San Diego’s HOT COMPANIES / Decision Makers 2007

By Richard M. Knappen

LG Electronics MobileComm - San Diego, is the US-base for the South Korean mobile phone giant. It has named Jeff Hwang as President. Hwang, who previously led LG’s mobile phone business for the Korean mrket, succeeded Juno Cho, who was named Executive Vice President for LG Corporation. From its San Diego headquarters, LG Electronics develops and markets the company’s cell phones for North America. The company’s parent is one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world.

Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., - San Diego, has appointed Richard J. Hawkins to its Board of Directors. Hawkins is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LabNow, Inc.

JHG-Townsend - San Diego, is a A marketing and public relations agency, which has hired Nina Jimenez as Senior Director of its Client Group.

Sharp HealthCare - San Diego, has named Cheryl Odell as Chief Nursing Officer of Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.

Qualcomm - San Diego: Said that its customers are selling more cell phones than anticipated, prompting the wireless technology company to raise its revenue expectations for the quarters. Qualcomm announced that earnings would be 52 cents to 53 cents per share, up from 50 to 52 cents it forecast after the Sept 30 close of its 4th quarter. Qualcomm made 43 cents per share in the year-ago projection.

Thompson MP3 and Audio Licensing Division - Rancho Bernardo: is a division of the French owned multimedia company named Thompson. The Rancho Bernardo Director of Marketing and Business development is Mr. Francois Thuillere. The Division negotiates licenses to use MP3 technology in portable music players, music phones and other devices. It also serves as liaison between electronics manufacturers and audio researchers. To try out Ensonido, grab a stereo headphone and to go myspace.com/mp3surround.

California Center for Sustainable Energy - San Diego, has hired Robert Gilleskie as Director of Engineering. The Center is a non profit organization.

General Atomics - Has hired retired Rear Admiral Ms. Ronne Froman as a Senior Vice President of its Energy Group, reporting to Neal Blue, General Atomics’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union, has promoted Linda Rossi to Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations, and Adele Sandberg to Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Qualcomm - San Diego, has purchased San Diego software company SoftMax, whose technology can be used to filter out background noise to improve the quality of cell phones. The noise-cancelling system can be used in Bluetooth wireless handsets as well as directly in mobile phones. SoftMax was founded in 1998 by researchers from The Salk Institute and US San Diego.

Hydro-scape Products, Inc., San Diego, hired Barry O’Gorman as Vice President Sales and Marketing.

Lindbergh Field San Diego, has announced that, after a four year absence, overseas flights will resume when Canadian-based Zoom Airlines will begin nonstop flights in the summer of 2008 to London. Zoom, which already offers daily flights between New York and London, announced that it will launch its new twice-weekly San Diego-London route on June 20th.

Ambrx, Inc., San Diego: A biotech company, announced that it has partnered with Merck and Eli Lilly. The Merck deal is to develop a therapeutic protein to treat Type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders such as obesity. The Eli Lilly collaboration focuses on treatments in a number of areas including metabolic diseases and central nervous system disorders.

Packard Hospitality Group - San Diego, has hired Mark Thomson as Regional VP for its Eastern region.

Cricket Communications - San Diego, is a flat-rate cell company. It announced that it would acquire the wireless operations of Southern cell company, Hargray Communications . The deal would allow Cricket to expand its service to Savannah, GA and Hilton Head Island, SC.

Silicon Space - San Diego: A software company, has hired Fred Nicholson as Chief Technical Officer CTO.

SAIC - San Diego: The giant defense contractor, reported stronger-than-expected financial results, including a 14% gain in revenue the third quarter ended October 31. SAIC reported record revenues of $2.37 billion, up from $2.08 billion in the same quarter last year. The earnings beat Wall Street’s estimates.

General Atomics - has named Michael R. Reed as Sr. VP for its Advanced Technology Group.

GreatCall - Del Mar: Has raised $40-million in venture funding to launch a national marketing campaign to introduce its large-button, no-frills Jitterbug phones to consumers who want simpler, and cheaper, devices. The privately-held company is targeting baby-boomers , who want an alternative to sleek, fashion-conscious handsets with digital cameras, MP3 players, video games, and Internet browsers. Other potential customers might want a simple-to-use cell phone for their elderly parents. GreatCall is the latest enterprise for Arlene Harris, a veteran wireless industry entrepreneur whose Los Angeles family played a leading role in the evolution of the paging and mobile phone businesses in the 1970s. Founders are Arlene Harris and Martin Cooper. Presently the company has about 100 employees.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals - San Diego: announced that a clinical trial showed people with adult on-set diabetes taking only the company’s drug Byetta were able to lower their blood sugar.

Sharp HealthCare - is one of five organizations to receive the 2007 Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the nation’s highest presidential honor for quality and organizational excellence. Also, Sharp HealthCare was the first health care system to be named a gold-level award recipient by the California Council for Excellence for the California Awards for Performance Excellence, the state-level affiliate of the Baldridge Award, in 2006.

Santarus - San Diego: Is a specialty pharmaceutical company, said that it has gained Glaxo-SmithKline exclusive rights to commercialize prescription and over-the-counter immediate release formulations of its drug for heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America, and to distribute and sell Zegerid brand prescription products in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. GSK will pay Santarus $11.5 million upfront and tiered double-digit royalties. GSK also will be responsible for the development, manufacture and commercialization of licensed products in up to 114 countries, including the US, Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada.

Envision Solar International Corp, San Diego: CEO is Robert Noble, and Karen Morgan is president. Founded by Noble, the company specializes in installing solar arrays in parking lots of customer companies. It works like this: A solar provider agrees to install and maintain a solar array at a company’s campus in exchange for a power purchase agreement under which the company commits to buying electricity for 15 to 20 years at a fix rate, which is generally at or below daylight retail rates. Envision recently merged with Generating Assets, a San Francisco solar development company with experience in “structured finance” models for funding solar projects. The merger brought roughly $15 million in power purchase contracts to Envision.
BidShift Inc. - San Diego, has named Graham Barnes as CEO.

Phenomix Corporation - San Diego, is a company that develops disbetic therapies. It has named John Crawford as CFO. Julie Cherrington was named President, Chris Burnley EVP, and Brian Baker VP Finance.

California Community Bank has hired Alice Tiongco as Assistant VP and Customer Service Manager at its Escondido office.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, and Excaliard Pharmaceuticals in Encinitas, announced that they will collaborate on the development of antisense drugs for the local treatment of fibrotic disease, including scaring. Isis granted Excaliard an exclusive worldwide license for the development.. Excallard made an upfront payment to Isis in the form of equity and paid Isis $1-million in cash for the licensing of a gene target.

Verus Pharmaceuticals - Said that Robert W. Keith has been promoted to President and CEO. Cam L. Garner will be the Executive Chairman of the company’s Board.

Ardea Biosciences - Carlsbad: Is a company that will begin a new clinical development program for the treatment of gout. Andea conducted a Phase 1 study that showed that its RDEA806, which had been evaluated as a potential treatment for HIV, reduced serum uric acid, which contributes to gout. The company is preparing to initiate a Phase 2 efficacy study in gout patients.

Palomar College - San Marcos: has completed the purchase of nearly 84 acres along Interstate 15 at State Route 76 for an additional campus site. The land is part of the 500-acre Passerelle development site, which is proposed to include 1,366 homes.

Halozyme Therapeutics - San Diego, is a biotechnology company, and has hired Matthew W. Hooper as Vice President and General Counsel. Hooper will direct the company’s legal activities and will report to Jonathan Lim, CEO.

Submarina Inc., - San Marcos: Has promoted Jeff Warfield to CEO and Chairman of the Board. The company also hired Mimi Zeller as President and Chief Operations Officer. Charles Lynn Lowder was hired as Executive VP and Chief Compliance Officer. Zeller and Lowder previously worked for Mail Boxes etc.

Adecco North America - a staffing company with offices in the San Diego area, has promoted Christa Shapiro as Regional VP San Diego.

San Diego State University - Has announced that S. Donley Ritchey has joined the SDSU College of Business Administration Board of Directors. Ritchey is managing partner of Alpine Partners in Danville, CA.

Schubach Aviation - Carlsbad, is a privately-held charter air carrier, and has hired Roy Irwin as General Manager. Irwin previously worked at West Coast Charters.

DHR International, an executive search firm with offices in San Diego (they are headquartered in Chicago), has hired Mark James as Executive Vice President.

Jones Lang LaSalle - is a real estate money management firm, has named Rick Sundberg as Senior VP of its retail group for the San Diego office.

The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo - San Diego: Has hired Randy Wilkerson as Controller.

Sharp HealthCare - San Diego, has won, for the second consecutive year, the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the federal government’s top business honor. Sharp HealthCare is the largest health system in San Diego County, and was one of five organizations to win the award this year, according to the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Sharp was praised for its financial performance, patient care and efforts to better use technology. Mike Murphy is Sharp’s President and CEO.

US Farms Inc., San Diego: Is a farming and nursery company, announced that it has appointed Darin Pines as Chief Operating Officer.

Mitchell International - San Diego: A provider of information for the automotive insurance claims industry, added James J. Gilmartin to its Board of Directors.

DivX Inc., San Diego: A maker of video-compression technology, will pay $22-million for MainConcept AG of Germany, which has a competing compression system that is gaining traction. DivX makes a video-compression system that allows large video files to move between devices, such as from computers to televisions. It helps to gets its technology heavily adopted by consumers, making it the standard for compressing and decompressing digital video. DivX makes most of its money licensing its technology. MainConcept is a leader in a different compression technology, called H.264, that has been gaining ground in some products, such as digital cameras that produce short video clips. Cell phone makers, HDTV makers and set-top-box producers are also looking at H.264. MainConcept’s compression system is used for the latest version of Adobe Flash Player software. DivX CEO Kevin Hell called MainConcept’s system highly complementary to Divx.

General Dynamics NASSCO - San Diego: a shipyard, said it has delivered the cargo and ammunition carrier Richard E. Byrd to the Navy. It is the fourth T-AKE-class chip delivered by the San Diego shipyard and the third delivered this year. With cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission of T-AKE ships is to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea.

Aethlon Medical - San Diego: is a company that is developing medical devices to treat infectious disease. It will collaborate with ImQuest, a Maryland-based biotech company working on infectious diseases.

Natural Alternatives - San Marcos: Is a manufacturer of nutritional supplements, and has reported increased revenues.

SmartDrive Systems - San Diego: Their service, which targets fleet vehicles, provides a video device that records accidents and unsafe driving incidents. The company has more than 300 employees.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad: Announced that its developmental drug Mipomersen helped lower cholesterol in a mid-stage clinical trial and reported the drug was well-tolerated in early and mid-stage studies. In one trial, patients treated with Mipomersen experienced a 48% reduction in LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, beyond reductions achieved with statins alone.

Reaction Design, Inc., - San Diego: A clean technology chemistry company, has hired John Reese as CFO.

Charlotte Russe - San Diego: A clothing retailer, has Mark Hoffman as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Kratos Defense & Security - San Diego: Formerly known as Wireless Facilities, reported sales of $47.5 million during its third quarter, up 28% from the same quarter last year.

Zimmer Dental - Carlsbad: A provider of oral rehabilitation products, appointed Harold C. Flynn as President.

UCSD Extension - is the continuing education arm of the University of California San Diego, named Henry J. DeVries as Director of Communications.

Island Data - Carlsbad: Is a soft-ware company whose products scours email, online feedback forms and other customer comments for trends or criticism. Guy Jones is President of the company.

Qualcomm - reported an 84% increase in quarterly earnings as a

result of the growth of the mobile Internet, and related demand for its technology. Qualcomm said much of the growth came from increased popularity of so-called third generation mobile data for cell phones. Qualcomm’s chips for voice and data are found in an increasing percentage of the world’s phones: 32%. The company recorded revenues on 89 million phones that are based on its CDMA and WCDMA technology.

SpectraScience Inc., - San Diego: Announced that it has acquired all of the shares of Luma Imaging Corporation. Luma has developed and received FDA approval for an optical noninvasive diagnostic imaging system used to detect cervical cancer precursors. When used as an adjunct to colposcopy, Luma detects significantly more high-grade cervical cancer precursors, the company said. The acquisition involved an exchange of the shares of both companies and includes substantial inventory and the worldwide application for 51 patents, 28 of which have issued.

Novalar Pharmaceuticals - San Diego: Whose lead product, NV-101, is a reversal agent for dental anesthesia, is awaiting federal approval, announced that it has closed a $30-million round of funding. Proceeds will be used to support the U.S. launch of NV-101 and the development of other dental pharmaceuticals in Novalar’s pipelilne.

SEMDirector, Inc., - San Diego: a software company, has promoted Matt McGee to Regional VP of the Western Region.

Onac Productions - Chula Vista: has hired Ricardo Gomez-Roji as VP of Marketing.

Visual Sciences - San Diego (formerly WebSide Story), has posted better-than-expected 3rd quarter earnings.

Rubio’s Restaurants - Carlsbad, reported its highest quarterly revenue since going public in 1999. Dan Pittard is CEO.

Chicken of the Sea International- San Diego, is a packager of seafood, and has announced that it named Shue Wing Chan as President and CEO. Chan previously served as Executive Director and CFO of Thai Union Frozen Products, the parent company of Chicken of the Sea.

Image Communications - San Diego, Is a maker of video-on-demand and Internet television hardware, and it has raised $15-million in a second round of venture capital funding.

L3 Communications Holdings, Inc., is the largest supplier of translators for the U.S. Army, has forecast higher per-share earnings for 2008.

The University of San Diego has promoted Roy F. Heynderickx as VP Finance. Previously, Heynderickx had worked at the University of Portland.

SEMDirector Inc. - San Diego, is a software company, and has hired Brett Powell as Sr. VP Sales.

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc., a commercial real estate firm, has promoted Louay Alsadek to Exec- utive VP.

Arena Pharmaceuticals - Announced that it has raised about $109-million with a public stock offering.

Legoland - Carlsbad: Announced a $20-million expansion that includes a two-story aquarium and an Indiana Jones-like adventure in 1920's Egypt. Ground has already been broken on the nearly 36,000-square-foot aquarium, named “Sea Life Legoland,” in an area near the Carlsbad amusement park’s ticket booths. The complex will feature creatures found in California waters, from a freshwater stream in the Sierra Nevada, to the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Nick Varmey is CEO of Legoland parent Merlin Entertainment Group.

DivX - announced that its shares leaped by a third for the Quarters. DivX makes a compression device for delivering video over the Internet or between electronic devices. While DivX is popular in Europe, its compression software is not as well adopted in the USA. The company’s technology is licensed to 31% of DVD players sold in the USA; however, that market share grew 25% over the past year! Kevin Hell, 43, has been named Chief Executive of the company.

Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego: Has received European approval for its second generation Celution stem-and regenerative-cell processing system. The system is the only device approved in Europe to extract and concentrate a patient’s own stem and regenerative cells from within fat tissue in order to be delivered back to the same patient. The company said the approval allows them to begin marketing the system in Europe next year for use in reconstructive surgery.
TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc., is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small molecules to treat diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Dr. Neil Kurtz is President and CEO.

Blue Sky Network - is the leading provider of global logistics solutions for two-way linking and managing remote transportation assets via satellite. Using its interactive Web portal, SkyRouter, with detailed mapping and integration with Google Earth, Blue Sky Network links enterprises to personnel and assets anywhere on earth over the Iridium satellite network. FFA-certified data and voice products enable users to customize features including safety and event reporting.

PacketVideo - San Diego: (“PV”) is a subsidiary of NextWave Wireless, and is a software innovator powering the world’s leading mobile multimedia services. PV has the deepest, broadest and most respected multimedia software expertise in the industry.

San Diego Software Industry Council: - is a building a future for the region’s high tech industry, and has rescheduled the First Forum on Analytics for Nov 13 at the Del Mar Marriott. The Forum will feature key players in analytics, including software companies, professionals, leading academics and businesses that have made San Diego the nation’s leading analytics hub.

Palomar Technologies (FORMERLY part of “Hughes Aircraft Company”), is one of the world’s principal suppliers of automated high-precision wire bonders and component placement systems along with process development and assembly services to increase yield and lower costs for manufacturers of optoelectronic, RF components, optoelectronic packages, multichip modules, and hybrids for various industries including wireless, phototronic, LED, microwage, photovolatic, computer, automotive, aerospace, and medical.
Patriot Scientific - Carlsbad: Is a leading intellectual property licensing company that develops, markets, and enables innovative technologies to address the demands in fast-growing markets, such as wireless devices, smart cards, home appliances, and gateways, set-top boxes, entertainment technology, automotive telematics, biomedical devices, and industrial controllers.

Express Logic - San Diego: Offers the most advanced ru-time solution for deeply embedded applications, including ThreadX®RTOS, the high-performance NetX™ TCP/IP stack, the FileX embedded MS-DOS compatible file system, and the USBX Host/Device USB protocol stack. All products from Express Logic include full source-code and have no run-time royalties.

Linear LLC - Carlsbad: Is a subsidiary of Nortek Inc., and is a pioneer in engineered radio frequency (RF) products and is a major supplier of wireless residential security systems, access control, intercoms, garage door openers, gate operators, short and long-range radio remote controls, and medical/emergency reporting systems. The company has expanded into a wide range of consumer electronics, including whole house audio-visual distribution systems, central vacuum systems, music/communications systems, speaker systems, and structured wiring systems.

Overland Storage - is a market leader and innovative provider of smart, affordable data protection appliances that help midrange and distributed enterprises ensure business-critical data is constantly protected, readily available and always there.

Qualcomm - San Diego, has won a federal contract to provide a satellite-based tracking system for U.S. and Mexican trucks participating in a contentious experiment that opens the border to long-haul commercial traffic. Qualcomm’s OmniTRACS system will allow the U.S. govt to closely monitor trucks from both countries, including compliance with regulations that prohibit truckers from driving more than 11 hours per day. Qualcomm will provide its technology for 100 trucks.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (FORMERLY “Wireless Facilities”), San Diego: Announced that it has acquired privately-held Haverstick Consulting of Indianapolis, which specializes in providing engineering and other professional support services for suborbital rocks and military missile test-range facilities. Haverstick holds a number of military contracts, particularly with the US Air Force.

Anadys Pharmaceuticals: is a company that develops therapies for hepatitis C and cancer, reports a 3rd quarter income of $12.3 million, or 43 cents a share, compared with 22 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago!

Resmed - Poway: Specializes in making devices for sleep-related breathing disorders, reports 3rd quarter income of $24.1 million or 31 cents per share.

BDO Seidman LLP - San Diego: has hired Gary D. McCormick as partner in the assurance practice.

San Diego Roll Road South Bay Expressway, the highly anticipated 10-mile state-of-the-art toll road in southeast San Diego near the International Border crossing, ill open Monday, November 19th. The project, the first public/private transportation partnership in California since 1995, and one of just a handful in the country, has been hailed as a model for how private enterprise can assist with public infrastructure projects, and is expected to serve as a catalyst for economic development in one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. The opening of the South Bay Expressway is a significant and national event. South Bay Expressway CEO is Greg Hulsizer.

SAIC - San Diego: Announced that it has won a new single-award contract from the General Services Administration to upgrade air traffic control radio systems for the US Air Force. The initial phase of the contract performance will be performed on a time-and-material basis, while later phases will be firm-fixed price. The contract has a one-year base period, four (4) one-year options and a ceiling value of more than $80-million, if all options are exercised. SAIC will provide engineering services to include recommending new radios and hardware, and procuring and installing equipment as required. The contract will allow the Air Force to completely upgrade its air traffic control radio systems with new technology that will help improve overall system availability and reduce long-term maintenance costs. The work will be performed primarily in San Diego, with installations at USAF locations worldwide.

BAE Systems and Red River Army Depot (RRAD) signed a Memorandum of Intent for a partnership to support production of Mine Resistant Ambust Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The agreement is intended to provide a foundation for expanding BAE Systems capabilities in partnership0 with RRAD and meeting the emerging requirments for the MRAP program. It will allow a greater number of vehicles to be produced and ultimately be fielded faster to America’s troops. BAE Systems is currently contracted to build three of the five MRAP variants. BAE Systems is a premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems employs 96,000 worldwide, and had 2006 revenues to exceed $27-billion.

SAIC GeoRover®Software Products, was selected by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). GeoRover software products provide flexible user interfaces ideal for use in a fast-faced geospatial intelligence environment.

Ceradyne, Inc. - Costa Mesa: received a ceramic body armor delivery order of $49.2 million from the US Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The order is for Enhanced Side Bassistic Inserts (ESBI) which will be delivered from 12/07 through 2/08. Ceradyne develops, manufacturers, and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial automotive/disel, and commercial applications.

SYS Technologies - is a leader provider of information connectivity solutions that enable situational awareness and real-time collaboration, and has been awarded a five-year prime contract valued at approximately $6.4 million, if all options are exercised to provide technical support services for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). SYS will provide technical support services to SPAWAR encompassing systems engineering and integration, program analysis, metrics analysis and process improvement for US Naval Afloat and Ashore Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence installations, including Military Construction Command Center projects worldwide. SYS is a leading provider of information connectivity solutions that capture, analyze and present real-time information to its customers in the DoD.

SAIC - won a contract from the Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, in support of the Small Arms Weapons Division. SAIC will provide a wide range of technical support for the development of the US Navy and Special Warfare/Special Operating Forces small arms capability. The contract is worth $23-million.

Ashworth - Carlsbad: A golf-apparel company, has named Allen Fletcher as its new CEO. Eric R. Hohl has been named EVP and CFO.

Jack in the Box, Inc., San Diego: has promoted Terri Funk Graham to Sr. VP and Chief Marketing Officer.
San Diego National Bank: hired John Murphy as VP and Manager of the Residential Mortgage Division.

Qualcomm - San Diego: has designed a versatile chop for laptops that will let the users connect to either of the two types of data networks offered by cell phone service providers. Until now, no single chip could work with both the EVDO networks offered by Verizon and Sprint; and HSPA networks provided by AT&T and T-Mobile.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, and the venture-capital firm Thomas, McNeary & Partners, have formed Altair Pharmaceuticals to discover, develop and commercialize antisense drugs to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions. Antisense drugs stop a particular gene from producing the protein that triggers a disease. Isis has granted an exclusive worldwide license to Altair for the development and commercialization of ISIS 369645, an inhaled inhibitor of certain signaling pathways for the treatment of asthma. Isis will own 18% of the San Diego-based Altair.

JMAR Technologies, - San Diego, which specializes in laser technologies, has named Ned Hall as its CFO.

Mitchell International - a provider of information to the automotive insurance claims industry, has named Alex Sun as President and CEO, and Board member.

NTN Buzztime, Inc., - Carlsbad, is a developer and distributor of interactive entertainment, has hired Jake Tauber as EVP of Content and Programming.

Cibus LLC - San Diego, is a company that specializes in the development technology for plant breeding.

American Specialty - San Diego: named Robert P. White as President and Chief Operating Officer. George DeVries will become CEO and Chairman of the Board.

The San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine & CONNECT, The Science Network, Biocom, and Invitrogen will host the second annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa Suymposium at The Salk Institute in La Jolla. The symposium aims to attract scientists, life-sciences business executives and government officials for the purpose of sharing ideas and discussing the scientific, ethical and business challenges facing stem cell research.

Illumina - San Diego, said it will use its FasTrack genotyping services to process more than 6,500 samples for researchers of the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium. The Consortium will attempt to identify genes that influence an individual’s risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

Microlset - San Diego, has named Amaresh Basu as VP of Research and Development. The company announced that it also has retained Regulus Pharmaceutical Consulting, a regulatory affairs and product development firm, to advise on regulatory agency approvals and quality assurance systems.

Ocera Therapeutics - San Diego, is a privately-held company that is developing treatments for gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and has announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase 3 study of its drug candidate AST-120, a treatment for Crohn’s disease patients.

Viasat - Carlsbad: has received an $8.7 million Air Force Contract for work for the telemetry, tracking and control cryptographic unit.

Plaza Home Mortgage - San Diego, has hire Richard Jaramillo as VP of the retail mortgage division.

Maxwell Technologies - San Diego, has raised abut $15.7 million from a closed secondary stock offering of 1.5 million shares. The company plans to use the proceeds for working capital, debt repayment, and general corporate purposes. Maxwell specializes in developing energy storage and power delivery systems.
Seacoast Commerce Bank - Chula Vista, has named Richard M. Sanborn as President and CEO.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, announced that it has earned a $250,000 milestone payment from Wyeth, as a result of a September 5th submission of an application for European regulatory approval to market bazedoxifene for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Bazedoxifene is a synthetic drug that was designed to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures while protecting breast and uterine tissues.

SAIC - received a Pentagon contract to support the Transformation Planning and Performance Directorate. The contract could be worth more than $76-million if all of the options are awarded over the next 5 years.

Setel San Diego, is a downtown hotel scheduled to open early next year, and has named Craig Waterman as its General Manager.

SAIC - has named Senior VP Tony Moraco as General Manager of the defense contractor’s Space and Geospatial Intelligence Business Unit. He succeeds K. Stuart Shea, who was promoted to President of SAIC’s Intelligence, Security and Technology Group, which includes the business unit.

Nutrition Alternatives - San Marcos, is a company that makes nutritional supplements.

California Institute of Regenerative Medicine - has named Dr. Floyd Bloom to the Oversight Board. Dr. Bloom brings an entrepreneurial perspective to the Board as a founder of Neurome, a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on neurodegenerative diseases.

Security Business Bank - San Diego, reported net income up 40% for the 3rd quarter. Deposits rose 13% to $131.6 million. The five-year-old bank’s branches are in downtown, Carmel Valley and Carlsbad.

Anacomp - a provider of document and business services, has hired Matt Albanese as VP of Worldwide Professional Services.

Staccato Communications, San Diego: is a maker of wireless chips, has announced that it raised an additional $17.5 million in venture capital. The new funding came from Allegis Capital, Bay Partners, Charles River Ventures, Formative Ventures, Interwest Partners and Vision Capital. Staccato said it would use the money to launch a new product. The company, founded in 2002, has raised $77.5 million in venture funding to date.

Cymer Inc., San Diego: is a maker of lasers used to make silicon chips, has named Frank Hochstenbach as President of its European operations. He will oversee sales, marketing, finance, customer service and technical support. He previously served as Executive Director of sales and marketing at Bede Scientific Instruments.

SAIC - San Diego: Received a $6.1 million contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for information technology work.

Northrup Grumman - has named Gary W. Ervin as President of the company’s Integrated Systems unit in San Diego.

Information Systems Labs - San Diego: is a defense firm, and has named David A. Honey as Senior Vice President of its defense sector. Honey is a retired Air Force officer.

SVB Silicon Valley Bank - has named Andy Pelletier to lead its business development efforts in San Diego.

IDW Publishing, San Diego: is a comic book publisher that was started by Ted Adams, and Robbie Robbins. The company had $5 million in revenues last year, and may hit $7 million this year. The company has made a name for itself by churning out original comic series such as the underground hit “30 Days of Night,” and producing comics based on such TV shows as “CSI” and “Angel.”

Maxwell Technologies - said it has received a $3 million contract from Astrium’s United Kingdom-based satellite unit to supply computers for the European Space Agency’s Gaia astronomy mission.

Solpac, Inc., - has received a $7.7 million Navy contract for the design and construction of light armored reconnaissance battalion facilities at Camp Pendleton.

Hebert Construction - El Cajon: has received a contract to design and construct a battalion armory headquarters at the Marine Corps Air Combat Center at Twentynine Palms.

Epsilon Systems Solutions - San Diego: is a devense contractor, and has named James L. Taylor as Senior Vice President. Taylor is a retired naval officer. They also hired Howard Wilchins as Executive Consultant. He will serve in the nuclear operations and environmental management services sector.

Wachovia - is the financial services giant that plans an aggressive expansion in CA - aiming for a 5-fold increase in the number of branches in the state over the next several years. The Charlotte, NC - based bank plants its flag in CA last year with the $25-billion acquisition of Oakland-based Golden West - the parent of World Savings. Wachovia is now the 5th-largest bank in the nation, and will have 149 branches in the state, including 11 in San Diego County. Over the next 5 or so years, Wachovia expects to increase the branch network to 600 to 700 branches statewide, said Don Starkey, Sr VP in charge of the San Diego market. The expansion highlights Wachovia’s drive to join the market leaders in CA banking, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Washington Mutual. Wachovia is a market-share leader in many cities in the Southeast and in some metropolitan areas on the East Coast.

Qualcomm - San Diego: US and Mexican transportation officials are planning to use a satellite-based vehicle tracking system from Qualcomm to keep an eye on commercial carriers from both countries participating in a cross-border trucking experiment. Qualcomm’s Omnitracks system uses cellular technology to track mostly long-haul tractor-trailers. US government officials announced that every truck participating in the pilot project will be tracked through in-vehicle transponders linked to a global positioning system that will monitor the transit of Mexican trucks through the United States and U.S. trucks through Mexico.

International Stem Cells - Ocean-side: Has developed a technique for coaxing unfertilized human eggs to product embryonic stem cells. The work, scientists said, could provide a source of human embryonic stem cells that sidestep the ethical debate swirling around the cells. It could also provide a source of stem cells that would not provoke a negative immune response when injected into humans, at least in women who provide the eggs. Elena Revazova is founder and Chief Scientist. Jeff Krstich is CEO.

