THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Biotechnology giant Amgen announced this month that it will expand its manufacturing capacity in Puerto Rico, a move expected to cost $1 billion and take four years to complete.
The company, which has a manufacturing plant in West Greenwich, said in a news release that it is increasing its manufacturing capacity to meet the global demand for its products.
“By significantly increasing capacity in Puerto Rico and elsewhere around the world, Amgen enhances its ability to supply every patient, every time, with our vital medicines,” said senior vice president Fabrizio Bonanni. “We also position ourselves to deliver on Amgen’s rich and diverse pipeline.”
In Puerto Rico, Amgen expects to enlarge its Neupogen and Neulasta bulk protein manufacturing facility.
KVH, Microsoft to sell Internet access on boats
MIDDLETOWN – The Microsoft Corp.’s MSN TV unit and KVH Industries Inc., a maker of satellite communication equipment, have teamed up to sell “affordable” high-speed Internet access to boaters through on-board televisions or Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
KVH’s Mobile Internet Receiver with MSN TV service, a customized version of the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player, will provide access to Web browsing, e-mail, messaging, digital photo viewing, audio and video, the companies said.
“Today’s consumers expect to be able to stay connected while they’re on the go in their vessels,” said Sam Klepper, general manager for MSN TV.
The service will leverage existing broadband data services offered by several major cellular providers, KVH and Microsoft said, providing speeds comparable to residential DSL service. A special antenna will provide extended range for vessels cruising farther offshore.
Wi-Fi phone revenue seen doubling in ’06
LONDON – Revenue generated by Wi-Fi phones sales jumped 76 percent between 2004 and 2005 to $102.5 million and is expected to double in 2006, according to a report by California-based Infonetics Research.
The report, titled “Wi-Fi Phones Biannual Worldwide Market Share and Forecast,” projects that LAN revenue will hit $1.9 billion by 2009 as businesses continue implementing the systems.
The report also projects that voice over wireless will eventually catch on with consumers and has potential to grow as part of a Voice over Internet Protocol service bundled with broadband connections.
“Voice makes wireless LANs more desirable and mobility makes VoIP more valuable” said Richard Webb, an analyst for wireless broadband at Infonetics Research, in a news release. “It is natural that they are converging into a powerful enterprise mobile voice solution.”
Raytheon lands $31M submarine contract
WALTHAM, Mass. – The Raytheon Co. has been awarded a $31 million contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command for integrated combat control systems for the next five Virginia class submarines.
Wednesday. Work on this and other submarine combat system programs is performed at Raytheon’s Maritime Mission Center in Portsmouth, R.I.
Under the contract, Raytheon will also provide combat control system modernization and technology updates for the first two submarines of the Virginia class, the USS Virginia (SSN 774) and USS Texas (SSN 775).
“This contract further validates Raytheon’s prime role, delivering a comprehensive, integrated solution that has become the combat control baseline for the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet,” said Dan Martin, IDS vice president of Maritime Mission Systems.
Hasbro licenses games to Real Networks Inc.
PAWTUCKET – Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, announced this month that it entered into a licensing agreement with Real Networks Inc. that will bring Hasbro’s best-known game brands online.
“Our agreement with RealNetworks – a leader in the online digital media arena – is one more example of Hasbro’s commitment to expand our presence in the digital media space with many of our popular toy and game brands,” said Jane Ritson-Parsons, president of the Hasbro Properties Group. “We see the online digital media space as a natural complement to the lifestyle experiences that we’re providing to consumers in a variety of categories.”
MultiCell ends contract due to low royalties
LINCOLN – MultiCell Technologies, a biopharmaceutical company and supplier of human cell lines for drug research, says it has terminated an exclusive license agreement with Kansas-based XenoTech, effective Jan. 31, for “failure to meet minimum royalty obligations.”
Under a 2003 agreement, XenoTech got a seven-year exclusive right to distribute MultiCell’s proprietary liver cell lines to researchers around the world. In exchange, XenoTech paid MultiCell $1.5 million, partly as an advance against future royalties, MultiCell said. But XenoTech also had to pay a minimum of $18 million more in royalties over the term of the deal. Now, MultiCell President Stephen Chang said, the company will sell the cells directly.
“We believe our immortalized human hepatocytes are ideal products, which help to fill a currently unmet need within the pharmaceutical industry,” Chang said. “We believe that one of MultiCell’s greatest strategic advantages is our management team’s ability to move quickly to complete transactions, as evidenced in the past six months. We plan to take advantage of this strength by taking direct control of the marketing and selling activities for this key product.”
