NewsFlash Roundup: Accucom, Spire, Millennium

In today’s NewsFlash Roundup, Accucom changes its strategy,  MassTLC names award nominees, and Spire gets a loan.

• Accucom’s SafeID protects identity in e-commerce

Accucom Corp. launched a new business model this week, hoping to provide e-commerce retailers with an easier way to figure out just who they are dealing with.

Until now, the Boston-based personal data clearinghouse has dealt mostly with private eyes, curious neighbors and protective fathers-in-law eager to pry into an individual’s background using its network of public and private sources.

• MassTLC names Technology Leadership finalists

MassTLC announced finalists in the categories of private sector company, public sector organization, CEO, innovator and CIO of the year. The next batch of finalists — for the categories of emerging innovative company, CTO, investor and emerging executive of the year — will be announced July 16. Winners will be announced November 5.

• Millennium rebuked by FDA over labeling

Federal regulators have taken Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. to task over an advertisement for the company’s multiple-myeloma drug Velcade, calling the promotion “false or misleading because it overstates” the product’s efficacy.

The promotional materials in question were mailed to doctors ahead of the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. Typically, such so-called “reminder labeling” is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

• Spire lands expanded $8M loan

Spire Corp., the Bedford-based solar panel equipment maker, has expanded its existing line of credit to $8 million with Silicon Valley Bank. The revolving credit facility adds $5 million of export-import credit facility to the company’s existing $3 million credit. 

Officials at the solar equipment manufacturer said the loan will be used to add liquidity and grow the company.

• UMass awards $1M grants to spur R&D

The 15 grants range in size from $15,000 to $170,000, and include projects in biofuels research, green computing, personalized cancer therapy, green jobs and entrepreneurship.

Posted by Brendan Lynch

Tags: Accucom, MassTLC, Millennium, Spire, UMass Amherst

This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 12:48 pm and is filed under Education & Training, Energy, Envirotech, Financial Services, Public Policy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.