On August 5, Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTGX) reported second-quarter 2026 results that flipped the company from red ink to a $162.8 million profit, or $2.29 per diluted share, compared with a $34.8 million loss a year earlier. The swing came as the company banked payments tied to two drugs moving from the lab bench to the pharmacy counter: ICOTYDE, an oral psoriasis treatment, and rusfertide, an injectable now awaiting an FDA decision. Cash and marketable securities climbed to $849.5 million. Here's what's fueling the optimism, and what could complicate it.
The quarter marked the first full three months of commercial sales for ICOTYDE, which won FDA approval on March 18 for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients 12 and older weighing at least 40 kg. That approval triggered a $50 million milestone payment and made ICOTYDE, according to the company, the first and only FDA-approved targeted oral peptide for the condition. Protagonist can still collect up to $580 million more in milestones from partner Johnson & Johnson, plus royalties that average around 7.25 percent at $4 billion in annual sales.
Rusfertide carries even more weight. Its new drug application sits under Priority Review with a PDUFA goal date in August, backed by Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug, and Fast Track designations for polycythemia vera. Partner Takeda already paid Protagonist $200 million on an opt-out election in April, with another $200 million and a $75 million approval milestone still due, on top of royalties that can reach 29 percent of sales above $1.5 billion. Behind both drugs, PN-881, an oral IL-17 antagonist, is heading into a Phase 2b psoriasis program in early 2027 after Phase 1 data showed drug levels beating their pharmacokinetic targets, and a Phase 1 study just began for PN-477sc, an injectable obesity peptide.
Look closer at that $213.5 million in license and collaboration revenue, and $192.4 million of it traces to the proportional recognition of Takeda's initial opt-out payment, not repeatable product sales. A year earlier, the same line item was just $5.5 million, so the growth reflects a single deal event more than an operating business scaling up. And that opt-out itself cuts both ways: Protagonist gave up its right to develop and commercialize rusfertide on its own, trading full ownership for royalties and milestones that depend on Takeda's execution rather than Protagonist's.
Spending is also set to climb. Management expects research and development costs to increase significantly in the second half of 2026 versus the first half, driven by the new PN-881 Phase 2b program, manufacturing investments, and added headcount. General and administrative costs are rising too, largely on stock-based compensation. And rusfertide's fate still hinges on an FDA decision that hasn't happened yet, priority review or not.

#protagonist

For the launch of the 2026/27 kits, Juventus and adidas have chosen to transform teasers, speculation and unofficial images into a fully-fledged narrative, turning the traditional logic of a reveal on its head.
This has given rise to a campaign structured as a collective investigation. The product is not simply unveiled, but gradually uncovered through clues, content and links designed to spark fans' curiosity and fuel online conversation.
Leaks, details appearing online and unexpected content thus become the pieces of a mystery to be solved. Episode by episode, the campaign engages fans, influencers and key figures from the Club in a story that blends sport, entertainment and digital language.
Evidence, documents, photographs, notes and links punctuate the journey, inviting the community to follow the trail, interpret the clues and play an active part in the investigation. Leading the investigation are Luciano Spalletti and Gianluca Gazzoli, the protagonists of a narrative that blends mystery, humour and entertainment. Through their eyes, fans are drawn into an ongoing case, following leads and piecing together the truth behind the leaks.
First, the American wrestler Je'Von Evans appeared in the WWE Raw ring in Detroit wearing the Away Kit. Next came Kenan Yildiz, who teased the release of the Third Kit on his social media channels – a kit that had already been spotted a few days earlier in Hong Kong and worn by some local content creators during the Bianconeri Stripes Party organised by adidas on 4 August. The final act then took place in Perth, at the Bianconeri's headquarters 'Casa Juventus', involving influencer Ben Black and Alessandro Del Piero, who reprimanded the British content creator for spoiling the Third Kit on his social media channels.

#content #Third #campaign

It was — as expected — a HEATED Gre-Nal on Thursday night (27).
But with few real scoring chances in front of 43,970 fans at Beira-Rio.
And the score could hardly have been any different: 0-0 in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.
Carlos Vinicius was one of the main protagonists. The Grêmio striker was already locked in a fierce battle with Mercado.
He had Grêmio's best chance of the opening half, but the Argentine defender reacted quickly to block it.

