Syncor International Corp. has an agreement with San Diego-based IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. under which Syncor will prepare and distribute patient-specific doses of Zevalin, a radioimmunotherapy recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of certain Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas.
Under this agreement, Woodland Hills-based Syncor will provide patient-specific Zevalin dose preparation and delivery services to qualified licensed hospitals and physicians from its industry leading coast-to-coast network of 131 nuclear pharmacies.
Syncor operates the nation's largest integrated radiopharmacy network that routinely provides rapid-response delivery of radio and complex pharmaceuticals to the point of care in three hours or less. Syncor's staff of more than 500 licensed nuclear pharmacists will compound the Zevalin antibody kit components with two different radioactive elements to provide both imaging and therapy doses.
"We are delighted to be working with Syncor to provide Zevalin, the first radioimmunotherapy approved by the FDA, to patients with certain B-cell NHLs," says William R. Rohn, IDEC's president and COO.
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The California surf, celebrated in song by the Beach Boys, has caught the fancy of a unique sort of beach denizens -- scientists at San Diego State University.
A team of ocean energy experts from around the country, led by a professor of mechanical engineering at SDSU, will soon descend on California's beaches, not to catch a wave, but to study the feasibility of using ocean swells as a potential source of renewable energy.
To assist professor Asfaw Beyene and his team in their unusual surfing safari, the California Energy Commission has awarded the university $120,000. The award comes from the commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program under its goal of advancing science and technology in the area of renewable energy.
With the PIER funding, Beyene and his crew will determine just how much electricity could be produced along the state's 1,100-mile coastline, the likely costs of generating ocean-based electricity, and environmental issues that may be tied to developing ocean wave energy systems. Their goal is to get a fix of the best places to deploy ocean wave energy systems off the California coast.
An assessment by the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in 1991 indicated a possible 23,000 megawatts of electricity was contained in the waves off PG&E's service territory along California's north coast. How much wave energy can feasibly be developed will be determined by the SDSU study.
A megawatt is enough electricity to power 1,000 average California homes simultaneously.
The SDSU scientists will re-evaluate these estimates while performing the project's other technical and economic objectives. These include the compilation of a database of wave characteristics, and the identification of critical factors to the development of wave energy, including the commercial status of wave-to-energy technology that is currently available.
The idea is to pinpoint the likelihood, benefits and impacts of developing ocean wave energy before investing public and private funds in such a venture.
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Dr. John B. West, UCSD professor of medicine, has been chosen to receive the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal, the highest award of the American Thoracic Society, for his scientific contributions to the control, prevention and treatment of lung disease.
The award will be presented at the 98th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in May at Atlanta. More than 16,000 individuals from 80 countries are expected to attend.
One of the foremost world authorities on respiratory physiology, West has performed extensive research on pulmonary circulation and gas exchange. He led the team that discovered the effects of gravity on the distribution of pulmonary blood flow. A related interest has been the effects of oxygen deprivation on the body at high altitude.
West was a member of Sir Edmund Hillary's Silver Hut expedition to the Himalayas in 1960-1961 living for several months at an altitude of 19,000 feet (5,800 meters). In 1981 he led the American Medical Research Expedition to Everest during which the first physiological measurements were made on the summit at 29,028 feet (8848 meters). West's work on the effects of gravity in the lung led him to conduct a study of weightlessness as it affects astronauts in space. Several experiments have been carried out in Spacelab on the Space Shuttle, and on the International Space Station.
Currently, West is investigating a highly promising technique to alleviate hypoxia in Cal Tech astronomers who work above 16,000 feet in northern Chile. This technique, in which the oxygen concentration of the rooms and laboratories is enriched with additional oxygen, is based on studies first conducted at the White Mountain Research Station by West.
"The Cal Tech astronomers are breathing 27 percent oxygen at an altitude of 5,000m (16,500 feet), in effect, lowering their altitude to a less-adverse 3,100 m (10,000 feet)," West says. "The results are outstandingly good. Before, they had problems with memory, concentration and errors. Now, their work is almost as efficient as that at sea level."
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After 76 years of delivering creative insurance solutions as Robert F. Driver Co. Inc., the company has changed its name to Driver Alliant Insurance Services, reflecting a recent merger with Alliant Resources Group Inc.
"When the merger was announced in June 2001, our first priority was to assure loyal customers that our locally managed operations would continue to be staffed with excellent brokers and top-notch support staff," says Tom Corbett, CEO for Driver Alliant. "Our name change further reinforces the national reach and tremendous resources that Alliant can deliver and leaves us even better prepared to serve our customers."
