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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim Oral Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitor and Polymerase Inhibitor Combination Shows Rapid Viral Response without Use of Pegylated Interferon

New, phase Ib trial data evaluating investigational oral hepatitis C compounds presented at AASLD 2010 Annual Meeting
 
BOSTON & INGELHEIM, Germany, Saturday, October 30th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Boehringer Ingelheim announced results from a Phase Ib study, SOUND-C1, that showed the combination of two oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) compounds, the protease inhibitor BI 201335 and the polymerase inhibitor BI 207127, with ribavirin reduced viral load to the lower limit of quantifiable levels in HCV treatment-naïve patients. The regimen did not include interferon through the first 28 days of treatment. These data are being presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2010 Liver Meeting in Boston, MA.

(Poster LB-7) New protease-polymerase inhibitor combination resulted in 73-100% rapid virological responses without pegylated interferon
In this randomised open-label trial, 32 treatment-naïve genotype-1 HCV patients received a combination of BI 207127 in either 400mg or 600mg doses three times a day (TID) with BI 201335 120mg once daily (QD) together with ribavirin (RBV) (1000/1200mg daily in two doses) for 28 days. All patients had a rapid and sharp decline in HCV viral load during the first two days, followed by a slower second phase decline. In the lower and higher dose groups, 73 and 100% of patients achieved a rapid virological response (i.e. had a HCV RNA below thelower limit of quantification after 4 weeks of treatment). One patient experienced a viral breakthrough (increase by >1 LOG10 from nadir during treatment) and one other experienced a 0.7 LOG10 increase in viral load. Both patients were in the lower dose group of BI 207127 and were patients with a high baseline viral load. On day 29, all patients were switched to treatment with BI 201335 and PegIFN/RBV for an additional 44 weeks per the defined study protocol, and will be followed to evaluate sustained virological response.

“These early data suggest that there is the potential for the combination of oral anti-HCV therapies to reduce the viral load in a more tolerable, interferon-sparing regimen. The current standard-of-care, PegIFN/RBV, is challenging for HCV patients due to side effects that impact treatment adherence and has suboptimal response rates,” said Stefan Zeuzem, MD, Chief of the Department of Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and lead investigator of the study. “An interferon-sparing regimen could provide an important treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis C.”

Proportion of patients with viral load <25 IU/ml
 
 
 
Day 8
 
 
 
Day 15
 
 
 
Day 22
 
 
 
Day 29
 
 

400mg TID BI 207127 + BI 201335 + RBV


4/15



6/15



10/15



11/15



600mg TID BI 207127 + BI 201335 + RBV


3/17



14/17



17/17



17/17




The PegIFN sparing treatment was well tolerated. Investigators reported that the most common adverse events observed in the study were mild gastro-intestinal effects (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), rash or photosensitivity. Laboratory parameters did not indicate any relevant changes from baseline, except for a continuous drop in amino alanine transferase (ALT) in all patients, a decrease of hemoglobin (median -1.7 and -2.6 g/dL) and an increase of unconjugated bilirubin (median +9.8 and +11.5 umol/L) similar to reported results from earlier BI 201335 trials. There were no serious or severe adverse events and no discontinuations due to adverse events reported in the study during treatment with BI 207127 and BI 201335. A phase IIb trial testing different dose regimens of this combination with longer durations is planned to evaluate sustained virological response rates.

Additional studies to be presented at AASLD
  • Virological response and safety of 4 weeks treatment with the protease inhibitor BI 201335 combined with 48 weeks of peginterferon alpha 2a and ribavirin for treatment of HCV GT-1 patients who failed peginterferon / ribavirin
    (Poster 804. T. Berg, et al. Sun, October 31 - 8:00 AM. Hynes: Exhibit Hall C)
  • Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the NS5B polymerase region from viral isolates of HCV chronically infected patients treated with BI 207127 for 5-days monotherapy.
    (Poster 1862. L. Lagace, et al. Tue, November 2 - 7:00 AM. Hynes: Exhibit Hall C)
  • The Liver Kp Corrected Inhibitory Quotient (LCIQ): A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for direct-acting HCV antivirals
    (Poster 1866. J. Duan, et al. Tue, 2 November 2 – 7:00 AM. Hynes: Exhibit Hall C)

About Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
HCV is an infectious disease of the liver and is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplant. The number of individuals chronically infected with HCV globally has been estimated at 170 million, with 3–4 million new infections occurring each year. Only about 20–45% of patients clear the virus in the acute phase. Of the remaining chronically infected patients, 20% will develop cirrhosis within a mean of 20 years. The mortality rate after cirrhosis has developed is 2-5% per year. End-stage liver disease due to HCV infection currently represents the major indication for liver transplantation in the Western world.