#heated #brasil #expected

Fer Lopez was the conqueror of all who challenged him - or did not - at Deepdale.
The 22-year-old appeared to be the main protagonist in a stylish and promising 3-1 win against Preston for Wolves on Saturday.
Their first away league win for 16 months was born from sheer footballing ability.
Wolves were technically better than Preston in all areas and that was exhibited by Lopez when he spun on halfway and ran unchecked in the eighth minute, so badly unchecked that you could foresee the outcome - a goal with a finish of the highest quality from the Spaniard's left boot.
Only Daniel Iversen in the Preston goal kept Wolves from scoring more.

#preston #goal #deepdale #saturday

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you'd totally go swimming with: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho, Ezek and, of course… yours truly.
Well well well… Los Blancos come away with a win—a hard fought one at that. Espi is gonna be front page, due to … well, being the savior.
Now, this isn 't quite usual for me, but here it is: I'm already aboard the Espi hype train.
Shifting our focus to a player outside of yesterday's protagonists…
I feel for Trent— I really do. Man's got a point to prove despite being a bonafide superstar of the game. This treatment, as described, is …just bad; low level. We know who he can be and I do believe in the man. Hopefully, he'll be closing mouths this seasons.

#thread #valyrian

Billie Eilish looked worlds away from her usual edgy style as she stepped onto the set of The Bell Jar in Toronto on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old singer was almost unrecognizable while filming the highly anticipated adaptation of Sylvia Plath's iconic novel, embracing a dramatic 1950s transformation for her first major acting role.
Ditching the oversized T-shirts and baggy trousers that have become synonymous with her personal style, Billie slipped into a navy blue ******* on-front dress layered with a striped cropped jacket and matching pillbox-style hat.
Her vintage-inspired look was completed with softly curled brunette hair, bold red lipstick and pearl earrings as she filmed scenes as Esther Greenwood, the novel's troubled 19-year-old protagonist.
Stepping into the world of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, Billie Eilish was spotted filming scenes for the new adaptation (Sean O'Neill / BACKGRID)

#toronto

This week, it is fair to say that I have been slightly obsessed with Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey. Without wanting to spoil anything (not that you can really spoil the plot of a story that originates from the 8th or 7th century BC), it focuses on the protagonist, Odysseus – one of the more cunning and intelligent Greek heroes who sailed to Troy to take part in the Trojan War, and the figure we would attribute the Trojan Horse to.
Nolan's adaptation focuses on Odysseus' hubris – where a figure believes they are above the rules, normal limits or consequences of their actions – and the subsequent aftermath. In Odysseus' case, he is faced with a dilemma. Is it worth sacrificing your moral core in order to be granted some supposed concept of glory?
The reason why I'm blabbing on about this is because of some of the, frankly, bizarre coverage I've seen regarding the Visitors and their current dilemma.
I don't want to retell it all at the risk of turning into some sort of Geordie Josh figure. However, the general gist is as follows: (Beh)Eddie Howe was restricted by unfair financial rules, designed by the "Top Six" mafia to protect their vested interests. Newcastle, a massive club, were never given a fair chance to succeed. As a result, the manager has had to resign because he couldn't possibly face the concept of developing young players with high potential in the Premier League. Their best players, like Claire Balding CBE and Sandro Tonali, have had no other option but to leave, being forced to go to undesirable places like Barcelona or London for more money.
Much like The Odyssey, it's all designed to pull at the heartstrings.