Cubic Corporation - San Diego, has a decade-long association with the Navy’s “Top Gun” fighter training program will continue for another generation of aircraft, based on a $50 million contracat the defense contractor signed. Cubic will develop a new version of its air combat training system for the Joint Strike Fighter under the contract, which was awarded by Lockheel Martin.

General Atomics - San Diego: The Air Force has modified a contract awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, providing $45.5 million for hellfire anti-tank missile installation kits and related equipment for 10 Predator aircraft.

R. A. Burch Construction - Ramona, has been awarded a $43.1 million contract from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in San Diego for the design and construction of a two-bay maintenance hangar for C-17 aircraft at Travis Air Force Base.

SAIC - San Diego: Announced its Egan McAllister Associates, Inc., subsidiary has won a contract to provide technical services to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, SC. The contract qualifies Egan, McAllister to bid for work providing intengration services for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surgeillance, and reconnaissance systems.

Time Warner Telecom - has appointed Lindsey Burroughs as VP and General Manager, and Dan Ronald as Sales Manager.

Lee & Associates - a national commercial real estate provider, has named Ryan Barr as principal.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that it was among 16 companies qualified by the Centers for Medicine and Medicaid Services to bid for automated systems support work under a new contract. The combined ceiling for the one-year contract, which includes nine one-year options to extend the program is $4 billion for all companies participating in the program.

The Grand Del Mar - a North County resort and spa nearing completion, has named Erin Lenagan as National Sales Manager.

ImageWare Systems - San Diego, a maker of identity-management systems, has completed the private placement of 2 million shares of common stock.

Grub & Ellis / BRE Commercial, a real estate services firm, has hired Brent Rivard as CFO and COO.

StepStone Group, has hired Jay Rose as Managing Director.

Qualcomm - San Diego, raised its guidance yesterday for its 4th quarter, saying strong chip sales and a lower than expected tax rate should push its adjusted earnings up.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Ibis Biosciences, has been awarded 4 government contracts totaling $4.2 million for work that includes detecting microbioal threat agents for biodefense applications. 3 of the contracts, totaling about $3.3 million, are from the Dept of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. The 4th contract, worth up to $900,000, is from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the DoD. Ibis also will use the funding in connection with its T5000 system in micribial forensics, a type of forensics used in the investigation of crimes involving infectious organisms.

RedHill Realty Investors, a privately held real estate company, has hired Ms. Dimple Seeliger as Senior VP of Equities, including joint venture partnerships and private equity relationships.

US Farms has appointed Iraj Shadfar as VP of World Garlic & Spice, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Farms.
Verus Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, is a drug company focused on childhood allergic conditions, announced that it has sold the rights to 2 pediatric asthma drug programs for $30 million to AstraZeneca. The privately-held specialty pharmaceutical firm said the deal also gives the company the potential to earn an additional $280 million in lump cash payments if AstraZeneca decides to develop both experimental products. Bob Keith is President.

University of San Diego has named David F. Pyke, an Associate Business Dean at Dartmouth, as incoming Dean of its School of Business Administration. Mr. Pyke’s research is focused primarily on supply chain management, operations management and manufacturing in China, and other low-cost countries.

Wachovia Wealth Management has named Ayse Ozkan as VP and Senior Private Banker.

Volcano Corporation, San Diego, is a company that develops intra-vascular ultrasound and other products for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and structural heart disease. It has filed a sheld registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to sell up to $200 million of common and preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants in one or more offerings.
Pudding Media, Inc., San Jose, opened the next front in Web advertising as the start-up company based in San Jose introduced a service that monitors Internet phone calls and dishes up promotions based on what people say. The company, which uses voice-recognition software to spot keywords, said it has signed up more than 10,000 users. Consumers place calls for free over their computer, talking into microphones, and in exchange they agree to let Pudding eavesdrop and show on-screen ads based on the conversations. Advertising select from tens of thousands of keywords, similar to how they buy ads linked to the text of Internet searches. Consumers can test the service at thepudding.com.

Encina Power Plant, Carlsbad: has filed an application with the California Energy Commission to modernize the facility. NRG Energy, Inc., says the project would result in a more efficient and cleaner plant that would generate more power than the current 965-megawatt facility.

Cytori Therapeutics - Announced that it was awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to derive and develop regenerative cells from fat tissue as a treatment for vascular disease. Regenerative cells within fat include adult stem cells and other cell types that have been shown to increase blood flow in and around damaged and oxygen-deprived tissue.

Sempra Energy - has named J. William Ichord as Vice President of Government Relations.

Epsilon Systems Solutions - San Diego: Announced that it is part of the Rome Research Corporation team that has been awarded a $33-million contract to support operations a the Naval Satellite Operations Center at Point Magu. The center operates satellite systems for the Navy and communications services to military forces worldwide.

SAIC - San Diego: Announced that NASA exercised an option valued at $205.9 million on a 2004 contract to provide information-technology services to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and other NASA centers. SAIC said that by exercising the option, the second one-year renewal of a 2004 contract, NASA has raised the ceiling value of the work to about $956-million and has extended the program through 2008.

ViaSat - Carlsbad: Said that it has secured a $2.4 million order for information system terminals for South Korea. The 2-year contract takes effect in May.

Information Systems Laboratories, San Diego: Is heading a 12-member team that was awarded a $33.8 million contract to assist the Nuclear Regulatory Commission review utility company license applications to build nuclear power plants. The five-year project will be handled by ISL’s Nuclear Systems Analysis Division. The company said a resurgence of nuclear power plant construction planning has increased the regulatory agency’s workload and prompted it to seek outside help in processing applications.

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals - San Diego: Filed an application with the FDA to begin clinical trials with its drug candidate HE3286 for the treatment of diseases of inflamation. With the approval, the company plans to initiate a trial of the drug in rheumatoid arthritis patients during the 4th quarter.

Crossflo Systems - has named Michael Berman as Senior VP of Sales & Marketing.

San Diego National Bank - has named Bill Hooper VP & Manager of Corporate Properties.

Pure Bioscience - El Cajon: Said that it has developed a new antimicrobial product based on its patented silver dihydrogen citrate molecule that provides the first 24-hour residual protection against norovirus, which causes stomach flu. The product, Cruise Control, will be marketed to the cruise ship industry, which in recent years has suffered significant economic and reputation damage as a result of outbreaks of norovirus.

Luxtera Inc., - Carlsbad: A semi-conductor company, has appointed Greg Young as President and CEO.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad: And Johnson & Johnson have formed a deal worth as much as $275-million to develop two diabetic drugs. Isis will receive $45-million upfront and may be paid $230-million or more in milestone payments. The deal could help J&J, among the largest makers of Insulin-delivery devices for diabetics, to enter the $15-billion annual market for drugs to control the disease.

Takeda Pharmaceutical - San Diego: has named Keith Wilson as President and Chief Scientific Officer.

Nventa Biopharmaceuticals Corp, has appointed David Duncan, Jr. As Vice President Finance.

Metabasis Therapeutics - San Diego: said its MB07133 living cancer treatment has been granted orphan drug status by the FDA. The status, an incentive to develop therapies that serve a market of fewer than 200,000 people in the USA., gives a drug 7 years of market exclusivity if it is ultimately approved by the FDA. MB07133 is designed to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell death. The company said the trial showed tumor shrinkage and disease stabilization.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - announced that it has started a Phase 1 study of its experimental antisense drug designed to improve blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The drug inhibits production of the glucagon receptor.
Takeda - San Diego: said that Keith Wilson has been named President and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), responsible for overseeing the company’s U.S.-based drug-discovery company. Takeda’s corporate headquarters are in Osaka, Japan. Wilson previously was VP of Structural Biology and VP of Business Development.

Sale Institute - La Jolla: Marsha Chandler, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Salk Institute, has been appointed to the oversight Board of the California Institute for Regenerative medicine.

Grubb & Ellis BRE Commercial - San Diego: is a commercial real estate brokerage firm, has named Brian Driscoll to its capital markets group.

MaintenanceNet - Carlsbad: is a provider of maintenance contract management services, has named Daryl Fink as VP Operations.

SAIC - San Diego: Announced that it won a pact valued at $250-million from the Air Force for management and engineering work. The company will also perform studies, evaluations and technical services at Air Combat Command sites in the USA and around the world. The contract has a one-year base and four one-year renewal options. SAIC said it has received more than 85% of its sales from the U.S. government in the past 3 years.

Grand Pacific Resorts - has appointed Stan Kaminski as General Manager, Rachel Blake as Director of Operations, and Laurel Wykes as Associate Director of Sales, Patricia Gunn as Director of Corporate Sales, and Debra Ayala as Director of Catering and Conference Services for the 350-room Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, which will open in January 2008.

Cohu - San Diego, is a manufacturer of semi-conductor test equipment, has appointed Jeffrey D. Jones as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective Nov. 2nd. Jones has served as Vice President of Finance and Controller for Cohu’s Delta Design subsidiary.

SAIC - San Diego: The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded San Diego’s SAIC a contract to provide technical and outreach support services for domestic and global climate-change programs. The one-year contract, which has options to extend the work four additional years, could be worth as much as $27 million.

MeetingSense Software - San Diego, said that it received three million collars in venture funding from TVC Capital. The company’s flagship software provides organizations with tools to capture, distribute and manage information and action items exchanged during meetings.

Websense - San Diego: makes Web filters and security software, named Dudley W. Mendenhall Chief Financial Officer.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, announced that it will partner with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Mass., to develop drugs that work by blocking micro-RNAs, snips of genetic material found to play a role in controlling biological processes. Scientists have found that about 500 types of these snips influence thousands of genes. The joint venture will be a co. named Regulus Therapeutics, which is expected to be based in San Diego. Isis and Alnylam will grant Regulus exclusive licenses for micro-RNA therapeutic applications, as well as some patents in the field.

Ionian Technologies - San Diego, is the recipient of Pentagon funding to complete development of a handheld biosensor device. The technology is intended to detect the presence of viral, bacterial and toxic biological agents such as anthrax, ricin or smallpox. Additional Penta-gon funding was also provided to -- E-Band Communications - San Diego, for its multigigabit-capacity wireless communications systems.

Lee & Associates - San Diego, has named Mike Meisenbach as principal in the commercial real estate firms’s San Diego North office.

International Stem Cell Corp - Oceanside: said that Excalibur Pathology, an Oklahoma-based independent laboratory has confirmed that its scientists had successfully created tissue compatible with human cornea from embryonic stem cells derived from unfertilized eggs. The company announced in June that it was the first to deliberately create human pathenogenic stem cell lines, meaning embryonic stem cells from unfertilized eggs. The company is promoting its pathenogenetic lines as an alternative to human embryonic stem cells, which are controversial because their creation requires destruction of a human embryo.

ProfitLine - is a provider of telecom expense management, has promoted Keith Boyle to Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Novalar Pharmaceuticals - has appointed Steven J. Semmelmayer to the company’s Board of Directors. Semmelmayer is President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LED Medical Diagnostics and its subsidiary LED Dental.

Knight & Carver - San Diego: has a long-standing business building and repairing yachts and other vessels. It has also bifurcated itself into a new revenue stream: Repairing wind turbine blades. They have developed a breakthrough wind turbine blade. The new Sweet Twist Adaptive Rotor, also called the Star blade, is designed to produce more electricity from a given wind turbine, without increasing wear and tear on the machine. It can produce electricity from wind blowing one to three miles per hour slower than conventional blades. Sam Brown is the president of Knight & Carver.

SCORE - San Diego’s director is Rod Means, and was one of two volunteers from across the country recognized for their efforts on behalf of the organization. SCORE is a national nonprofit that offers advice and training to fledgling entrepreneurs. Means help San Diego SCORE increase annual fund-raising from $20,000 to more than $150,000.

SAIC - has leased a 120,000 square foot building in Vista to develop technology for scanning cargo. The building is located at 2985 Scott Street. The facility will house the company’s Security and Transportation Technology unit.

Time Warner Cable - has appointed Lori Fincher as VP Finance, and Cindy Skach as Director of Customer Acquisitions and Product Management for the San Diego region.

SpectraScience - San Diego, has appointed Michael Vaudry as its Director of International Sales.

Qualcomm - announced that it has signed an agreement with two companies in Malaysia for a trial of its MediaFLO technology, which delivers television programming to cell phones. The trial with Maxis Communications Berhad and Astro All Asia Networks is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2007.

Invitrogen - Carlsbad: is a company which makes tools for dug delivery and diagnostics, has announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide kits for detecting possible E. coli contamination in food at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Bejing. The monitoring is based on World Health Organization food standards, and is to be conducted by the Bejing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Olympic Food Safety program.

General Dynamics’s NASSCO, the San Diego shipyard, has begun construction of the first of nine double-hulled tankers to be built for U.S. Shipping Partners. NASSCO plans to lay the ship’s keel in December, with delivery scheduled in early 2009. Each of the ships built under the $1-billion contract will be more than 600 feet long, with a cargo capacity of about 331,000 barrels. The ships, developed with DSEC of Korea, are designed to carry petroleum and chemical products.

Grant Thornton - is the nation’s largest mid-tier accounting firm, and has opened an office in San Diego. The new facility is in Carmel Valley, and employs 24 workers. Don Williams, who retired last year from Ernst & Young’s San Diego branch, came out of retirement to run the local Grant Thornton operation. The company expects to expand to 35 employees by year’s end, and its target is to have 100 workers by 2009. Grant Thornton is the 2nd mid-tier accounting firm to open an office in San Diego this year. BDO Seidman of Chicago set up shop in University City in July with 15 employees.

NTN Buzztime - Carlsbad, is a developer and distributor of Play-Along TV entertainment and technology. It has hired Mariana Danilovic as Executive VP Business Development.

Hewlett Packard - Rancho Bernardo: Vyomesh Joshi, head of HP’s workhorse Imaging and Printing Group, the future of printing looks different. The San Diego-based executive thinks the printing of tomorrow will come from Web pages, from small businesses making brochures in-house and from amateur photographers who want to personalize their printed photos. “As we shift from printers to printing, from units to pages to enabling the Web, (printing) has a very different kind of meaning to us,” said Joshi, who works out of HP’s 1900-employee inkjet research lab in Rancho Bernardo. HP has launched a string of new printers, software and services aimed at making it easier to print from the Web.

General Dynamics’s NASSCO, announced that it has reached an agreement with the Navy that would allow the San Diego shipyard to build up to 5 additional T-AKE dry cargo ammunition ships. If all options are exercised, the total would amount to approximately $2.4-billion (that’s billion with a “B” !!!).

SAIC - has begun work on supply management of chemicals and packaged petroleum under a Pentagon contract valued as high as $6.2-billion.

Dynalectric - San Diego, has named Philip W. Petersen as President and CEO. The company is a provider of integrated design-build electrical services throughout the region.