About Boehringer Ingelheim in Virology
Boehringer Ingelheim has more than 6,900 scientists working in cross disciplinary teams within our global R&D network in six large therapeutic areas, including virology. In addition to its ongoing research program for HCV, Boehringer Ingelheim has a long-standing history in virology drug development, including compounds for the treatment of HIV (VIRAMUNE® (nevirapine) tablets/oral solution, the first approved HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and Aptivus®, an HIV protease inhibitor). The company has a well established research centre in Laval, Canada, dedicated to virology research since the early 1990’s, and is committed to developing new therapies for virological diseases with a high unmet medical need.

Boehringer Ingelheim in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
BI 201335 is an investigational oral HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor, discovered from Boehringer Ingelheim’s own research and development, which has completed clinical trials through Phase IIb (SILEN-C studies). This Phase II program supports the investigation of BI 201335 in Phase III trials. BI 207127 is an NS5B RNA-dependent polymerase inhibitor that has completed Phase I clinical trials. Planning is currently underway to begin Phase II trials of BI 207127 with BI 201335 in interferon-sparing regimens both with and without ribavirin.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 142 affiliates in 50 countries and more than 41,500 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2009, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 12.7 billion euro (US $17.7 billion) while spending 21% of net sales in its largest business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and development.

For more information, please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Julia Meyer-Kleinmann
Director Corporate Communications
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
55216 Ingelheim/Germany
Phone: + 49 - 6132 – 77 8271
Fax: + 49 - 6132 – 77 70 77
E-mail: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Shocking Technologies Obtains UL Certification

SAN JOSE, Calif., Saturday, October 30th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shocking Technologies, Inc. has received notification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that it has been awarded 94V-0 certification for its XStaticTM100 product, a voltage switchable dielectric (VSD™) material.

“The UL certification is an important milestone that opens the market for us and gives our customers the added confidence to quickly implement our solution. This is well aligned with our high volume manufacturing roll-out in Q1, 2011,” said Lex Kosowsky, President and CEO of Shocking Technologies.

About Shocking Technologies, Inc.
Shocking Technologies, Inc. is a privately held company developing Voltage Switchable Dielectric™ (VSD™) materials for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection in consumer electronic devices. A VSD™ material is a polymer nano-composite that behaves as an insulator (dielectric) during normal operation, and becomes conductive in the presence of ESD events. This unique capability enables comprehensive ESD protection at a fraction of the cost of competing, less effective methods. The company is currently delivering embedded ESD protection within printed circuit boards (PCBs) and semiconductor packages. Subsequent applications will enable new manufacturing processes and novel product designs. More information is available at www.shockingtech.com.

© 2008 Shocking Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Shocking Technologies, the Shocking Technologies logo, VSD, and XStatic are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Shocking Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other names used may be trademarks of their respective owners.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Shocking Technologies, Inc.
Preeti Pande, Ph.D, +1-408-578-5175 ext. 118
ppande@shockingtech.com

ExxonMobil Highlights Innovative Technology Solutions at the 2010 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, October 30th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ExxonMobil will demonstrate its leadership in technology innovation at the 2010 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). Now in its 14th year, the 2010 conference will focus on “Delivering Energy in the Low Carbon Era: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Monday, November 1, 2010 1 p.m.
  • Andy Swiger, Exxon Mobil Corporation senior vice president, will speak at the opening executive plenary session in Conference Hall A.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 11 a.m.
  • Mark Nolan, ExxonMobil Production Company vice president for the Middle East and Russia, will discuss technologies used in developing unconventional resources as part of the “New Frontier Challenges” panel in Conference Hall A.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 11 a.m.
  • Sam Conner, regional manager of Asia Pacific and the Middle East for ExxonMobil Exploration Company, will address a panel session on “Sustainability and Development of Human Capital” in Conference Hall A.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 3:10 p.m.
  • Bruce Ference, project executive for Iraq for ExxonMobil Development Company, will speak at a panel on “Delivering Mega-Projects in a Changing / Challenging Environment” in Conference Hall A.

As part of the conference’s technical program, ExxonMobil scientists and engineers will present six papers and display two posters on topics including seismic imaging, offshore development in the United Arab Emirates, reservoir modeling and enhanced oil recovery.

“As one of the largest energy events in the world, ADIPEC will showcase the latest advances in industry technology,” said Morten Mauritzen, Lead Country Manager for the ExxonMobil companies in Abu Dhabi. “In addition to our participation in the technical program and exhibition, ExxonMobil is proud to sponsor ADIPEC’s first Graduate Fair, which will help introduce students from the UAE to careers in the oil and gas industry.”

ExxonMobil participates in two oil concessions in Abu Dhabi. The company holds a 28 percent interest in the Upper Zakum offshore field, one of the world’s largest oil fields, which is operated by the ZADCO joint venture company. ExxonMobil also participates with a 9.5 percent interest in the onshore concession, which is operated by the ADCO joint venture company. In 2007, the ExxonMobil Technology Center opened in Abu Dhabi to provide ZADCO staff working on Upper Zakum access to ExxonMobil’s most advanced technology in the areas of reservoir management, drilling technologies and production operations. ExxonMobil downstream affiliates or joint ventures in the UAE market lubricants, and chemical products to customers throughout the Middle East.