#like

President Giuseppe Marotta and everyone at FC Internazionale Milano stand in solidarity with the Baresi family and his brother Beppe during this time of grief.Franco Baresi has passed away, taking with him one of the figures who most defined the history of the Milan derby through consistency and excellence. AC Milan captain, team leader and club icon, he built his career on defensive intelligence and leadership that earned recognition even from his opponents.
Born in Travagliato on 8 May 1960, Baresi made 719 appearances and scored 33 goals for the Rossoneri, spending 20 years exclusively with Milan, between 1977 and 1997. In the 35 derbies he played against Inter, his name became synonymous with composure and reliability in a rivalry that was always filled with intensity.
Within that rivalry, the strongest bond was the one with Giuseppe Baresi. Two brothers, two captains, who grew up together and later found themselves wearing opposite colours, yet remained united by a respect that was never in question. For them, the derby was never just a match: it was a direct challenge, a responsibility, but also a balance to be protected. "We tried to leave it outside the door. There was always the concern that neither of us would get injured," Franco recalled. And then there was that almost everyday normality before the game: joking together, a way of easing the tension before 90 minutes that meant much more than just a football match for Milan.
On 2 March 1980, the day San Siro was named after Giuseppe Meazza, that story was captured in one defining image: the Baresi brothers facing each other inside a stadium that was becoming an even stronger symbol of the city and its rivalry. A photograph that tells the story of the derby better than many words. The final image, once again inside San Siro: the Olympic Torch ceremony, carried together with Beppe Bergomi. An endless derby, a bond with the city that remains unbreakable.
From Inter and the entire Nerazzurri world, the memory of a great opponent, a protagonist of the battles that helped shape the very meaning of the Milan derby. With respect.

#giuseppe #rivalry #franco #siro

And all in four languages: Cerezo's Spanish coach answered in Spanish, Niko Kovac in German and English, and the ******* anese players in their native language. It was a multilingual affair in ******* an—yet one with a touch of home. Because as the four protagonists entered the room, "Heja BVB" blared over the loudspeakers.
The focus of attention was former Borussian player and current Cerezo player Shinji Kagawa, who had already faced BVB with his home club two years ago. "It's a great opportunity to play against Borussia Dortmund again—for me personally and also as the team. I want everyone—every fan, the Dortmund fans, the Osaka fans—to enjoy this game," said Kagawa, who was a player for Borussia Dortmund from 2010 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2019. But even seven years later, the connection hasn't been lost. "I'm very proud that the relationship continues, and I still think about the ******* les and memories from my time in Dortmund. The older I get, the more it means to me. The players and coaches I worked with will also remain in my heart forever. I really hope this relationship will continue."
"It's a pleasure for us to play against Shinji here because he's a former BVB player. That's certainly something special for all of us," emphasizes Niko Kovac, who also highlights the sporting significance of the match. "We're here to compete and prepare for our first competitive match against Bayern Munich. I hope everyone stays healthy, that we see a good game, and that the fans enjoy the match." Even though Osaka is already further along in his preseason preparation: "We're athletes. And athletes always want to win, whether it's a friendly, a cup match, or a competitive match."
For Takato Yamamoto, this match is a very special one, as he only joined BVB's U23 team a few weeks ago from his youth club and Cerezo's local rival, Gamba Osaka. "I really don't want to lose to Cerezo. I also want to show the fans in ******* an that I've grown as a player. That's my goal for tomorrow." Yamamoto was also asked about Kagawa, who was sitting next to him: "I know he's a legend. When people in Germany find out I'm from ******* an, they ask me, 'Do you know Shinji Kagawa?' Wherever I go, I hear his name."
After the joint press conference, the next reunion will take place on Wednesday on the soccer field. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ******* an Standard Time (12 p.m. CEST) at Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium and will be broadcast live on BVB-TV, Sky, and DAZN.Christina Reinke

#fans

Owing to their historical stature as one of the most celebrated and successful clubs in Europe, a lot of footballers dream of playing for Real Madrid at some point in their careers. This allure of the Merengue club turns out to be a crucial weapon whenever they want to get their desired players from the market.
However, if this does not turn out to be enough, Los Blancos have some other tools to attract their targets. One such tool is the presence of some of the biggest stars in their team, and these stars themselves are willing to do their part to convince others to join them.
This was quite visible in the way Vinicius Junior remained in contact with Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham to convince them to undertake a move to Real Madrid. Similarly, Bellingham then also convinced his countryman and friend Trent Alexander-Arnold to join the Merengue club last summer.
This year, Los Blancos are once again being linked with a big move, and one player who is most strongly **** ociated with them is the Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise. Conflicting reports about his links with Real Madrid have emerged in recent days. While some reports claim that the Merengues have closed their door to his signing, others continue to suggest that the player is ready to change clubs.
In this context, one recent report by l’Equipe claimed that Olise had already told his France national team teammates that he is ready to leave Bayern Munich to join the Spanish club. Other outlets like Sky Germany later confirmed this news, and now, as SPORT has noted, Bild has given its own version of the story, with another major protagonist.