Viking Systems - San Diego, is a company that designs vision systems for laparoscopic surgery said that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Tuebingen Scientific Medical, a German company that makes surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery.

International Stem Cell Corp, of Oceanside, and Cytori Therapeutics of San Diego, said they will partner in making fat-derived stem cell products. Cytori will use its technology to remove stem cells from fat. International Stem Cell will isolate, purify and expand the cells. The packaged stem cells will them move into an international supply chain. The companies said the cells initially will be used for research purposes for studies in regenerative medicine and basic cell biology.

DJO - Vista, is a company that develops orthopedic products, said that it has received accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. The volumtary accreditation process qualifies DJO to participate in the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program.

GenVault - San Diego, was chosen to provide archival system for a “biobank” being created by the goverment of Quebec and the Canadian government. The biobank was created primarily for storing and managing biological samples collected from 20,000 Quebec citizens involved in one research project.

The Irvine Company - has named Brittain Cheney Vice President for leasing in the San Diego region.

Brookfield Homes - has promoted Patti McDonald to Director of Human Resources for the homebuilder’s San Diego / Riverside division.

ACE Capital Group - a real estate firm, has named Carl Frank as Sales Manager in its San Diego office.

Security Business Bank - San Diego, has hired Nicholas Zillgas as Senior VP of Cash Management.

Bradley-Morris Inc., is a military-focused placement firm, and has promoted Steve Warner to Senior Consultant. Before joining the firm in 2003, the Air Force Academy graduate served on active duty for 7 years.

SeQual Technologies - which develops oxygen systems, has named Ron Richard as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales.

1st Pacific Bank of CA - has hired Fred Baranowski as Senior Vice President, Regional Manager. Baranowski will lead the bank’s entry into the downtown San Diego market and the surrounding area.

Hilton San Diego Sales Complex - has named Denise Vissat as Senior Sales Manager. She most recently worked at the San Diego Convention Center as Associate VP Sales.

Northrop Grumman - San Diego Integrated Systems business was awarded a $636-million contract intended to demonstrate the feasibility of using robotic combat jets aboard Navy aircraft carriers. The contract calls for developing 2 unmanned X-47 jets under UCAS-D, the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration program, by 2013. About two-thirds of the work on the six-year program will be done in Rancho Bernardo and El Segundo. The military’s use of unmanned aircraft has increased dramatically over the past decade, but adapting a robotic combat aircraft to Navy carrier operations poses a host of special challenges.

Jack-in-the-Box - San Diego, announced that third quarter profits increased 25%, beating analyst’s expectations.

Nereus Pharmaceuticals - San Diego: is a company that develops cancer therapies from marine microbails, announced that it has raised $45-million from a private placement stock offering.

Ardea Biosciences - has appointed Patrick M. O’Conner as Senior Vice President, Research & Preclinical Development, and Chief Science Officer.

Millennium Creative Group - a video production agency, has hired Jeremy Durant as Director of Business Development, and promoted Michelle Liszewski to Senior Producer.

Entropic Communications - has named Suzanne Aoumaras as Vice President of Human Resources.

The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau: ConVis has named Joe W. Carver as Chairman of the Board. ConVis promotes and markets San Diego County as a vacation and convention destination.

Valley View Casino - Valley Center, has named Judy Wright as VP HR. A member of the San Pasqual tribe, Wright has served on the San Pasqual Casino Development Group’s board of directors since 2005.

Novatel Wireless - announced that Thomas Wayne Harleman has been named VP Sales. Jon Driscoll is VP Product Management, and Julie Cunningham is VP Communications and Investors.

Verenium Corporation - San Diego, a biofuels company with a large research facility in San Diego, has named Nell Jones as Sr. VP of HR; Mark Eichenseer as VP Ops, and Kelly Lindenboom as VP Corp Communications, and Trent Saats as Senior Director, Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis.

Networkcar - San Diego, is a wireless vehicle management company, has named Craig Whitney as Director of Marketing.

RoyaltyShare - San Diego, is a company that thinks it has the solution for music royalties in the Digital Age. Bob Kohn is considered to be the guru of music royalties. Mr. Kohn started eMusic in 1998, and pioneered digital music that was selling song downloads a year before piracy enabled by file-sharing services such as Napster wrecked havoc on the music industry. Some independent record labels are still using Excel spreadsheets to calculate royalties. Not an efficient method. Kohn also co-authored, with his father, a 1,636-page opus called “Kohn on Music Licensing,” which is widely regarded as the bible on music royalties.

Althea Technologies - San Diego: is a company that provides services for drug development and manufacturing, has hired Karen Daniels as President of the Bio-Services Division.

CryoCor - San Diego: The GDA granted pre-market approval for CryoCor’s device that stops a type of irregular heartbeat by using freezing technology.
Invitrogen - Carlsbad: Shares of Invirtogen Corp., which develops tools for drug delivery and research, had the biggest one-day gain in four years after the company’s second-quarter earnings beat analyst’s estimates. Shares rose by 10%.

Novatel Wireless - San Diego, is a maker of wireless laptops and other mobile devices, has appointed Brad Weinert as president. Weinert, 48, has been acting CEO since October.

MC Consultants - Carlsbad, is a construction consulting company, and has appointed Ronald Withall to president and CEO. Kai Loedel has been appointed VP finance and CFO. Daniel R. Ducommun is VP sales and marketing.

Alphatec Holdings - is a medical device company focused on products for surgical treatment of spine disorders, has appointed Mortimer Berkowitz III Chrm of the Board.

Valley View Casino - has announced that Michael A. Gorcznski will serve as interim general manager. He will also maintain his role as CFO.

Phenomix Corporation - is a drug discovery and development company, and has named James Harper and William Harris to its Board.

Equastone - San Diego, is a private equity firm that focuses on real estate, and has acquired twelve (12) top-quality office buildings in suburban Dallas for $382-million. The deal, which includes 43 acres of vacant land for future development, is the largest purchase of office buildings so fr this year in Dallas. Earlier this year, Equastone paid more than $50-million for the 28-story Pam American Life tower in downtown New Orleans.

Senomyx, Inc., - San Diego, specializes in developing flavor ingredients for the food and beverage industry, announced that it has expanded a March 2006 collaborative research, development, commercialization and license agreement with Ajinomoto Co., an international food manufacturer. Under the expanded agreement, the two companies will work on the development and commercialization of novel flavor ingredients in additional product categories and geographies not previously licensed.
J. H. Cohn , a national independent accounting and consulting firm, has named Robyn Totino as audit manager for the firm’s San Diego office.

Halozyme Therapeutics - has named Walter Bee as vice president of preclinical development. The company also appointed Michael Haller as vice president of alliance management and portfolio development.

Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego,
which has developed technology to derive stem cells from fat tissue, said it has expanded its international distribution network for using its technology in reconstructive surgery, adding Belgium, Greece, Israel, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Taiwan.

Johnson & Jennings General Contracting - San Diego, has named Lee Dooney manager of field services.

The Grand Del Mar, has named Sunday P. Spencer its director of leisure sales.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, announced positive Phase 2 trial data on its experimental product for patients with progressive prostrate cancer. Those treated patients showed a longer survival rate and longer progression-free survival.

The Townsend Agency and JHG Marketing - San Diego: The two marketing firms have merged. The Townsend Agency focused on high-tech and biotech, and JHG had a strong stable of clients in the entertainment and sports businesses. Jackie Townsend Konstanturos will be EVP, while Jayne Hancock will be CEO of JHG-Townsend.

Cylene Pharmaceuticals - has appointed David M. Ryckman to vice president of manufacturing.

General Dynamics NASSCO - ship construction yard, has promoted Kevin M. Grancy to vice president of engineering.

Gafcon Construction Management - has promoted Penny Kronberg to third-party quaity assurance program manager in the San Diego office.

Novalar Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, said that it has licensed an exclusive worldwide deal with the Forsyth Institute to develop and commercialize a product for the prevention of inter-appointment pain and bacaterial reduction in root canals. The product, an antibiotic-impregnated ethylene vinyl acetate fiber, was originally developed by Forsyth Institute and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Novalar will have exclusive rights to the technology from the Boston-based Institute. Novalar will be responsible for all development and commercialization costs and activities. Forsyth will be entitled to milestone payments and royalities on products sold.

Cyntellect - San Diego, announced that it has completed a $15.l million round of private venture financing. Investors may also choose to commit an additional investment of up to $8.3 million. The company uses laser-based medicine and semi-conductor manufacturing technology for the analysis and manipulation of cells. The money will be used to hire personnel, expand operations, accelerate development and commercialization of products and explore novel application of the company’s technology.

Entrop Communications, a technology solutions provider for connected home entertainment, has named Charles Persico as VP of RF Engineering.

Maxwell Technologies - San Diego named David J. Schramm as president and chief executive officer.

Inovio Biomedical Corp. - San Diego, said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Genetronics, has entered into collaboration agreements with the National Cancer Institute and the International Aids Vaccine Initiative to evaluate Inovio’s electroporation technology for the deliver of DNA vaccines. Inovio’s DNA delivery systems deliver an electric pulse to a cell to make them more permeable for DNA-based immuno-therapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancers.

Ambrx Inc., San Diego - has appointed Stephen Kaldor as chief executive. Kaldor’s 20 years in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies include his most recent post as chief scientific officer at Takeda in San Diego.

ViaSat - Carlsbad: has agreed to acquire a Switzerland-based satellite antenna maker.

On Call Employee Solutions, San Diego: is a privately held staffing company, and has hired Frank Casella as senior vice president.

Cubic Corporation, San Diego: is a supplier of defense products, systems, and services to U.S. and allied governments in more than 50 nations, has named David W. Liddle, director of corporate communications.

Venture Capital Funding in San Diego at a six-year high. Region’s amounts are up by 44% for 3 months ending in June. A nationwide resurgence in venture capital funding for Internet media startups and related information technology companies kept venture capital investments at the highest pace since 2001. More than $382 million in funding is going to 27 startup companies.

Orange 21 - Carlsbad, said it is in preliminary discussion to acquire 40 stores in five states from No Fear, which sells action-oriented sports products, including Orange 21's Spy Optic sunglasses and goggles. Orange 21 said the discussions are being conducted by an independent committee of its Board. Orange 21 CEO Mark Simo also is the founder and director of No Fear.

Novocell - San Diego, a stem cell engineering company, said it has closed $25 million in financing that included participation by existing investors Sanderling Ventures, Asset Management Company, and Pacific Horizon Ventures, was led by Johnson & Johnson Development Corp.

Quidel - San Diego, is a diagnostics maker, and announced that it has licensed the exclusive, worldwide rights to antiviral resistance influenza detection development technology developed by scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder, in close collaboration with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

San Diego and UCSD: The city of San Diego and Connect, the UCSD program in entrepreneurship, along with other local governments and research institutions, announced the formation of CleanTECH San Diego, a nonprofit organization to support the development of environmental technology businesses in the region. Duane Roth, chief executive officer of Connect, was named interim chairman of CleanTECH.

Sempra Generation - San Diego, is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, said that it has signed a 20-year agreement to provide Southern California Edison with up to 250 megawatts of electricity from the wind farm the company is planning at La Rumorosa in Baja California. Sempra announced that it had purchased co-development rights to the project from Cannon Power, a wind farm developer. The companies hope to complete the project by 2010.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - said it will receive $26.5 million from New Jersey-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals as its portion of a transaction between Alnylam and Roche Holding AG. Under a 2004 licensing agreement, the Carlsbad biotechnology company granted Alnylam rights to its intellectual property in return for cash and financial participation in future transactions that deal with Isis patents.

Ambrx - San Diego, announced that it will collaborate with Merck Sereno, an affiliate of the German drug company Merck, to develop Ambrx’s long-acting growth hormone products.

Althea Technologies - San Diego, which provides services for drug development and manufacturing, said that it has contracted with Atlanta-based GeoVax Labs to manufacture its HIV-1 DNA vaccine.

Aethlon Medical - San Diego, announced that it will pursue the commercialization of its first-generation Hemopurifier in India during the next year. This strategy correspondents with Athelon’s international objectives and will parallel the company’s effort to advance the Hemopurifier as a counter-measure against bioterror and pandemic threats.

Acadia Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, is developing treatments for central nervous system disorders. Acadia has started its first Phase 3 trial, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pimavanserin, as a treatment for parkinson’s disease psychosis. There is no drug approved in the USA for treatment of Parkinson’s psychosis.

Orchestra Therapeutics - Carlsbad, has reported positive data from its completed Phase 2 study of NeuroVax, an investigational vaccine that aims to stop the progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

General Atomics - San Diego, works on creating new technologies in lasers and optics, helping the US effort to stop Iraq bombs. As a privately held government contractor, General Atomics generally maintains a low profile with its diversified work in industries that include nuclear energy, electromagnetic systems, and robotic aircraft. The company’s unmanned Predator spy plane is essential for the US military operations, and has lifted the veil on an internal “skunkworks” it formed to develop new technologies in lasers and optics. The idea is to change the Predator from a TV camera in the sky to a high-precision strike aircraft.

Advanced BioHealing - San Diego, said that it has raised an additional $4.5 million in a second tranche of its Series C financing from Safeguard Scientifics, a funder of growth-stage technology and life sciences businesses, as announced by CDIB BioScience Ventures, a fund in Taiwan. The total raised in the round is $30 million. Proceeds will be used for marketing for Dermagraft, approved by the FDA as a treatment for diabetic foot ulcers.

San Diego County’s American Indian Casino Industry - continues to be poised for continued growth. The county has eight (8) casino, with many of them growing into resort destinations, with a workforce now exceeding 10,000. A recent report by Alan Meister for 2006-2007 “Indian Gaming Report” published by Casino City Press, reports that California casino revenue grew by 24% between 2004 and 2005, to $7.2 billion - that’s “billion” with a “B.” The state had 57 casinos then.

Casinos in San Diego County: include (1) Sycuan Resort, (2) Jamul, which as yet has no casino, and many community residents are fighting its, the Tribe is talking about developing a casino-hotel complex that would fit on the 6-acre American Indian reservation off Route 94. (3) Viejas with a new casino wing that was completed last spring, and (4) Golden Acorn, which is east of Interstate 8. (5) Barona Valley Ranch and Casino has been around since 1983. (6) Valley View, which has a huge expansion presently underway. (7) Harrah’s Rincon. Harrah’s has installed a new second-floor ballroom to accommodate events. In the summer, it plans to introduce poolside table games.(8) Pauma - In June 2007, the Pauma Band of Mission Indians, which runs Casino Pauma, announced plans for a new casino and 500-room hotel to be built in conjunction with the Mashantucket Pequot tribe of Connecticut. The $300-million project would require about 2 years of construction, with a planned opening date in 2009. (9) Pala - construction of a $100-million expansion at the Pala Casino Spa Resort is expected to be completed in mid-2008.

