC will come up with some new thoughts by the time its 2025 report comes out. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
enGene Names Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer
BOSTON & MONTREAL, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN or "enGene" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced the appointment of Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer. In this role, Ms. Pott will serve as the Company's first dedicated executive for commercialization planning and execution, reporting to enGene's Chief Executive Officer, Ron Cooper. This appointment marks a significant milestone, as the Company expects to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA in mid-2026 for detalimogene voraplasmid, its lead investigational agent in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), following the completion of the pivotal cohort of the LEGEND trial. "Amy brings a unique combination of P&L, full commercialization, gene therapy, deep analytics, and global experience to enGene," said enGene CEO, Ron Cooper. "We are thrilled to welcome Amy as our Chief Global Commercialization Officer and believe her leadership and track record of success will be a tremendous asset in preparing and executing the planned launch of detalimogene." Ms. Pott joins enGene from Astellas Pharma, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President (SVP), Strategic Brand Marketing, Ophthalmics and Rare Diseases, and previously as Head of Commercial, Gene Therapies. Prior to Astellas, she was President, North America for Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, and Global Vice President (GVP) U.S. Franchise Head for Internal Medicine and Oncology, as well as GVP, U.S. Commercial Operations at Shire. Before joining Shire, Ms. Pott was Vice President, Strategy, Planning and Analytics at Baxalta, Inc. Ms. Pott holds a Master of Science in European Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Bristol. "I am excited to join enGene at such a pivotal moment in its journey," said Ms. Pott. "I look forward to working with this talented team to advance the mission to help transform the treatment landscape for bladder cancer patients with our innovative genetic medicine." About Detalimogene Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral genetic medicine for patients with high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response. Detalimogene was developed using the Company's Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan® (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms. Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ (CIS) NMIBC with or without resected papillary tumors who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC), a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X and BlueSky. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). enGene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding enGene's management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, goals, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "appear", "approximate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "foresee", "intends", "may", "might", "plan", "possible", "potential", "predict", "project", "seek", "should", "would", and similar expressions (or the negative version of such words or expressions) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about: our plans regarding the timing of our planned BLA submission to the Food and Drug Administration and our expectations as to the timing and anticipated results of the LEGEND study, the future growth of enGene, the potential benefits of detalimogene, and the potential benefits of medicines developed with the DDX platform. Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and management personnel, establish clinical trial sites and enroll patients in its clinical trials, execute on the Company's clinical development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on anticipated timelines, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on EDGAR, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 (copies of which may be obtained at or You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause enGene's assessments to change. While enGene may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on Contacts For media contact: media@ For investor contact: investors@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
enGene Names Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer
BOSTON & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN or 'enGene' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced the appointment of Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer. In this role, Ms. Pott will serve as the Company's first dedicated executive for commercialization planning and execution, reporting to enGene's Chief Executive Officer, Ron Cooper. This appointment marks a significant milestone, as the Company expects to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA in mid-2026 for detalimogene voraplasmid, its lead investigational agent in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), following the completion of the pivotal cohort of the LEGEND trial. 'Amy brings a unique combination of P&L, full commercialization, gene therapy, deep analytics, and global experience to enGene,' said enGene CEO, Ron Cooper. 'We are thrilled to welcome Amy as our Chief Global Commercialization Officer and believe her leadership and track record of success will be a tremendous asset in preparing and executing the planned launch of detalimogene.' Ms. Pott joins enGene from Astellas Pharma, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President (SVP), Strategic Brand Marketing, Ophthalmics and Rare Diseases, and previously as Head of Commercial, Gene Therapies. Prior to Astellas, she was President, North America for Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, and Global Vice President (GVP) U.S. Franchise Head for Internal Medicine and Oncology, as well as GVP, U.S. Commercial Operations at Shire. Before joining Shire, Ms. Pott was Vice President, Strategy, Planning and Analytics at Baxalta, Inc. Ms. Pott holds a Master of Science in European Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Bristol. 'I am excited to join enGene at such a pivotal moment in its journey,' said Ms. Pott. 'I look forward to working with this talented team to advance the mission to help transform the treatment landscape for bladder cancer patients with our innovative genetic medicine.' About Detalimogene Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral genetic medicine for patients with high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response. Detalimogene was developed using the Company's Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan® (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms. Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ (CIS) NMIBC with or without resected papillary tumors who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC), a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X and BlueSky. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, 'forward-looking statements'). enGene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding enGene's management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, goals, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words 'anticipate', 'appear', 'approximate', 'believe', 'continue', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'foresee', 'intends', 'may', 'might', 'plan', 'possible', 'potential', 'predict', 'project', 'seek', 'should', 'would', and similar expressions (or the negative version of such words or expressions) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about: our plans regarding the timing of our planned BLA submission to the Food and Drug Administration and our expectations as to the timing and anticipated results of the LEGEND study, the future growth of enGene, the potential benefits of detalimogene, and the potential benefits of medicines developed with the DDX platform. Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and management personnel, establish clinical trial sites and enroll patients in its clinical trials, execute on the Company's clinical development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on anticipated timelines, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') on EDGAR, including those described in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 (copies of which may be obtained at or You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause enGene's assessments to change. While enGene may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon voter registration errors began years earlier than DMV officials acknowledged
The Oregon Department of Transportation found 118 more errant voter registrations. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Data entry errors at the Oregon Department of Transportation that led to more than 1,700 people being incorrectly registered to vote despite not demonstrating citizenship began years earlier than the department previously acknowledged, according to a new report released Friday. Since November, the department has released monthly status reports on its ongoing review of errors that led to people who may not be citizens registering to vote through interactions at the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division. The latest report released Friday found that another 118 people have been wrongly registered to vote. Secretary of State Tobias Read said in a statement that everyone involved in voter registration and elections must catch and fix errors and be accountable to the people of Oregon. 'It's hard not to be disappointed,' Read said. 'Our elections are a chain that stretches between individual voters, through the state, and to county elections officials. That chain is strong and reliable, but we continue to have a weak link that needs more attention, work, and accountability.' All but one of the newly discovered individuals interacted with the DMV between 2010 and 2023. Most were found by an automated DMV report that flagged whether someone marked as a citizen in records has since provided records that contradict citizenship, such as a permanent resident card. The other case involved an Oregon resident from American Samoa. People from that territory have U.S. passports but aren't U.S. citizens and can't vote in elections other than presidential primaries. County clerks have already inactivated the 118 wrongly registered voters and they won't receive ballots for local elections in May, according to the Oregon Association of County Clerks. The affected voters will receive letters with instructions on how to permanently cancel or reactivate their voter registration. Thirteen of those 118 people have voted in one or more elections, the DMV reported. It's a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections and people who do so risk prison sentences, fines and deportation. The Secretary of State's Office is reviewing whether those 13 people were eligible to vote at the time they voted. So far, the office has forwarded the names of three people identified through an earlier review to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation. Oregon has automatically registered citizens to vote since 2016 when they obtain or renew their driver's licenses, permits or nonoperating IDs. Last fall, prodding from a Chicago-based nonprofit led the department to review that process. Officials found that in hundreds of cases, front-line DMV workers had wrongly coded foreign birth certificates or passports as U.S. birth certificates or passports, meaning people who can't legally vote in state or federal elections were added to voter rolls. The latest discovery comes as Republicans in the White House, Congress and the Oregon Legislature seek to restrict voting access in the name of election integrity. The U.S. House on Thursday passed a bill that would require states to obtain documents that prove citizenship before allowing anyone to register to vote and that critics warned could make voting more difficult for citizens, including married women who change their names without updating legal documents. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield sued President Donald Trump last week over an executive order that would require voters to prove citizenship and ban states including Oregon from counting ballots mailed and postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive a few days later. Oregonians who submitted legislative testimony last week overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to end mail voting and require photo IDs to vote. Meanwhile, Republican Reps. Vikki Breese-Iverson, Emily McIntire, Greg Smith and Kim Wallan announced Friday that they'll introduce a bill to assign control of the automatic voter registration system to the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. Currently, the DMV collects information and forwards it to the Secretary of State's Office to finish registering voters. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
enGene to Present at the Stifel 2025 Virtual Targeted Oncology Forum
BOSTON & MONTREAL, April 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN or "enGene" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced that Ron Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Stifel 2025 Virtual Targeted Oncology Forum, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed under the "Investors" section of the enGene website at and will be archived there for 90 days. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC), a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X and BlueSky. View source version on Contacts For media contact:media@ For investor contact:investors@