#real #madrid #blancos #bellingham

The streak of no extra-inning games is finally over, and we can say that the Dodgers are undefeated in extras this season, walking it off against the Rockies 8-7 in the 11th inning. The decisive hit in this thrilling game came from the bat of Dalton Rushing with an RBI single, completing a terrific three-hit performance for the Dodgers catcher.
Before they had to dig deep for this victory, the Dodgers got to experience the thin line in baseball between control of a game and the illusion of it. The home team saw a 6-3 lead collapse in the ninth as Tanner Scott had his first blowup outing in over a month, walking multiple hitters for the first time this season.
To acquire that 6-3 lead, Shohei Ohtani and Eric Lauer were the protagonists. As if facing Ohtani in and of itself wasn't a daunting enough threat, Kyle Freeland did so for the second time in the third inning with a runner on base after allowing a leadoff double to Rushing. Whoever questioned the Ohtani-Rushing partnership in recent weeks needs to check their facts—it seemed to be working just fine when Ohtani gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game by driving in Rushing with a two-run homer, his 19th on the season and seventh against lefties—now just two short of 300 in his career.
This combination of Rushing and Ohtani would go on to lead the way for the Dodgers once again in the following inning. After Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas secured back-to-back RBI on a single and sac fly, respectively, Rushing once again set up Ohtani with a double, who then proceeded to drive in a pair, this time with just a two-run single.
Overall in this game, the four runs batted in by Ohtani represented a season-high mark at home and only the third time he's achieved that number or higher this season. Ohtani's three hits were also a season high for the reigning back-to-back NL MVP. All of that success that Ohtani and the rest of the Dodgers offense had against Freeland couldn't be replicated facing Zach Agnos, who tossed three scoreless innings to keep Colorado with a puncher's chance.

Cape Verde's performances will surely go down as perhaps the most charming story of this World Cup.
The protagonist of this fairytale is undoubtedly Vozinha. The 40-year-old keeper, who now stands at 20 million Instagram followers, played a simply outstanding tournament.
Argentina had to find that out last night as well. Vozinha repeatedly drove the Albiceleste superstars to despair and made sure the defending champions really had to suffer in their 3–2 extra-time victory.
The veteran was not even shaken by the aura of Lionel Messi. Time and again, he was there with outstanding reflexes against the eight-time World Player of the Year. Vozinha impressed Messi so much that, after the final whistle, he personally paid his respects to him.
But the goalkeeper, who earns his living in Portugal's second division, did not shine against Argentina only on the line. Quite the opposite: twice, he casually left the South American pressers standing with a cool feint.

Lazio are planning to sign at least one new centre-back this summer, and the top priority remains Sergi Dominguez.
The Biancocelesti have reportedly agreed to sell Alessio Romagnoli to Al-Sadd, while Napoli and Atalanta are vying for Mario Gila’s signature. These two potential departures will spark a defensive revamp at Formello. While the left-footed Oliver Provstgaard is expected to step into a starting role, the management still has to recruit a right-footed defender.
While some reports have identified Brighton’s Diego Coppola as the most plausible target due to his affordable cost, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla insists that Dominguez remains the ultimate target. The 21-year-old is a Spanish defender who rose through Barcelona’s ranks before signing for Dinamo Zagreb last summer.
Dominguez immediately established himself as a protagonist at the back for the Croatian giants, helping them clinch the domestic double last season. His price tag has thus exceeded €10 million. While Lazio no longer have to worry about Tottenham Hotspur, who pulled out of the race, other Premier League clubs could enter the fray.
Pedulla insists the Biancocelesti won’t be able to make a move for Dominguez before cashing in on Gila. After all, they have been restricted to a net-zero transfer campaign, so they can only raise funds by selling players.