Intellidot Corporation - San Diego, is a start-up health information technology device company that uses Caret, which is a hand-held wireless device that nurses can use to ensure patients get the right dose of the correct medication at the right time. Patients wear a bar-coded wristband that is scanned with the device. Caret can also be used to monitor vital signs of patients or to ensure the proper amount of blood is drawn from the correct patient. CEO Thomas Kolpack likes to call his company the “medical iPod” because of its portability and user-friendliness. Chief Operating Officer is David Swenson.

Paul Ecke Ranch - Encinitas, is one of the world’s largest poinsettia producers (as well as other flowers). Owner is Paul Ecke III.

American Property Management Corporation - is one of San Diego’s largest hotel companies, and is reportedly getting even larger and going international with the acquisition of properties in Los Angeles and Cancun, Mexico. It also has plans to buy several more soon. The firm, which is headquartered in La Jolla, is headed by Michael Gallegos, President and CEO>

Adventrx Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, is developing therapies for cancer and infectious diseases, said that it has finalized a R&D agree-ment that allows the Department of Veterans Affairs clinical sites to participate in the company’s Phase 3 clinical trial of ANX-510 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Adventrix said it has clinical trial agreements with 3 regional VA centers. By working with the VA centers, the company said it expects to speed enrollment in its clinical trials. More than 1200 patients will be enrolled in the trials to study the effects of ANX-510 in combination with chemotherapy agents.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, has invested $10-million in BioSeek, a Bay Area company with which it is collaborating to look for possible new drug compounds. Amylin brings its library of proprietary polypeptide hormones to the partnership. And BioSeek brings its BioMAP screening system. The BioMAP is a human cell-based screening system. The cells can be exposed to different compounds, so that the changes created in the protein levels within the cells can help determine which biological pathways are being affected.

Orexigen - San Diego, is a company that develops therapies for obesity and disorders of the central nervous system.

Nanogen - San Diego, is a diagnostics maker, and has said that it may periodically sell up to $50-million in common and preferred stock. The company said the proceeds from the shelf offering would be used for working capital, acquisitions and other general purposes.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that Alaska Pipeline Service Company had renewed a contract to outsource its information technology services with SAIC. The single contract is valued at $35 million. If all options are exercised, the total value of the contract could reach $49 million.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command - San Diego, has awarded a $7 million contract to Harper Construction Company for renovations to bachelor enlisted quarters at Camp Pendleton. The work is expected to be completed by 2008.

Slacker.com - Rancho Bernardo, is an internet start-up company run by Dennis Mudd, Jim Cady and Jonathan Sasse, that specializes in placing customized radio. The company is betting that customized radio, where listeners have a good deal of control over what artists they listen to while still leaving room to discover new music, is in the future. And the San Diego internet start-up has an ambitious plan to deliver this next generation of Weg radio wherever and whenever customers want it - be that on their computers, in their cars, or on mobile devices.

Northrup Grumman’s Air Combat System - San Diego, has been awarded a $11.45 million contract by the Air Force. Under the contract the company will provide two Global Hawk robotic spy planes equipped with improved, integrated sensors that will include technology for eves-dropping and processing electronic transmissions.
SAIC - San Diego: The Pentagon’s Defense Supply Center Philadelphia has awarded a $27 million contract to San Diego’s SAIC for maintenance and repair and operational supplies. The company will provide services for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies.

General Atomics - Two industrial buildings in Poway have been sold to an affiliate of General Atomics. The defense contractor’s property arm, Sorrento West Properties, Inc., bought the buildings, totaling 409,105 Sq.Ft.

Qualcomm - San Diego wireless technology giant Qualcomm is planning to launch a mobile network that would allow people to use their cell phones to manage myriad health issues including diabetics dieting. Called LifeComm, the service would offer cell phones that could double as glucose meters to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetics, track aerobic activity in dieters or otherwise function as a medical device.

Cardium Therapeutics - said it has begun recruiting patients for its Phase 3 clinical trial of its lead product candidate, Generx, in women for treatment of myocardial ischemia - insufficient blood flow within the heart muscle - gives rise to angina associated with coronary heart disease. Generx is designed to promote angiogenesis, a natural process of blood vessel growth within the heart muscle, following a one-time treatment through a standard cardiac infusion catheter.

La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology - Dr. Matthias G. Von Herrath, a professor of developmental immunology, has received the Scholar Award from the Juvenile Diabetics Research Foundation. The award provides sustained support for individual scientists researching a cure for Type 1 diabetes and its complications.

Jack in the Box - San Diego, has continued its sizzling performance streak, besting Wall Street estimates for the second quarter with profits rising 25%.

SYS Technologies - San Diego, is an information analysis software firm. SYS has announced an increase in sales of $19.1 million.

RedHill Realty Investors - San Diego, is a real estate investment firm, and has announced that it has purchased Flagstone Apartments in Tempe, AZ for $35 million. Flagstone is the third apartment complex that RedHill has purchased in the greater Phoenix area.

Xenonics - Carlsbad, is a maker of high-intensity flashlights and other devices, has reported a second quarter sales increase.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, has partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb, and BMS will pay Isis as much as $183-million in a collaboration to develop heart drugs. Isis will get $15 million at first and as much as $168-million for meeting goals in developing a treatment. Bristol-Myers will gain access to research on drugs targeting an enzyme that helps regulate the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. The level of bad cholesterol is severely high in people with too much of the enzyme, PCSK9, the companies said. Isis will also get at least $9 million in research funding over three years and royalties on sales of any products from the collaboration.

WebWideStory - San Diego, shares surged more than 25% on Wednesday, 5/9/07 after the company boosted its revenue forecast. The company also said that it would change its name to Visual Sciences, and announced several new products, including software to analyze data not only from Web sites but also from more traditional sources, such as call centers.

Intercasting Corp. - San Diego, a mobile software company, has raised $12 million in a second round of venture capital funding. The round was led by Venrock, a global firm that was originally the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family. Intercasting makes a mobile software system called Rabble that allows users to access social networking and other information from mobile devices.

Nanolithosolution - Carlsbad, is a startup that has signed a licensing agreement with Hewlett-Packard for a new imprint technology used to stamp out patterns on chips that are literally atoms wide. The technology, developed at HP Labs, allows for patterns that are significantly smaller than those available today, according to HP. The company says it can produce patterns for “wires” on chips as small as 15 nanometers - or about 50 atoms wide.

General Atomics - The Air Force will buy four more unmanned Predator spy plants from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for $59 million, for the Predator Bs, an advanced version of the plane that General Atomics has built for more than a decade. They are scheduled to be built by the end of 2009. In 2005, the service announced plans to spent $5.7 billion over the next 5 years to buy 144 Predators - enough to add 12 squadrons of the robotic aircraft for use in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat areas.

Victory Pharma - San Diego: is a privately held company, and has announced that it had acquired the exclusive US marketing rights to Naprelan, the only once-a-da-branded formulation of naproxen sodium, a pain reliever.

Equastone - San Diego, is a real estate investor, and has completed raising money for its second fund to purchase commercial real estate. The Equastone Value Fund II received more than $150 million of equity commitments from a mix of high-net-wroth individuals and institutional investors. Equastone is run by David Bourne and Chad Carpenter and invests in real estate assets nationwide.

Biocom - San Diego: A job search Web site launched by Biocom, the San Diego region’s biotechnology industry trade group, aims to make getting a lead on a job or a new employee a one-stop process. The site www.BIOCOMCareerCenter.org, lists more than 700 jobs at Calif biotechnology, medical device, as well as pharmaceutical and supply companies. The postings range from entry-level postings, such as internships, to high level jobs in management and scientific research.
Rogers-Quinn Construction - Bonsall, has received a $18.3 million contract from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (San Diego) for the design and construction of an amphibious facility at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Work is expected to be completed by October 2008.

Vical - San Diego, which is developing vaccines, announced that it has signed a research and development agreement with the Naval Medical Research Center to explore the use of the company’s Vaxfectin adjuvant with experimental DNA vaccines against malaria.

Anadys Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, announced that it plans to develop the drug candidate ANA-733 as an oral therapy for cancer. The company said it plans to file an application with the FDA to begin clinical trial in the second half of this year (2007). The company cited preclinical studies showing the compound promoted natural anti-tumor responses.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that it has won a contract from the Air Force to provide engineering and technical support services. The time-and-materials contract has a one-year base term and could be worth as much as $394 million if the Air Force exercises all four one-year options. Under the contract, the company will provide services for command, control, computers, intelligence, war-gaming and force protection. The work will be performed primarily in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and Korea.

aTyr Pharma Inc. - San Diego, a privately held company developing a novel class of naturally occurring protein biologies for human therapeutics, said it has closed a $10.5 million Series B financing.

Qualcomm - San Diego, is making inroads into underdeveloped areas by providing cell phone coverage to areas that have previously been almost isolated from the world.

Kyocera - San Diego, reports that its raw material problem has been resolved and is ready to procees with plans to more than double its annual production of solar panels by 2011. Kyocera Solar, the fastest-growing unit of San Diego’s Kyocera International, said it will invest about $250million to expand production capacity at its manufacturing plants in Tijuana, Japan, China and other sites.

Favrille - San Diego, is developing patient-specific immunotherapies to treat lymphoma, said its study results show its method for growing key therapy proteins has better activity compared with a competitor’s method.
ViaSat - is a satellite equipment maker. ViaSat announced that it has been selected to develop the satellite ground equipment for the military communications system upgrade. ViaSat will build a prototype network and terminals designed to increase capacity and improve accuracy over the current system. The $9.3 million initial contract comes from Northrup Grumman Corp.

Rogers - Quinn Construction - Bonsall, has been awarded a $13.1 million contract by the Naval Facilities Engineering in San Diego for design and construction of a regimental maintenance complex at Camp Pendleton. The work is expected to be completed by 2009.

GenVault Corporation - Carlsbad, is a company that provides room-temperature biosample management, announced that it has closed an $18million funding round. The funds will be used to accelerate commercialization of GenVault’s proprietary technologies.

General Atomics - San Diego, has been awarded a $10.7 million contract from The Naval Sea Systems Command for research and development work for the Navy’s next generation integrated power system.

Harper Construction - San Diego, has been awarded a $43.4 million contract by the U.S. Army Engineer District in Tulsa, OK, for renovation of Officer and Enlisted family quarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The work is expected to be completed by 2009.

Cubic Defense - San Diego, announced that it is the subcontractor for work related to operating and maintaining the Fort Lewis Battle Command Training Center. The U.S. Army awarded the prime contract, which has four one-year options and a maximum value of $39.8 million to SAIC. Cubic said its share could be as much as $19.9 million if all options are exercised.

Invitrogen Corp - Carlsbad, which develops tools for drug discovery, announced that it will partner with Emiliem Inc. To screen the multikinase inhibitors using Invirtogen’s proprietary technology. Invitrogen will perform biochemical kinase screening, cellular pathway profiling and screening of Emiliems’s compounds targeting cancer.

Diversa - San Diego, develops special enzymes for use in the biofuels industry, announced that it had closed a $100 million private placement. The company plans to use the funds for continued expansion of its biofuels business, including a previously announced merger with Celunol, a Massachusetts-based company.

Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego, develops a technology to derive stem cells from fat for use in plastic surgery and cardiac applications, said Green Hospital Supply, a leading Japanese medical-equipment supplier, will buy 1 million shares of Cytori stock for about $6 million.

CONNECT - San Diego: In an effort to bolster San Diego’s position as an important center for technology and life sciences, local business organization CONNECT has unveiled a new quarterly index that will track and monitor the creation of new technology companies within the county.

Tragara Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, is a privately-held company that is developing therapies for treatment of cancer and inflamatory diseases. It has closed a $40-million Series A financing. The company said it plans to use the funding for clinical-state development of its lead product, TG01. Tragara formerly launched operations on Jan 2nd.

General Atomics - San Diego, has been awarded a $43.7 million contract modification for two Predator B robotic aircraft by the US Air Force.

SAIC - San Diego, has been awarded a $122-million contract by The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN. Under the deal, SAIC will provide engineering, technical and program support services for information operations, including electronic warfare.

Northrop Grumman - Rancho Bernardo: The U. S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $287-million contract for the next production lot of Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems. The high-tech spy vehicle is made at the company’s Rancho Bernardo site.

Red Door Interactive - San Diego, is a part Web site developer, and part online advertising agency. Red Door guilds Web sites and creates e-mail newsletters for its clients. It also pays attention to what bloggers are saying about a company. And it analyzes traffic to the company’s Web site to determine what, if anything, about the site is alienating potential customers and would more in more. Red Door helps devise internal Web pages that can help increase efficiency among the company’s employees.

Ligant Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, which underwent major management and business restructuring in recent months, reported a 4th quarter profit of $141.4 million, compared with a $2.8 million loss that the company recorded in the 4th quarter 2005.

DivX - San Diego, is a video compression and technology company, said that it has teamed with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to bring premium CBC content to the DivX online site. Under a licensing agreement, CBC has launched a channel on DivX Stage6, that will provide entertainment and news, including the broadcaster’s flagship nightly news and current affairs program, “The National.” Users must download a DivX software player to view the content.

CONNECT - has elected five new members to its 60-member Board of Directors, including people in law, education and the high-tech industry. The new members include Craig S. Andrews of Heller Ehrman LLP; Karen B. Dow of Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP; Arthur B. Ellis of University of California San Diego; Susan H. Show of Maxim Systems; and Taylor Wray of Marsh. Connect CEO Duane Roth said the caliber of the new board members will enhance the organization’s efforts in 2007 to unite the best entrepreneurs in San Diego with the resources they need for success through programs such as Springboard and the Venture Roundtable. “Our new board members - two lawyers, a vice chancellor of research, a CFO and a managing director - represent a breath of experience and range of perspectives,” Roth said. “Their contributions will improve the effectiveness of Connect’s programs, which turn innovative ideas into successful products.”

CONNECT - and Blue Mine Group, are local trade groups, and have announced that management of the CEO Strategy Forum, a think tank program for CEOs of emerging technology companies, has been transferred from Blue Mine Group to Connect. Blue Mine Group is a San Diego firm that specializes in taking innovation to market, founded the exclusive 70-member organization in 2005. The program was designed to help members explore effective, actionable answers to the core strategic challenges their companies face, through informative workshops, roundtables, Webinars and publications. The forum also provides a venue where its members can share insights and experiences with a high-caliber group of peers in an informative and confidential setting.

SAIC - San Diego, (NYSE: SAI), announced it has won a contract from the Department of Homeland Security to provide security services to customs and border protection. The single-award time and materials contract has a one-year base period and four one-year options, and a total value of $39.2 million, if the customer exercises all options. As required by the customer throughout the contract, SAIC will perform work including: certification and accreditation, security risk assessments, security test and evaluation, system architecture, communication security services and technology policy and administration.

