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IDX Systems Acquires Wake Forest University Spinout PointDx
IDX Systems Corporation (www.idx.com), a Vermont-based provider of healthcare information systems, has acquired Winston-Salem's PointDx, Inc (www.pointdx.com) a Wake Forest University spinout that develops structured medical reporting technology. PointDx's flagship product, REX, offers a unique workflow solution that integrates the processes of analyzing images and creating reports into a single step.

IDX's purchase price of PointDx will be decided based on management's estimates and independent appraisals, which are currently underway. The purchase price is expected to be approximately $8 million, according to company reports. The transaction will be paid out over the course of an earn-out through 2005. IDX anticipates a fourth-quarter cash payout of approximately $3 million.

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Lauraan Corp to Acquire Raleigh's Syslync
Colleyville, Texas-based Lauraan Corp. has signed a letter of intent to buy Raleigh-based Syslync, a home technology provider. Lauraan Corp. will purchase all outstanding shares of Syslync with Lauraan shares, and also will assume the company's debt. Specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Syslync currently has 15 employees and about $1.5 million in annual revenue. Lauraan executives say the deal will not result in any layoffs, and the firm will likely hire four to six more employees for the Raleigh office.The transaction is part of Lauraan Corp.'s plan to build a national footprint of home technology companies, Johnson says. He says the firm already has made two acquisitions and has two more in the pipeline. Lauraan Corp., which currently employs 20 people, hopes to have locations in 25 to 30 markets in the U.S. in the next couple of years.

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Optinfo Acquired by Jack Henry & Associates
Charlotte-based Optinfo (www.optinfo.com), a provider of software and services for financial institutions, has been acquired by Missouri-based Jack Henry & Associates (www.jackhenry.com). Optinfo will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jack Henry. Additional terms of the aqcuisition were not disclosed.

Optinfo offers programs that are used for reconciliation, exception processing, and management of other data elements that reside within financial organizations. The company's nBalance technology is currently employed by over 35 financial institutions for compliance and risk-related process improvement.

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Trimeris and Roche Launch New Program for Fuzeon HIV Drug
Durham-based Trimeris (www.trimeris.com) and its partner Roche (www.roche.com) are making the HIV drug Fuzeon available immediately to AIDS patients who are starting treatment that includes Fuzeon and an investigational treatment. This FUZEON Accelerated Simultaneous Access Program (ASAP) will be recommended for patients with moderate treatment experience and documented drug resistance. The hope is that employing a regimen with two active agents may help to maximize virus suppression and limit further drug resistance.

The program will provide Fuzeon for up to 60 days at no costs and included at-home nurse visits to help facilitate Fuzeon injections. FUZEON, co-developed by Roche and Trimeris, is the first and only fusion inhibitor for the treatment of HIV.

Trimeris is a CED Member.

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United Therapeutics Gets FDA Approval for Remodulin
United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR, www.unither.com), has received an approval letter from the FDA for the intravenous dosing of Remodulin, the company's treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension. United Therapeutics, which has its headquarters in Maryland and R&D operations in the RTP, had filed a supplemental NDA 10 months ago. With the FDA's approval, Remodulin is now available for commercial intravenous use.

The FDA approval letter did not request additional clinical trials of intravenous Remodulin, but the company will conduct a Phase 4 post marketing trial as part of the FDA's accelerated approval regulations. United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on combating chronic and life-threatening cardiovascular, vascular and oncological diseases.

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Bayer Biological Inks Technology License with Zilip-Pharma
RTP-based Bayer Biological Products (www.bayerbiologicalsusa.com) has signed a commercialization and development deal for a new hemophilia treatment with Dutch company Zilip-Pharma. The deal is an exclusive, global technology license to develop a longer lasting version of Bayer's Kogenate product. Upfront and milestone payments from Bayer to Zilip-Pharma could total $100 million plus royalties from sales of the new product.

The companies are hopefully that the licensing agreement will be a breakthrough that will allow hemophilia patients to only one treatment injection per week. If successful, the breakthrough could replace the use of long-term intravenous catheters and simplify the lives of thousands of hemophilia patients worldwide.

Bayer Biological Products is a CED Member.

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etrials and Quintiles Negotiating Licensing Agreement
Morrisville-based etrials Worldwide, Inc. (www.etrials.com) has announced discussions with Quintiles Transnational Corp. (www.quintiles.com) on a proposed three-year licensing and technology sharing agreement to develop a post-approval e-clinical platform. In addition to the proposed licensing commitment and technology, etrials would receive contract backlog for existing and future client work to be run on the joint technology platform.

Under the proposed terms, Quintiles would execute a three-year subscription license for etrials' fully integrated suite of eClinical tools. Additionally, etrials and Quintiles would also jointly develop a post-approval data capture and trial management system. This would further integrate both companies' technologies and would serve as a portal for Quintiles' clients to review and report critical data throughout the trial process.

Quintiles Transnational Corporation is a CED Member.

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3DSolve Cracks Military Training Technology Top 100
For the second year in a row, Cary-based 3Dsolve (www.3dsolve.com), a provider of simulation-based learning and training, has been ranked in the Top 100 list for Military Training Technology magazine. In this year's rankings, the company received a blue ribbon for innovation. 3Dsolve has signed several contracts with the US Army and US Navy as well as other clients.

According to Military Training Technology officials, 3Dsolve is using its simulation-based learning technology, including 3-D and gaming-based programs, to change the way that the military, government and industry learns. The magazine considered more than 300 companies for the list. Selection criteria included total military sales, end-user feedback, innovation, and need for the solution.

3DSolve is a CED Member.

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Events Update

12/9

CED Information Session for Prospective Members

12/10

CFO Roundtable: Mergers & Acquisitions - part 2

12/13

Biotechnology Forum: Meet the New Venture Funds

12/15

Technology Forum: Best Practices in Off Shore Outsourcing

12/31

Second Application to Present Deadline for CED's Venture 2005

1/27

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