Good morning, TSFers! I was in Boston for a family wedding over the weekend, which was lovely. It was much nicer there than it is in D.C. particularly less humid. What I would give for a bit of that weather this week. Instead, we're looking at 100+ degree days starting tomorrow through the weekend. The perfect excuse to stay inside with the World Cup on or at least in the background.
Today's matches:
Ivory Coast vs. Norway, 1 pm ET, FOX
France vs. Sweden, 5 pm ET, FOX
Mexico vs. Ecuador, 9 pm ET, FOX
Brazil 2 – ******* an 1
Japan took a lead into the break but ran out of steam / played a bit too conservatively / struggled to deal with Brazil's push in the second half. Gabriel Magalhaes found Casemiro's head at the back post with an excellent cross in the 56th minute to level the score. Gabriel Martinelli scored a lovely control-and-shoot goal in the 96th minute to win the match, off a pass from potential future ******* nal teammate Bruno Guimaraes.
Paraguay 1 (4)– Germany 1 (3)
Julio Enciso put Paraguay ahead just before halftime very much against the run of play. Kai Havertz leveled the score in the 54th with a brilliant, glancing header. The Germans dominated possession and chances but couldn't find the back of the net. Havertz missed his leadoff penalty but the sides got back on level terms, i.e. it wasn't his miss that cost them, per se. Jonathan Tah's blast over the bar was the decisive miss. I'm coming around to the view that you need to have a really good reason for a centerback to take a penalty.
Morocco 1 (3) – Netherlands 1 (2)
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute to give the Netherlands a late lead. What a moment – his partner recently announced that they'd recently lost their second child during her pregnancy – and he collapsed to the turf in tears after scoring and was mobbed by his entire team, substitutes included. Issa Diop scored a 91st minute equalizer for Morocco. The Netherlands played an oddly conservative game, not their usual style. In the periods where they had control, they didn't really fashion much in the way of chances. Morocco were the protagonists for most of the match. The penalties were pretty poor, all around. Bart Verbruggen thought he'd saved an early one, but the ball bounced undernearth him and he ended up "kicking" it into the net with his heel as he landed from his dive. You don't see that often!

Fiorentina are reportedly interested in Lazio right-back Manuel Lazzari, who appears to be heading out of the club.
The Valdangno native has been a protagonist at the Italian capital club since making the transfer from SPAL in the summer of 2019. However, he has now become surplus to requirements at Gennaro Gattuso’s court. The new Lazio coach plans to integrate Romano Floriani Mussolini, who will start as Adam Marusic’s understudy, with the opportunity to earn a starting role.
On the other hand, Lazzari’s contract will expire in June 2027, so his time at Formello is destined to end this summer. In recent weeks, he has been linked with the newly promoted Monza, while some suggested Sassuolo could renew their interest in his services. Nevertheless, his next destination might just be Florence.
According to Fiorentinauno.com, new Fiorentina manager Fabio Grosso has identified Lazzari as a player he’d like to add to his squad, especially if the coveted Dodo is sold this summer. The Viola would like to replace the Brazilian with a young profile, while ideally pairing him with an experienced right-back.
The 32-year-old could be a useful veteran for the Tuscans thanks to his ability to play as a full-back in a back-four and a wing-back in a three-man backline.

The Green Bay Packers made some long overdue investments at defensive tackle this offseason, signing veteran free agent Javon Hargrave and drafting Chris McClellan in the third round.
While those additions should help shore up the defensive line in 2026, there are still lingering questions over what the group will look like beyond this season.
Hargrave signed a two-year deal, but he will turn 34 next February. If he does not enjoy the kind of bounce-back season the Packers are hoping for, he could be off the team, with $10 million in savings available if he is cut before the 2027 season.
As talented as he may be, McClellan is a third-round pick whom the media consensus expected to go later. There is a scenario where he is not especially impactful for the next couple of years.
The other protagonists of Green Bay’s D-line are Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks, both of whom are set to hit free agency next spring. That leaves general manager Brian Gutekunst with a decision to make sooner or later on the pair’s future.