LM Capital Group - San Diego, is a fixed-income investment manager for institutional clients, announced that it has received $118-million in additional assets from the Illinois State Board of Investments. This latest investment increases the total ISBI assets to approximately $288 million invested in LM Capital Group’s Intermediate Fixed-Income investment strategy. LM Capital Managing Director John Chalker said: “We are very pleased to be entrusted with these additional funds from ISBI. It’s a great vote of confidence in our firm and our investment process when an existing client allocates additional funds to us. The firm’s intermediate fixed-income strategy utilizes a long-term macro-economic, fundamental investment approach incorporating global scenario planning to assemble portfolios representing the most attractive fixed-income investment opportunities.

Torrey Pines Therapeutics, Inc., (Nasdaq: TPTX) announced that it has initiated a second phase 1 clinical trial of NGX426 a novel product candidate intended to treat chronic pain conditions such as migraines and neuropathic pain.

Hollis-Eden - San Diego, (Nasdaq: HEPH) said its study results demonstrated that its Acute Radiation Syndrome drug candidate Neummune, significantly improved survival in clinically unsupported rhesus monkeys and with radiation-induced myelosuppression. The data will be published in “International Immunopharmacology.”

The Asian Business Association of San Diego (ABA), received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. San Diego County Chairman Ron Roberts presented ABA with a proclamation for outstanding service, leadership and commitment to area residents.

SAIC - San Diego, (NYSE: SAI) announced that it was one of four companies awarded an indefinite-delivery-quantity joint test and evaluation contract to provide joint-military environment process planning support services to the Department of Defense’s Joint Test and Evaluation Program Office. The multiple-award contract has a five year base period of performance with five one-year options for a maximum of $465 and $93 million for each one-year option.

Diversa - San Diego, announced that it has made a development agreement with Bunge Oils to work on new enzymes for the production of edible oil products with nutritional or health benefits. Edible oils including bottled vegetable and cooking oils and products derived from soybeans, corn, rapeseed and other oilseed plants. Diversa received an undisclosed technology access fee and will receive full research funding for its enzyme discovery and development activities in the project. The company is also eligible for milestone payments and royalties on products that may be commercialized.
Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego, said MBA Grupo would distribute its Celution System in Spain, Italy and Portugal beginning in 2008 for reconstructive surgery applications. The company’s system pulls stem cells from fat tissue and delivers the patient’s own cells in about an hour. MBA Grupo will oversee product sales, education and training for breast reconstruction following partial mastectomy and for other reconstructive applications in the future.

SAIC - San Diego, has won a prime contract from the Army’s Information Technology, E-Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center to provide information technology services. The three-year program, with an option of being extended for as many as six years, has potential total value of $20-billion for the 16 contractors involved. SAIC’s services will include business process re-engineering, information systems security, enterprise design and project management.
Kilroy Realty Corp - has purchased 4 parcels totaling 24 acres in Carlsbad Oaks North Business Park on Faraday Avenue between El Camino Real and Melrose Drive in Carlsbad. The real estate invest-ment trust, one of the largest office landlords in San Diego, paid $16 million for the land, according to Colliers International, which handled the transaction.

BioMed Realty Trust - San Diego, has signed new, long-term leases with Illumina, a developer of tools for analyzing genes, for about 195,000 square feet of office and laboratory space at the company’s Towne Centre Drive property in San Diego.

ViaSat - Carlsbad, is a satellite equipment maker, and has acquired privately held Intelligent Compression Technologies for $20-million in stock and cash. ITC develops data compression technique, advanced transport protocols and systems to increase speed for telecommunication services.

BioMed Realty Trust - San Diego, is a property owner that leases space to biotechnology and drug companies. It will buy all of Lyme Properties LLC’s real estate for $511 million.

The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology - the San Diego academic-industry-military consortium known as CCAT, said it has made business service awards to two small companies, Avaak and Lextel Intelligence Systems. CCAT awarded the San Diego-based Avaak a market research study that will examine industry pricing, competitors and market readiness for the company’s ultraminiature wireless sensor network. CCAT granted Lextel market research and planning services that will help the Jackson, Miss., company expand hyperspectral imaging technology designed to detect chemical and biological weaons, as well as improvised explosive devices. The CCAT program is sponsored by the Department of Defense.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, said that the FDA approved a revision in the company’s procedures for customers of its diabetic drug Byetta. The injection pen now can be stored at room temperature after its first use. The pens still must be refrigerated until their first use. The company was pushing for this approval in order to make its diabetes treatment more convenient.

Athea Technologies, San Diego, said that in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute it has developed a molecular diagnostic tool that is capable of differentiating the various types of childhood cancers. The cancers, which affect about 3,000 children annually, are known as small round blue cell tumors and are difficult to characterize using routing laboratory methods. Althea’s molecular test can differentiate the common forms of the disease.

SAIC - San Diego - received a 2 ½ year $13.5 million contract from NASA to support the Johnson Space Center in Houston. SAIC, an engineering and technical services company, said the contract could total as much as $25-million with two one-year options.

The Pentagon - is requesting $7.4 million in fiscal 2008 for its Center for International Issues Research, which advises senior U.S. government leaders about trends in foreign media coverage. The center, based in Alexandria, VA, is operated under contract by SAIC. It reports to the office of the under-secretary of defense for policy. The center also develops public-affairs and information-operations strategies overseas.

Nexcore Capital - San Diego, is a investment banking firm, and has announced that it helped obtain $35 million in venture-capital funding from a private investor on behalf of NovaRx Corp. a privately-held San Diego-based biotechnology company developing cell-based therapeutic vaccines for treatment of cancer. The money will enable NovaRx to fund final Phase 3 clinical trials on its drug to treat advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

K-2 Inc., - Carlsbad, is a sporting goods company, announced that it boosted its fiscal 2006 profit outlook and said that it anticipates higher earnings in 2007 on its global sporting-goods business and brand strength.

SAIC - San Diego, won a contract to help Michelin North America supply tires for all U.S. military vehicles. Michelin recently announced it won a $1.7 BILLION, 10-year contract to provide ground tires for all four branches of the armed forces. SAIC said its subcontract has a five-year base term and one five-year option, with a total value of more than $300 million if all options are exercised. Under the terms of the contract, SAIC will manage the logistics of storing and distributing the tires around the world.

Qualcomm - San Diego, has landed another fig contract in the race to bring TV to cell phones. AT&T’s Cingular Wireless announced it will begin offering mobile TV later this year over a network owned and operated by Qualcomm. Cingular is the largest US wireless carrier with 61-million subscribers, Verizon Wireless is #2 with 59 million subscribers, and had previously selected Qualcomm’s nationwide MediaFLO network to deliver TV to cell phones.

Diversa - San Diego, is a bio-technolgy company once known for searching the world to find unique enzymes to make better drugs, is now hoping to be the leader in a hot emerging market: biofuels. Diversa announced that it would buy privately-owned Celunol of Cambridge, Mass., creating the nation’s first end-to-end biofuels processing company to turn plants and plant waste into energy. By 2009 the company hopes to have built the first of several biofuel plants, each of which would turn corn husks, switch grass, wood pulp and other biowaste material into 25 to 30 million gallons of ethanol a year to be added to gasoline, helping ease the nation’s demand for foreign oil.

M ShipCo., San Diego, is a company that specializes in pioneering unorthodox designs in the field of naval engineering. Bill Burns, co-founder and Executive Director, has recently designed a break-through ship that has tunnels that channel the bow wave, generating both hydrodynamic and aerodynamic lift.

Favrille - San Diego, reports that its non-Hodgkins lymphoma drug candidate produced a rapid immune response in patients. The San Diego-based company said the long-term follow-up data from the Phase 2 clinical trial showed that nine of 15 patients treated with Favid remained in remission 61 months after receiving transplants of their own stem cells and high dose chemotherapy. Favid has received fast-track status from the Food and Drug Administration.

Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego is speeding up by almost 2 years its plan to market its device to extract stem cell from fat to help reconstruct breasts damaged by cancer surgery. The company plans to start European sales of its Celution system next year. The system was used last year in a Japanese clinical trial. Cytori has European regulatory approval to use its system in breast reconstruction, cardiovascular disease and orthopedic applications.
ING Clarion Partners - an institutional real estate advisory firm, has paid $61.6 million for the Plaza Del Mar III office building in Carmel Valley. The purchase price of $539 per square foot is believed to be the highest ever paid for San Diego office property on a square-foot basis. The structure is 100% leased.

Via Sat, Inc., - is a company which makes satellite communications products, said it landed an order worth more than $12-million from Taiwan for information distribution system terminals. The company will provide Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense with more than 70 terminals that are akin to on-aircraft satellite modems.

The Irvine Company - continues to gobble up office space in San Diego, saying that it would buy 21 buildings formerly owned by Equity Office Properties. The Newport Beach-based Irvine Company real estate giant will acquire the properties from Blackstone Group, a private-equity firm that recently bought Equity Office for $39 billion in the largest leveraged buyout ever.

Strreamload - San Diego, is a company that provides on-line data storage.

Nascent Food Service, a company seeking to become one of the largest food distributors in Mexico, has opened a warehouse and distribution center in Ensenada. Opening the distribution center furthers its goal of becoming the first national distributor of imported food products in Mexico. Nascent has five other distribution centers in San Diego, Miami, Tijuana, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Penasco.

General Atomics - San Diego, said that The Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala, has awarded a contract modification worth $20.7 million to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of San Diego. The contract calls for logistics support for the IGNAT, a robotic surveillance aircraft. Most of the work will be done in San Diego, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

Micromet - Carlsbad, is a biotechnology company that is developing antibody-based treatments for cancer, inflammatory and auto-immune diseases, said it has received a payment from Morphotek for licensing an option to the Pennsylvania company for an antigen that could treat melanoma and other cancers.

Connect - San Diego, is a non-profit economic development program for start-up life science companies in the San Diego region. Ms. Camille Sobrian is Chief Operating Officer. Sorbian will oversee Connect’s 15 programs and new initiatives to broaden participation.

Northrop Grumman, Unmanned Systems Development Center of San Diego – has been awarded a Navy Contract for $16 million for two Fire Scout robotic helicopters to help the Navy in refining use of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Including this award, the Navy has nine (9) Fire Scouts under contracts. System design work on the Fire Scout is performed at the Unmanned System Development Center here in San Diego. The Fire Scout is assembled at the Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Mississippi. The MQ-8B model Fire Scout successfully completed the first series of autonomous flight testing at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in December.

General Atomics - San Diego, has received a $10.7 contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command. The integrated power systems research and development contract provides funding for work on electric ship technology, including electric propulsion, power conversion and distribution, combat system support and mission load interfaces. The work, to be performed in San Dieto, is expected to be completed by December 2011.

SAIC - San Diego, has teamed with Computer Sciences Corporation for systems engineering and technical support for the US Ballistic Missile Defense System. The $151-million contract calls for a one-year base period and four one-year options, Computer Sciences Corporation is based in El Segundo.

Strategene - San Diego, is a company that makes tools for drug delivery, said it had obtained the last of four (4) licenses to move more than 150 microRNA sequences available from the technology transfer agency of the Max Planc Society. MicroRNAs are believed to regulate many genes, which make then good indicators for disease. Strategene is specifically interested in their association with cancer. The company plans to use the rights to the microRNAs for development of molecular diagnostic kits.

Arena Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, said it had completed enrollment of the first of three planned Phase 3 trials evaluating its lead drug candidate, lorcaserin hydrochloride, for the treatment of obesity.

Sunset Parking San Diego, is owned and operated by founder Michael Harth, 47. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UCSD in 1981, Mr. Harth has built Sunset into a $15-million business with 350 employees with more than 100 locations throughout San Diego, Orange Counties, Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

Cytori Therapeutics, San Diego, said it treated the first patient in its clinical trial investigating the safety and feasibility of using Stem Cell taken from fat as a therapy for cardiovascular disease. The study will enroll patients suffering from chronic myocardial ischemia, a severe form of end-state coronary artery disease. Patients in the study will receive their own adult stem and regenerative cells, which is expected to avoid the risk of rejection or disease transmission that exists with doner stem cells and the controversy associated with embryonic stem cells.

MediVas - San Diego, announced that it would collaborate with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals on development of biopharmaceuticals that extend the duration of action of recombinant factor treatments for hemophilia. MediVas will use its polymer-based drug delivery system. It will receive milestone payments and royalty payments. Wyeth will research, develop, manufacture, and market products derived from the agreement.

CardioNet - San Diego, is a private company that uses wireless mobile system to monitor patients with irregular heartbeat.

Cardium Therapeutics - San Diego, and its operating unit, InnerCool Therapeutics, said they plan to launch two next-generation medical device systems designed to modulate patient temperature. Both systems are expected to be cleared for market launch within the next few months.

Viking Systems - San Diego, is a company that makes vision systems for minimally invasive surgery.

Strategene Corporation - San Diego, is a company that makes tools for drug delivery, and has announced that it’s 4th quarter sales increased by 7.2% to $24.7 million.

Information Systems Laboratories - San Diego, announced that it recently won several European contracts for systems that process data from underwater sensors used in anti-submarine warfare. The company reported contracts from the French navy and German navy, each valued at $2-million.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals - which has research and development facilities in San Diego, said it has received an approval letter from the FDA for a new formulation of its antipsy-chotic drug FazaClo. FazaClo is a form of clozapine, which is used for the management of severely ill schizophrenic patients. The FDA identified specific information it wants provided to consider final approval of the drug.

ImageWare Systems - San Diego, said it had received two new orders totaling $280,000 from an undisclosed US governmental agency and a large systems integrator for the company’s identity management software system. The company said its system uses multiple biometric features.

MediVas - San Diego, is a company developing drug delivery platforms, and announced that it has signed technology evaluation and option agreements with Merck & Co. The agreements focus on several orally available biologics delivered using MediVas’s proprietary polymer delivery system. Under the agreement, MediVas will receive an upfront cash payment, as well as research funding and milestones during the evaluation period.

William J. Von Liebig Center - is a grant-making nonprofit affiliated with UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering. Paul Kedrosky is the center’s Executive Director. Some of the highlights include:

$ More than $2.4million has been awarded to 56 projects. An additional 25 projects have benefited from the von liebig Center’s advisors.

$ More than 30% of all projects have resulted in some form of commercialization.

$ Fifteen (15) of the von Liebig-supported projects have been converted into startup companies.

$ In the past 2 years, start-up companies have received von Liebig support have raised more than $10-million in capital.

$ More than 200 alumni have gone through von Liebig educational programs.
In grants of no more than $75,000, the von Liebig Center aims to foster a business incubator on campus. The scientists – only UCSD faculty are eligible – do not receive the entire grant at once. They must meet milestones set by the advisors, to become eligible for the next grant installment. When the funding runs out, they can apply for another grant from the center.

RQ Construction - Bonsall, was awarded a contract worth almost $15.8 million by the US Army Engineer District in Los Angeles for construction of an Army global information center and network operations facility.