"After a successful merger last summer, we are pleased to announce the name change to Driver Alliant," says John Addeo, co-founder and CEO of Alliant Resources Group. "Together with Alliant, the company will emerge as the premier specialty broker for the entire nation."
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Gen-Probe Inc. in San Diego reports that the FDA has approved its Biologics License Application for its amplified nucleic acid test to be used by blood banks to simultaneously detect human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus.
The combination HIV-1/HCV test system, developed and manufactured by Gen-Probe, will be marketed worldwide by Chiron Corp. as the Procleix' HIV-1/HCV Assay and the Procleix Semi-Automated System.
Gen-Probe also has received 510(k) clearance for the Procleix Semi-Automated Instrument System and the HIV-1/HCV External Quality Controls Kit.
The assay has been used by the American Red Cross, America's Blood Centers affiliates, the Association of Independent Blood Centers and the U.S. military to screen blood donations under Investigational New Drug protocols since March 1999. During this period more than 24 million donations were screened with 95 donations being identified as positive for either HIV or HCV. The use of the Gen-Probe nucleic acid test prevented these blood units and derived products from entering the blood supply.
"Approval of our new state-of-the-art assay system represents a significant milestone for Gen-Probe, blood screening laboratories and recipients of donated blood products," says Henry L. Nordhoff, president and CEO of Gen-Probe.
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The first tuition-free classes offered to businesses and employers countywide by the Customer Service Academy are set for March 6 and 13 at the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.
The classes for "Superior Service," the first of the three-part training, are scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. at the chamber office, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., in El Cajon.
Starting March 12, the noncredit classes will be offered from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cuyamaca College's customer service training center at 500 Fesler St. in El Cajon.
Launched this week by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, the Customer Service Academy provides 54 hours of training in customer relations, communication, conflict management, values and ethics, team building, decision-making and time management.
Made possible by a $250,000 economic development grant awarded to Cuyamaca College by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, the academy program is offered as three 18-hour workshops to be held at community colleges countywide or on-site at business offices.
Credentialed community college instructors with business management experience teach the classes.
For more information or to reserve a seat, call (619) 593-393, (619) 644-7608, or toll free at (877) 855-5929. Information is also available at http://metro.sandiegometro.com/dbr/<a%20href='http://www.CustomerServiceAcademy.net'%20target='new'>http://www.CustomerServiceAcademy.net</a>.
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VirtGame.com Corp., a San Diego-based provider of software to the gaming and lottery industries, has filed a certificate of amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State changing the company's official name from VirtGame.com Corp. to VirtGame Corp.
"This action completes VirtGame's transition to the business model as a significant technology company whose mission, passion and focus continues to be to provide software to the gaming and lottery industry throughout the world," says VirtGame's CEO, Scott Walker.
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BOOM! Family Fun Centers in San Diego, Vista, El Cajon and Escondido just changed their name to Boomers!
Palace Entertainment in Irvine operates the theme parks and says the change signals the company’s commitment to take family fun and entertainment to a higher level.
"We've spent the last couple of years talking to our customers about what is really important to them in a local theme park," says Vince Lupinacci, president and CEO of Palace Entertainment. "Our goal in transitioning Family Fun Centers to Boomers! is to offer the same great family fun with a new family look and attitude."
During Boomers! grand opening today, kids and adults will be able to use all the attractions in the park all day long for just $5. That's up to a 75 percent savings off the regular price. There'll also be prize giveaways and live radio broadcasts during the grand opening.
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Decorated model homes are now available at Ashbrook Communities' Esperanza and Sonrisa communities, within the four-village neighborhood of Buenavida in San Marcos.
Both Esperanza and Sonrisa are nearing completion stages with nearly three quarters of the homes sold, leaving only 22 homes at Esperanza and 30 at Sonrisa available for purchase.
"The Buenavida community is an ideal place for those in the market looking to buy a new fully furnished home," says Tim McGowan, CEO and co-founder of Ashbrook Communities. "Sonrisa and Esperanza are both beautiful neighborhoods, and with decorated models for sale, moving into a dream home can easily become a reality."
The Buenavida community is gated, and all homes are on a cul-de-sac, ensuring the privacy of residents. With architecture by Robert Hidey Architects, the homes are a blend of luxury, comfort and style.
All furnished model homes have landscaped front and rear yards, complimenting the architecture and natural environment. All model homes are also highly upgraded, offering custom options such as French doors, decks, kitchen countertops, appliances, hard surface flooring and much more.
Call Russell Bramy, community sales manager, at (760) 736-8833.