WRAL Tech Wire - Life Science/Biotech

Blue Cross forms venture for claims, other services

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:51:33 -0500

The Chapel Hill-based health insurer and BCBS of Kansas City have formed a company called Topaz Shared Services. Both firms are recruiting current employees to fill 40 jobs. It's "too soon to tell" if the move will create job cuts, a BCBSNC spokesperson says.

BCBS outsources data center, 185 employees in $250M deal

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:09:46 -0500

Fujitsu America will take over the data center and information systems support services from BCBS and offer jobs to most of IT related employees. The deal "offers efficiency, cost savings," BCBS says. Pay packages for affected workers will be the same, BCBS says.

Pharmaceutical Product Development shares plunge 15%

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:35:21 -0400

Despite beating analysts’ expectations, life science services firm takes a financial hit after reporting quarterly drop in revenues and $200 million in contract cancellations. Company recently laid off 270 workers, sold research center in RTP.

GSK closes on $2.9 billion acquisition of Stiefel Laboratories

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:07:51 -0400

Stiefel Laboratories, which operates a research and development operation in RTP, is officially part of GlaxoSmithKline.

Cary-based Medfusion acquires rival’s online health service

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:36:00 -0400

Privately held Medfusion, a provider of online communication solutions for patients and healthcare providers, has acquired a suite of services from California-based Medem.

Wyeth plant in Sanford closer to new ownership by Pfizer

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:49:00 -0400

Shareholders of drugmaker Wyeth on Monday voted overwhelmingly to be bought by industry giant Pfizer Inc., pushing aside one of the deal's final hurdles.

Bayer CropScience receives N.C. Biotech Center industry leadership award

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:35:56 -0400

Bayer CropScience is the winner of the N.C. Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Award as selected by the N.C. Biotech Center.

Video: 'Liver machine' can help transplant patients in need

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:48:40 -0400

An experimental machine is giving some patients in need of a liver transplant a chance to wait longer for the surgery they need.

UNC-Wilmington receives $15 million for marine biotech building

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:45:21 -0400

The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced Monday that the University of North Carolina-Wilmington would receive $15 million for a new facility for the Marine Biotechnology in North Carolina program.

Financially ailing Adherex sweeps out its top executive, six board members

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:42:23 -0400

Former GlaxoWellcome scientist is new chief science officer; top investor takes over as chairman, and UNC-CH graduate is new CEO. Company has warned it is short on cash for operations.

Deadline to apply for SEBIO investor conference nears

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:12:43 -0400

The deadline for companies seeking to present at the 11th annual SEBIO investor conference is July 24.

RTP and swine flu: Government moves to protect vaccine makers

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:58:02 -0400

Three Triangle-area companies - GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, AlphaVax - are working on vaccines.

LabCorp says no federal opposition to $106M acquisition

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:11:39 -0400

LabCorp (NYSE: LH) said Friday it will proceed with the acquisition of California-based Monogram Biosciences (Nasdaq: MGRM) after the federal government expressed no objection to the deal.

Duke University Hospital ranked 10th best in country in data compiled by RTI

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:38:00 -0400

Duke University Hospital has been named one of the top 10 best hospitals in America in U.S. News & World Report's annual best hospital edition, the hospital announced Thursday.

RTP-based biotech firm Chimerix expands management team

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:37:17 -0400

Chimerix, a biotechnology firm that is developing antiviral therapeutics that can be delivered orally, is expanding its management team by adding a chief operating post.