Celgene - San Diego, receives royalties on sales of Focalin, an attention deficit disorder drug sold by Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG.

Invitrogen - Carlsbad, sells tools for drug delivery, announced that it will collaborate with Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas on gene and protein expression, which are key functions of the disease. The research will include biology related to diabetics, cancer and steroid hormone-related metabolic disorder.

Cubic Defense - San Diego, has received contracts worth more than $24 million for defense training systems. The Simulation Training and Instrumentation command for the Army’s program executive office ordered the company’s Engagement Skills Trainer 2000, which teaches marksmanship skills, squad-level collective defense and judgmental “shoot–don’t shoot” tactics.

Cubic Defense - San Diego, said the Marine Corps has expanded its training contract with Cubic’s defense unit to include training for Marine Corps advisors to indigenous security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cubic started training the Marines in June under a $3.4 million modification to its Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Systems Support contract. When it was awarded in 2003, the potential value of the contract was $82 million over 5 years.

Protein Polymer Technologies - San Diego, is a biotechnology company specializing in protein design and synthesis, said that it and the University of Arizona have an agreement under which it will provide genetically engineered protein polymers to the university aerospace and mechanical engineering department. The University plans to design and test the properties of protein-based biomaterials and scaffolds for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

vMix - San Diego, is an Internet video firm, and has announced that it has signed a deal with the Internet arm of the Tribune Company, who are publishers of the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, and other newspapers, to allow visitors to the newspapers’ Web sites to post videos and other content. vMix will provide a so-called “white label” technical backbone for posting video, photographs, comments on stories, blogs and forums.

Ashworth Inc., - Carlsbad, has hired company founder John Ashworth to work as a consultant. Ashworth sold all of his stock in the company ten years ago. Now, at the beckoning of new management, Ashworth is back. CEO Peter M. Weil, who took over as in October, said Ashworth’s return is part of the company’s plan to reconnect with its core constituency, avid golfers and “green grass” shops at golf courses and country clubs. Ashworth is being hired to serve as an external ambassador for the company as well as to work on design decisions.

Alphatec Holdings, - Carlsbad, is a spinal device company. Alphatec announced that it has signed three license agreements with Scient’x to manufacture and distribute spinal surgery implants in the United States.
Qualcomm - San Diego, announced better-than-expected earnings. Buoyed by continuing strong demand for next-generation wireless phones, the company said net income rose by 5% from a year ago, while revenues jumped 16%.

California Stem Cell Research Scientists - got a major boost thanks to new policies announced by a University of Wisconsin agency that controls the patents on the cells. The policy changes and clarifications include one that is specifically directed at California: The tax-payer funded California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will not have to buy a license to distribute funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Larry Goldstein is a University of California San Diego stem cell researcher who lobbied for the stem cell initiative, said “Hallelujah” when the decision was announced.

Two San Diego biotechnology companies ranked among the top 10 deals in the last three months of 2006 for a nationwide surge in venture capital funding for healthcare technologies. A $100-million investment in Kalpsys ranked as the single biggest deal nationwide during the 4th quarter, and propelled San Diego to a strong finish for the year. Another San Diego biotech, Verus Pharmaceuticals, also placed in the top 10 with a $55-million deal.

Pat & Oscar’s - San Diego, is making some changes to its management team as it prepares for an aggressive expansion push. The San Diego restaurant chain plans to open two new restaurants by May 2007, one in San Marcos at The Grand Plaza Shopping Center, and the other one in The Village at Eastlake in Chula Vista. The company hopes to add as many as six new restaurants in 2008 and as many as eight new restaurants in 2009.

The Irvine Company - is an Orange County real estate giant, and also downtown San Diego’s largest office landlord – has purchased a prime development site for a major new tower, a 1.5 acre site at the northeast corner of Broadway and Pacific Highway. Irvine could build a tower 480 feet tall – nearly as tall as the 34-story One American Plaza.
The maximum square footage of the structure could exceed 650,000, based on current regulations. Charles Black is Irvine’s Senior Vice President for San Diego.

Jay Paul Company - a Bay Area real estate firm, has amassed more than 105 acres in Rancho Bernardo, and plans to redevelop the industrial property as corporate campuses.

The Active Network - San Diego, is an internet business that provides online services and marketing for sporting events and community services. Active announced that it has acquired Cool Running, a Web-site for runners. Cool Running is based in Londonderry, NH. Active Network said the deal would expand its access to thousands of running events and enable the company to expand its online event registration business.

UCSD, Burnham, Salk & Scripps recently formed a consortium that brings them all together to share grant money they might receive from California’s stem cell institute. Under the agreement they would also share their different expertise and bring together scientists from many different disciplines, including those who specialize in stem cells, informatics, developmental biology and different biologic systems.
All the expertise will be needed to eventually bring new therapeutics from stem cells to market, said Mark Mercola, a Burnham scientist who is among the training grant recipients. Frederick Lo, a 25-year-jold graduate student with a degree in bioinformatics, is the new face of a new training program funded by California’s taxpayer-funded stem cell initiatives. Lo has been developing computer systems that simulate biological reactions and record how different molecules react during different experiments.
Lo has started working with stem cell lines at the Burnham Institute, thanks to the joint venture program that has been designed by the four major research institutes in Torrey Pines that is being paid for with training grant funds from California’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Lo is one of 32 scientists of all experience levels and expertise who have been selected to participate in the first joint project of the San Diego Stem Cell Consortium.

PriceSmart - San Diego, which operates 23 warehouse club stores in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, reported that profit more than doubled for the first quarter to $4.1 million. Revenues rose 19.1% to $202.5 million from the year-ago quarter.

Proprius Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, announced that it has raised $11 million from venture capitalists to fund development of its experimental drug, Indaflex, to treat osteoarthritus of the knee. The privately-held specialty drug company said the financing agreement allowed for a potential $6 million in additional funding. Investors included Atlas Venture and Forward Ventures.

Viking Systems - San Diego, has adapted military technology to let surgeons be more precise and less invasive during surgery. Surgeons using the system slip a pair of sophisticated goggles over their heads, and the surgeon is immersed in the patient. Projected before the Doctor in three-dimensional video, is a view of the operation from within the patient’s body. The image is projected to the headset in visual stereo by two tiny cameras inserted through tiny incisions into the patient, just as their surgical tools are inserted below the skin. Chief Executive Officer Donald Tucker said the company is now set to be profitable in 2007.

MediciNova - San Diego, said that it has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan. The specialty pharmaceutical company said the unit, called MediciNova Japan, will strengthen business development and investor activities in Asia. MediciNova has four ongoing partnerships with Japanese pharmaceutical companies.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that it has won a contract from the U.S. Army Research and Development Command Acquisition Center at Maryland’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The contract, to provide program management, integration and site services for the Army Chemical Materials Agency, could be worth as much as $250million over the next five years.

San Diego Convention Center - issued a forecast for a record-breaking 2007. With 65 conventions scheduled, the Center said it expects 582,000 out-of-towner attendees. That is an increase from 2006.

Cytori Therapeutics - San Diego, announced that it has received approvals to start a clinical trial in Spain to investigate the safety and feasibility of using stem cells from fat for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The trial will use the company’s proprietary Celution system.

NextWave - San Diego, is a developer of mobile broadband and wireless multimedia products, technologies and services, said that it will pay $13.3 million to acquire privately-held Go Networks, a Mountain View developer of products for providers deploying campus or municipal Wi-Fi systems, will become a NextWave subsidiary.

SAIC - San Diego, won a contract to help the government defend against possible chemical, biological, or nuclear attacks. SAIC will help the federal Defense Department Threat Reduction Agency develop an Internet-based system for assessing and responding to attacks that use weapons of mass destruction. The contract will last for 3 years, with an optional f-year total period of performance. If all options are exercised, the contract will have a value of $53.9 million.

CONNECT - San Diego, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining the growth of innovative technology and life science businesses in San Diego.
Since 1985, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of over 1,000 companies and is widely regarded as the nation’s most successful regional program linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success.
Its programs include: Springboard, Venture Round Table, Frontiers in Science and Technology, FrameWorks, and Connect with Advanced Technology (CCAT), Tech Coast Angels (TCA), and MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF); and its awards and recognitions programs, Hall of Fame and The Most Innovative Products (MIP) Awards.

SYS Technologies - San Diego, is a leading provider of information connectivity solutions that enable real-time, complex decision-making, announced receipt of a five year contract with an estimated value to SYS of $5,000,000 (five million) to team with Unisys in providing information technology support to the Department of Treasury, Treasury Bureaus, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies.

Mitek Systems Inc. - San Diego is a leading provider of check image analytics and intelligent character recognition software, announced that the company has been awarded its first patent for the invention of a “System and Method for Check Fraud Detection Using Signature Validation;’ further reinforcing the company’s innovative leadership in image-based forgery detection. The invention also provides a method of validating the authenticity of a signature on a check by comparing the actual signature against the fingerprint, thus rendering the check self-authenticating.

SmartDrive Systems Inc., - a leader in drive risk management systems and services, announced that it has been awarded a contract with the State of California and the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). CALTRANS will begin using SmartDrive’s high-tech video-capture hardware and professional incident review services in early 2007. The contract was awarded to SmartDrive following a length competitive bidding process required by the state. The SmartDrive service captures video events of erratic driving and speeding and then professionally reviews and rates these events for subsequent driver counseling. All video and diagnostic data can be viewed by fleet/risk/safety managers by simply logging on to the SmartDrive secure website.
The Smart-Drive in-vehicle unit is mounted behind the rearview mirror and consists of two, tiny cameras: one camera pointing forward, one pointing at the driver. SmartDrive is continuously recording, so “events” – such as tailgating, swerving, speeding, or a collision – are recorded and saved 15 seconds before the event and 15 seconds after it.
The system also features multiple panic buttons, which allow drivers to record and document the behaviors and incidents of other drivers or passengers.

ViaSat, Inc. - Carlsbad, will supply its LinkStar DVB-S2 satellite networking system to Unete Telecommunications, S. A., Bolivia, to expand its enterprise broadband services in Ecuador and the surrounding region, and specifically, for its recently awarded Telecentros Comunitarios Ecuador contract.

INDUS Technology, Inc., - San Diego, announced that they were selected by NUWC Keyport as the winner of a SEAPORT-e Task Order to provide Administrative Support Services to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC) in Keyport, Washington.
This Task Order consists of a one year base period, four one-year option periods, and a ceiling of approximately $9-million dollars. INDUS is a premier nationally recognized provider of quality professional services for industry and government.

SYS Technologies - San Diego, announced that it is a member of the winning team of SAIC to support the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center, with a total value of $1.9 million for the three-year base, with an option period of two additional years.

ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, has received a $4.6 million order from the Defense Communication and Army Transmission Systems for MD-1366 Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modems. The modem is the new Department of Defense standard for high-speed satellite communications at fixed sites, on Navy ships, and for the future Wideband Global System.
Overland Storage - San Diego, is a leading provider of tape- and disk-based backup and recovery solutions. Ideally suited for small or medium-sized businesses, as well as remote offices of larger organizations, the ARCvault family combines high-capacity, affordable storage with unsurpassed simplicity to reduce overall data protection costs and complexities.

BakBone Software, a global provider of heterogeneous integrated data protection solutions, announced a strategic worldwide technology licensing and distribution agreement with Sun Microsystems, giving Sun’s customers more choices in backup, restore and disaster recovery solutions. According to Jim Johnson, BakBone’s president and CEO, this agreement reflects several years of ongoing technical collaboration and business development between the two companies.

Kintera, Inc., announced the immediate availability of gadgets designed to leverage constituents’ non-profit fundraising involvement on social networking pages, such as My Space, Facebook or blogs.
The initial gadgets launch marks the power of their constituent’s social networks for fundraising and engagement efforts.
More than 15,000 accounts in the nonprofit, government and corporate sectors use Kinera’s “software as a service” innovations.

MobileLabs Group, with offices in San Diego and Los Angeles, is the creator of the “Mobile on Demand” TM concept, has launched a US subsidiary, ModeLabs Inc., to provide customized handsets to the Americas. A new generation player and pioneer among CDMs (“Customized Design Manufacturers”), ModeLabs Group designs, develops and markets unique, branded handsets together with relevant accessories and content, all customized to the needs of key consumer segments. The company also provides distinctive private label phones for retailers.
The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) announced that the University of San Diego has become the latest university to connect at Gigabit speeds to its high-performance California Research & Education Network (CalREN).
University officials are delighted at the significant cost savings and greatly improved research, instruction, and collaboration abilities that accompany the institution’s new broadband connectivity to CalREN. CalREN began operation in 1998 and has grown into a state-spanning fiber-optic network serving nearly all California’s research and educational institutions, including California’s Community College system, the California K-12 system, the California State University’s 23 campuses, and the University of California’s 10 campuses.
Chartered in 1949 and with present enrollment of over 7500 students, the University of San Diego is known for its commitment to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community, and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.
The university offers more than 60 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

ImageWare Systems - is a leading developer of identity management solutions, announced that Computer Sciences Corporation has selected the IWS Biometric Engine to be a part of CSC’s Border and Immigration Solutions (BIS) Center of Excellence. The IWS Biometric Engine will be among the platforms CSC deploys for developing biometric identity management systems and border security solutions that will enable the government agencies to achieve safer borders and immigration goals. The BIS Center of Excellence is designed to help government organizations achieve their border and immigration goals by deploying solutions that factor risk into the management of identities and associated permissions and enable the improvement of person-centric management systems. Through the application of rigorous methods to establish civil identity credentials, the BIS Center of Excellence uses best-of-breed, commercial-off-the-shelf technologies to meet the challenges of visa application processing, border event case management, and immigration services delivery and enforcement. The goal of the BIS COE is to apply CSC’s world-class expertise and experience in providing identity-based risk assessment solutions, immigration IT infrastructure modernization, business process transaction planning, and secure inter- and intra-agency data sharing of the problem of large-scale civil and commercial identity management.

San Diego Convention & Visitor Bureau says that San Diego’s tourism economy will remain strong in 2007, even as the area grapples with a big increase in the number of hotel rooms. The forecast said an additional 2300 hotel rooms will increase the market as high-profile projects such as the Grand Del Mar Resort & Spa, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Diegan open. Overall the number of hotel rooms will grow by 2%, while ConVis projects that the number of visitors will increase by 1.8%. Occupancy rates will stay at around 73%.

Shidler Group - San Diego, is a real estate company buying 15 office buildings for $187 million. The Shidler Group purchased the structures in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties from Arden Realty, a firm that was acquired this year by General Electric.

Biocom - San Diego, is a local biotechnology industry trade group, that is currently making efforts to bring more venture capital firms to San Diego. Ian Wisenberg is Senior Vice President of Business Development for Biocom.

