The latest technology and life sciences news in WRALTechWire’s Bulldog Bulletin roundup:

  • NBC to use Durham firm’s technology for Olympics

DURHAM – Some race times and other results broadcast by NBC from the Winter Games will use technology from a Durham company.

IDS, a division of Durham video technology firm SMT that focuses on supporting operations during live sporting events, has been selected by NBC Olympics to provide results and timing interfaces for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. IDS, a division of SMT, supports client operations during live sporting events.

The IDS support team will be responsible for delivering TV graphics interfaces for NBC Olympics’ Mosaic systems in its coverage of alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, short track speed skating, speed skating, bobsled, luge, skeleton, ski jumping and the ski jumping portion of Nordic combined. The IDS’ Point-in-Time system allows production crews to go back to the precise point in a competition to simultaneously and seamlessly illustrate points being made by the announcers, for both live and taped coverage.

IDS’ services over the course of 14 years for NBC Olympics have included graphics interfaces and web content as well as NBC’s digital asset management interface that helped the network receive an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Team Technical Remote” following the 2008 Games.

  • Bioventus to acquire osteoarthritis product

DURHAM – Orthopedic healing company Bioventus has agreed to acquire the international assets for Durolane, a product that helps relieve osteoarthritis pain in a variety of joints.

Durham-based Bioventus said it has entered into an agreement with Galderma for the assets. Durolane is a single-injection joint fluid treatment that contains hyaluronic acid, which provides lubrication and cushioning in a normal joint. Bioventus previously had exclusive global distribution rights and had served as the Durolane distributor in Europe, Canada and Australia.

Galderma will continue to manufacture Durolane under the new agreement. But Bioventus now controls all future plans and distribution for Durolane outside of the United States. No financial terms were disclosed.

  • Salix awarded drug patent

RALEIGH – Salix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SLXP) is expanding its intellectual property protection of its lead product with the award of a new patent.

The patent protects the Salix drug Xifaxan for methods of treating the condition hepatic encephalopathy. Salix said the patent covers Xifaxan at 550 mg. The company said Xifaxan 550 currently accounts for more than 95 percent of total Xifaxan business.

Xifaxan, approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat hepatic encephalopathy or HE, a brain disorder associated with severe liver disease, is Salix’s top-selling drug. Salix says it now has nine patents for Xifaxan 550, with patent protection for the drug through 2029. Salix says the patent covers Xifaxan 550 for the HE indication as well the methods of manufacturing and the composition of the drug.

  • N.C. Secretary of Commerce Secretary Decker visits Wireless Center

WAKE FOREST – North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker visited the Wireless Research Center of North Carolina.

Decker toured the facility and discussed economic development impact of the wireless industry. The Wireless Center, which was created as a public asset, facilitates public private partnerships, provides CTIA-certified testing, encourages entrepreneurial endeavors, and is preparing to help address the broadband access needs of rural North Carolina.

The Secretary’s visit to the Wake Forest site included a tour of the center, its new commercialization center and entrepreneurship support hub, and an inside look at its testing facilities.

  • Acquisition of Cornerstone Therapeutics closes

CARY – Italian drug company Chiesi Farmaceutici has closed its acquisition of Cary specialty pharmaceutical company Cornerstone Therapeutics.

Chiesi had previously owned 58 percent of Cornerstone’s shares. The company paid $9.50 per share to acquire the remaining stake it did not own. The transaction was completed following the approval of a majority of Cornerstone’s stockholders, as required under Delaware law, as well as a majority of stockholders other than Chiesi and other than Cornerstone’s officers and directors, as separately required under the merger agreement. That approval came during a special meeting of the Cornerstone stockholders held Monday.

“This merger presents many benefits for Cornerstone and its employees as we will be better positioned to more rapidly expand our product offerings, U.S. footprint, and expertise within the hospital and related specialty markets,” Cornerstone CEO Craig Collard said in a statement.

  • ComputerWorld survey ranks wireless carriers

NEW YORK – Verizon Wireless emerged as the “solid favorite” in ComputerWorld’s survey ranking wireless carriers.

Verizon’s total weighted rating was 3.76 out of 5. Its ratings were at or near the top in every one of the eight individual categories. At 3.71 overall, AT&T came in at No. 2, just ahead of T-Mobile with a 3.66. Sprint, meanwhile, was squarely in fourth place with a 3.42 rating.