WRAL Tech Wire

 Triangle region beat 100,000 new jobs goal, partnership says; more coming?

Looking ahead, leaders of 13-county Research Triangle Regional Partnership outline new five-year plan for "Staying on Top." Recruiting pipeline is strong, RTRP’s top exec says. Since 2003, employment grew in all the region’s 13 counties but Warren, which lost 407 jobs.

 Want some good news? New report rates Triangle fifth among 11 top metros for biotech

Milken Institute ranks RTP second for innovation as well as research and development. However, lack of 'risk capital' and entrepreneurship helps drag down its overall score.

 GSK’s venture arm invests in San Diego drug startup

 After profit drops, GSK CEO says U.S. operations face more changes

'It is essential that we reconfigure our U.S. business to make sure we have the right resource in the right areas and an overall lower level of infrastructure costs,' Andrew Witty says.

 New giant with Triangle roots to combat HIV - GSK, Pfizer form joint venture

As yet unnamed company will based U.S. operations in RTP where GSK has a long history of AIDS research. Venture will be No. 2 in HIV drug market share from launch.

 NCRC: Merck vice president to head Murdock Research Institute

North Carolina native to help coordinate research efforts at N.C. Research Institute.

 Pharmaceutical Product Development acquires Merck vaccine testing lab

 North Carolina unemployment hits 7 percent

Despite an increase of more than 6,000 jobs, the state’s jobless rate has hit its highest level in six years.

 GSK names Pfizer executive as chief medical officer

 Research Triangle Region posts $1 billion summer

New and expanding companies announced more than $1 billion in investments in the 13-county region from June through August for projects estimated to create nearly 1,700 new jobs, according to a new report released by the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP).

 Durham votes $2 million Merck incentives

The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to offer Merck, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, a $2 million development incentive to expand its Treyburn Corporate Park facility.

 A Lab, a Grant & a bad odor

The decision of the Golden LEAF Foundation to spend $262,248 in public funds to promote the biodefense project and respond to its critics smells.

 Durham-based drug startup lands $25M in new financing

Papas Ventures, which launched CoLucid in 2005, participates in new round. CoLucid has anti-migraine compound in development.

 Merck to expand its Durham drug plant again

The $300 million investment will bring the number of employee at the Durham facility to approximately 400.

 Fighting AIDS: Leading HIV Researchers to Collaborate on Vaccine Development

UniversityTech: Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology at Duke, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative plan to "lay the groundwork for new vaccine approaches."

 Secret Sauce at Scynexis Attracts Another $13.5M in Venture Capital

 Hamner Institutes for Health Adds Board Members

 INC Research Recruits VP for Regulatory Services

 Red Hat Acquires Amentra, a Systems Integrator

Company, which supports Red Hat’s JBoss middleware, will operate as independent company.

 Chimerix Partners with Merial to Seek Potential Animal Drugs