Websense - San Diego, is a maker of Web-filtering and security technology, has announced that it is acquiring Palo Alto-based PortAuthority Technologies for about $90 million in cash. The move is another step by Websense to increase its profile in the computer security field. Websense has hired McAffee President Gene Hodges as its chief executive and introduced its proprietary Threat-Seeker technology that determines what Web sites are security threats. Privately held PortAuthority Technologies makes “leak-prevention” software that monitors confidential computer data and prevents employees from copying, e-mailing or distributing it without authorization. The PortAuthority deal is Websense’s first acquisition.

Diversa Corporation - San Diego, announced that the FDA has approved its Purifine enzyme for edible oil applications. The biotech company said the enzyme is designed to increase the oil yield and reduce by-products during the oil-refining process for food or biofuel applications.

MidiciNova - San Diego, said that it has launched a mid-stage Phase 2 study of its drug to treat asthma. The drug, MN-221, will be tested as an intravenous infusion. An infusion may bypass constricted airways and deliver more effective concentrations of the drub to the lungs. The drug is also being developed as a treatment for pre-term labor.

Illumina - San Diego, announced that GlaxSmithKline will buy 1,o000 of its gene-variation tests in what the company termed a multimillion-dollar deal. The San Diego biotech company’s BeadChips products are used for determining the genetic makeup of disease samples. Pharmaceutical company Glaxo-SmithKline recently expanded the scope of a multi-year genotyping agreement with Illumina.

Quidel - San Diego, announced that it has gained an exclusive worldwide lease to influenza detection technology developed at the Univ. of Colorado, in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Mchip technology has been validated by the CDC for the testing of avian flu. The technology correctly identified 24 strains without false positives.

SYS Technologies - San Diego, said it is part of a team lead by SAIC to support SPAWAR, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego. SYS said it got a subcontract with a potential value of $1.9 million to provide engineering development and other services to SPAWAR’s Defense Solutions Group Submarine Communication Information and C41 System Divisions.

ViaSat - Carlsbad, a maker of satellite communications products, announced that it received a $6,000,000 contract to install its satellite networking system from Bolivian-Based Unete Telecommunications SA. It will be installed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and surrounding areas.

Maxwell Technologies - San Diego, announced that a European wind-energy company has placed a record order for 3 million of its “D cell ultra-capacitors to provide backup power for wind turbine blade pitch systems. The value of the contract, over a 2 year period, should be in the $10 to $15 million range.

Gen-Probe - San Diego, announced that it has formed an exclusive worldwide collaboration with 3M to develop, manufacture and market nucleic acid tests to improve food safety and testing.

SAIC - San Diego, said that the US Army Research Lab has ordered 23 ruggedized mobile vehicle and cargo inspection systems. Proprietary SAIC technology will enable military units to inspect cargo containers, trucks and other vehicles by creating computer-generating images much like an X-ray. The contract was valued at $38 million,.

Aethlon Medical - San Diego, said it will collaborate with the National Institute of Virology
in testing the company’s Hemopurifier technology as a potential treatment for dengue hemorrhagic fever. The Institute is a leading infectious-disease research center in India and is designated as a collaborating laboratory of the World Health Organization.

Northrop Grummon - San Diego, has been awarded a $6.6 million contract by the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The contract provides for engineering changes to prepare a Global Haw high-altitude robotic surveillance aircraft for multi-platform radar technology, as well as preliminary modifications for a second Global Hawk aircraft. The work is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

The Active Network - San Diego, a company that provides Web-based services to coordinate sporting events and community services, has acquired two (2) small online service firms. Acquired were PreEnroll, a firm with seven (7) employees that provides online registration services, and SPORG, a firm with 25 employees that develops online data collection and transaction processing systems. The Active Network said it plans to incorporate both firms’ technologies in the online services that it provides. The company now has 535 employees, including about 185 in San Diego.

Websense - San Diego, Its ThreatSeeker technology is aimed at sniffing out malicious sites as well as blocking pornography. As part of the company routing of viewing and categorizing 85 million Web sites a day, the Websense Security Labs also determine which sites are computer security threats. The idea is to use Websense’s patent-pending technology ThreatSeeker to find security risks before the company’s customers, or even anti-virus runs or firewall software makers, run across them.

Signal Engineering - San Diego, has received a contract from the US Air Force to develop a personal locator beacon to replace the unit that is included with survival equipment issued to aircrews. Under the $594,000 contract, the beacon will provide search and rescue and satellite-aided tracking capabilities, along with multiple homing signals to help locate and rescue downed aircrews.

SAIC - San Diego, has signed a contract to support the integration of the Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defense capability for NATO. The contract calls for a 6-year period with an estimated value of $95 million. Under the contract, SAIC will support NATO plans to connect national weapons systems, sensors, battle management, command control and communications into an integrated defense of military forces and critical assets.

Wireless Facilities - San Diego, is a designer, builder and operator of wireless networks for business and government. Wireless has been awarded a $35.8 million contract with the Army Aviation and Missile command. Under the 3-year contract, a Wireless Facilities division will develop processes and procedures for the overhaul and repair of short-range air defense missiles. In addition, the company will design, manufacture, and install test equipment required for the overhaul and repair activities.

CryoCor - San Diego, said that it has filed an amendment to its application for approval of its device to treat atrial flutter. The medical device company said that it expects the Food and Drug Administration to take 6 months to review the application.

Orexigen Therapeutics - San Diego, raised $30-million in a private placement of stock. The company is developing drugs to treat obesity, and the money will be used to advance its two leading drug candidates, Contrave and Excalia.

DivX - San Diego - makes a software package, called codec, for compressing and decompressing high-quality digital video. Using DivX, digital video files are shrunk by cutting out redundant material. DivX claims its technology can squeeze a full-length DVD down to about one-tenth of its original size while maintaining high quality. Over the past couple of years, DivX has pursued a strategy of getting its technology licensed by makers of DVD players. DivX’s compression technology is on 50 million devices, with DVD makers such as Philips, Samsung, JVC, Toshiba and LG Electronics leading the way. In Europe, about 80% of the DVD players contain DivX software. In the USA, it is about 20%.

D’Volada - Tijuana, is a franchise operation that is spreading across the border into San Diego and California. About 12 people so far are planning to operate franchises on the US side of the border. The company offers coffee drinks at prices less than $4 (designed to undercut Starbucks).
Charlotte Russe - San Diego, announced that sales of “wear now” clothing to young women during the critical back-to-school season helped the company quadruple profits in its 4th quarters. The apparel company said it earned $24.3 million, or 97 cents a share, for the period ending September 30th. Charlotte Russe, which targets older teens and young women with value-priced trendy items, said same-store sales climbed 7.4%.

Qualcomm - San Diego, won a key account recently when Motorola agreed to use the company’s chips in cell phones for networks that use a fast-growing cellular technology. The company also announced its latest all-in-one cell-phone chip and its plans to make chips that would allow handheld video-game systems, PDAs and other mobile devices to access the Internet over cellular networks.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that it plans to acquire Applied Marine Technology, Inc., of Virginia Beach, VA. With more than 500 employees, AMTi provides a broad range of special warfare products and services to customers in military, law enforcement and intelligence. The firm ofers special warfare training and exercises, systems engineering and integration, information systems and communications and other services and products.

Isis Pharmaceuticals - Carlsbad, announced promising test results for an experimental, cholesterol-lowering drug, which sent the price of shares soaring by 20%.

Illumina - San Diego, announced it would acquire Solexa of Hayward, in order to broaden its genetic research tool line. The merged company is to be based in San Diego and will have all three pillars of moden genetic research: namely, tools used by academic and commercial researchers for gene
sequencing, gene expression and geno-typing.

PriceSmart - San Diego, which operates 23 warehouse club stores in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, reported a fourth-quarter profit of $3.4 million, or 12 cents per share.

SAIC - San Diego, announced that it has acquired AETC, Inc., a San Diego firm that provides remote sensing systems and related services for the Department of Defense. All 46 employees of AETC will form a division led by former AETC president Joseph Sabatini that will be absorbed by SAIC’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Group. SAIC said the acquisition strengthens its expertise in antisubmarine warfare systems, and offers opportunities for detecting buried objects.

Anadys Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, and partner Novartis AG said that they have started animal tests of a hepatitis C treatment; a 13 week toxicology test in animals with a new form of the drug.

Inovio Biomedical Corp. - San Diego, announced that it has granted Wyeth Pharmaceuticals a nonexclusive license to use its DNA delivery technology to develop DNA vaccines. Wyeth will pay Inovio a $4.5 million upfront license fee, annual license maintenance fees, research support and up to $60 million in payments based on successful completion of clinical and regulatory milestones.

SAIC - San Diego, was awarded a $25 million contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Space Vehicle Directorate. SAIC will design, build and test an infrared sensor assembly for use in space.

SAIC - San Diego, was awarded a $19.8 million contract by NASA for aircraft operations systems support.

BAE Systems - San Diego, said its San Diego business has been selected to produce equipment to protect US Air Force F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. The pods provide self-protection for combat aircraft and air crews against radio frequency threats such as radar-guided missiles.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command - San Diego, has awarded a $12.5 million contract to IE Pacific for construction of a special operations force urban terrain training complex at San Clemente Island. The work is expected to be completed by November 2008.

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals - San Diego, announced that the US government indicated that it will award tentative contracts for potential drugs to treat radiation sickness by the end of January 2007.

Ambit Biosciences - San Diego, announced that it has signed a drug discovery and development deal worth up to $250 million with Cephalon, a Pennsylvania-based biotech company.

Airsis Technology - San Diego, is a start-up company with 20 employees, and provides real-time information about crude oil tankers and other ships operating in the Sabine-Neches Waterway near Beaumont, Texas. About 85% of the 2000 ships that ply the narrow Sabine-Neches Waterway every year are crude-oil tankers with tight shipping schedules. After reviewing an online mapping system Airsis had developed, called “Port Vision,” which is a system that combines real-time satellite mapping system with an online searchable database.

Neurocrine Biosciences, San Diego, is a biotechnology company that is betting on a fast-acting version of its drug, Indiplon, a sleeping pill which is aimed to induce but not necessarily maintain, sleep.

Qualcomm - San Diego, announced that its 4th quarter profits rose 14%.

Venture Capitalist - funding rebounded sharply in San Diego during the three months that ended September, with investments in several local startup companies ranking among the biggest deals nationwide. The San Diego bounce came amid the strongest performance the venture capital industry has seen since 2001. A $55 million investment in The Active Network, a San Diego Web business that provides services for recreational sporting events, ranked as the country’s 9th biggest deal in a third-quarter survey released. In San Diego County, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers found venture firms had invested $292.5 million in 27 startup companies during the quarters. That compares with $215 million in venture funding for 38 startsups in the 3rd quarter of 2005. Of the top deals in Southern California, San Diego accounted for four (4) of the seven. Prominent San Diego deals included:
$ $48 million in funding for NovaCardia, a biotech developing drugs to treat cardiovascular disease.
$ $31 million for Kemia, a biotech developing specialized drugs initially for acute heart care.
$ Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals, a biotech developing specialized drugs for treating cancer.
Venture capital firms continued to favor making investments in bio- pharmaceutical companies and information technology startups, including web-based businesses.

SYS Technologies - a San Diego government contractor specializing in information technology, won a $21.6 million software development services contract with the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego. Over the 5 year contract, SYS Technologies said it will provide engineering support for command, control, communications, computer and intelligence software applications and database systems.

K2 Inc., Carlsbad – a sports equipment maker, announced that third quarter earnings rose 29% as its winter sports business surged. Richard Heckmann, CEO, said the company’s many products range from skis to skateboard shoes to paintball equipment. Marine and outdoor products, which include such brands as Shakespeare fishing tackle, had sales of $80.8 million for the 3rd quarter a 2.1% increase from 2005. Team Sports, which includes such brands as baseball glove maker Rawlings, recorded a 2.4% increase to $64.5 million as the souvenir and paintball businesses offset declines in softball and baseball products. Apparel and footwear had net sales of $62.1 million, a 18.8% junp. The increase was the result of Marmot winter outwear sales.
Artes Medical - San Diego, received federal approval to market a cosmetic filler to ease so-called “laugh lines,” clearing the way for the company to compete with popular anti-wrinkle treatments such as Botox. The product “ArteFill, is a mixture of tiny plastic beads suspended in bovine collagen that, when injected into the skin, is designed to plump up wrinkles.

Leap Wireless International - San Diego, announced that it has received about $249.9 million in proceeds from the issuance of 6.19 million shares to Goldman Sachs Financial Markets and Citibank. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the issuance was related to settlements of a portion of the company’s forward sale agreements entered in August. The wireless communications service provider said it intended to use the proceeds to pay a portion of the final balance that one of its unit owes for auction licenses and for general corporate purposes.

General Atomics - San Diego, was awarded a $33.9 million contract by the Department of Homeland Security to provide two Predator B robotic aircraft for use by Customs and Border Protection. The unmanned surveillance aircraft, along with ground control station, support equipment and other technology, will be delivered in the fall of 2007.

Illumina - San Diego, announced that Duke University’s Center for Human Genetics, has selected it for an autism study of more than 1800 individuals and their families. Identification of genes contributing to a complex disease like autism could lead to development of better diagnostic tools.

Viking systems - San Diego , is developing 3-D and 2D vision systems for use in minimally invasive surgery.

General Atomics - San Diego, a privately-held company, has announced that it has consolidated its electromagnetic systems division into a 150,000-square-foot leased building in Rancho Bernardo. The newly constructed building will serve as a division headquarters, with about 250 of the company’s 3,325 employees. The division develops advanced electromagnetic systems for military and commercial customers.

St. Bernard Software - San Diego, is a company that specializes in security technology for small and medium-sized enterprises, said it has agreed to acquire Singlefin, a La Jolla provider of security and business services. St. Bernard, which has more than 160 employees, plans to move Singlefin’s seven full-time employees into its San Diego headquarters. St. Bernard said the acquisition improves its position in providing hardware, software and on-demand delivered security services.

Starsys, - Poway, is a division of SpaceDev, and has been awarded a contract worth $6.3 million by NASA’s Gooddard Space Flight Center and Swales Aerospace. Under the contract, Starsys will provide the solar array drive, antenna pointing actuators and gimbal control electronic assemblies for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbitor.

General Atomic’s Aeronautical System - San Diego, has been awarded three (3) contracts worth nearly $82million. The contracts were awarded by The Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Under one contract valued at $38.4 million, the Air Force made a commitment to acquire 15 unmanned Predator aircraft and spares, with the work to be completed by 2010. Under another contract, the Air Force for $27.6 million, for four (4) aircraft maintenance test stations, two mobile ground-control stations, two fixed ground-control stations and five dualcontract stations for operating Predator aircraft. Under the third contract, the company was awarded almost $15.8 million to procure 18 ground data terminals and related ground support equipment.