The full range of ExxonMobil’s technology portfolio will be on display at ExxonMobil’s exhibit at Stand 0905 in Hall 9. Interactive touch screens and video content will highlight the company’s large-scale integrated projects and advancements such as ExxonMobil’s new Controlled Freeze Zone technology (CFZ), a single-step separation process for removing carbon dioxide and other elements from raw natural gas.

ExxonMobil is sponsoring the first ADIPEC Graduate Fair, a two-day networking event that will allow students to gain insights and information about energy careers and employment opportunities with national and international oil and gas companies. The company is also the signature sponsor for ADIPEC’s inaugural Excellence in Energy Awards.

About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. For more information, visit exxonmobil.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:
ExxonMobil Upstream Media Relations
+1 (713) 656-4376 (USA)
Marina Gruendig, Exxon (Al Khalij) Inc.
+ 971 (2) 6960-625 (Abu Dhabi)  

Roundtable Concepts Expands Line of KISS HDTV’s and Announces KISS Chopper Motorcycle Giveaway

LAKE MARY, Fla., Friday, October 29th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roundtable Concepts announced today that they are expanding their line of KISS branded LED HDTV’s to include two new designs. In conjunction with this announcement Roundtable Concepts has launched a KISS themed Chopper Motorcycle giveaway at Bike Week 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With design direction from KISS, the two newly designed KISS LED HDTV’s will be available in 32, 42 and 46-inch sizes. One has a traditional chassis and a KISS logo that appears on the TV screen at start up. The other will include the KISS logo at the bottom of the chassis and will feature a close-up image of the members of KISS at start up. You can check out these new designs at www.kisshdtv.com. The KISS HDTV program was brokered by Live Nation.

In conjunction with this new line of KISS LED HDTV’s, Roundtable Concepts has also launched a KISS themed Chopper Motorcycle giveaway, which will conclude at Bike Week 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The KISS KUSTOM CHOPPER will be signed by all current members of the band. Entries will be accepted either through www.kisshdtv.com or through postal mail. To commemorate this contest, Roundtable Concepts is launching a Special Edition line of 1/18th scale die cast collectible replicas of the KISS KUSTOM CHOPPER available exclusively through www.kisshdtv.com.

“KISS is on the cutting edge of technology with these two new modern and elegant KISS LED HDTV designs. The KISS KUSTOM CHOPPER giveaway is the ultimate prize for the KISS fans. Another industry first - KISS does it again!” Says Janet Dwoskin, Executive Director of Licensing for Live Nation Merchandise.

“RTC is excited to continue and grow this relationship with KISS. These new lines of HDTV’s will appeal to a broader base of fans and we are excited to be launching this giveaway as we continue to grow and diversify our KISS product offerings. KISS has one of the most die-hard fan bases in the world and we enjoy bringing them first-of-a-kind products,” says Frank Weir of Roundtable Concepts.“

About Roundtable Concepts, Inc.
Roundtable Concepts is a privately held Company that currently has under license the rights to produce HDTV’s under certain NCAA, Marvel, Capcom and Live Nation properties. Roundtable Concepts, Inc. also holds the worldwide exclusive rights to produce HDTV’s under the Paramount Pictures brand.

About KISS
KISS, the legendary American rock band formed in New York City in 1972, is one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS is one of America's top gold-record champions who recorded 37 albums over 36 years and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Over thirty years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, most recently, the 2009 finale of American Idol that boasted 30 million viewers.

The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans. In 2009, KISS was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sonic Boom, KISS’ first album in 11 years and produced by Paul Stanley, is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam’s Club. For additional information on KISS, visit http://www.kissonline.com/

RTC
767 Stirling Center Place, suite 1409
Lake Mary, FL. 32746

For media enquiries, please contact:
Roundtable Concepts, Inc.
Jason Lent, 321-363-3794
jlent@rtccorporate.com

Nike and Cristiano Ronaldo Introduce Safari Print Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II

CR Signature Boot Fuses Performance Engineering and Iconic Style
 
MADRID, Friday, October 29th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global football star Cristiano Ronaldo today with Nike (NYSE:NKE) launched the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II boot. Inspired by Ronaldo’s lightning speed and effortless style off the pitch, the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II combines high-performance innovation and heritage of the Nike Safari print.

Nike originally introduced the print on the Air Safari running shoe in 1987, and the unexpected aesthetic transformed performance footwear design. At the time, trailblazing Nike designer and father of the Air Jordan series Tinker Hatfield began exploring non-traditional materials, patterns and colors to use in athletic footwear and conceived the now legendary ostrich-skin print.

The limited-run Air Safari quickly sold out and gained an ardent following for its striking design. Now the iconic print is back — this time on the feet of one of the best players in the world. The updated print has a stylized look, wrapping the entire boot and laces for a bold effect. Ronaldo’s signature CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II represents the first time the print has been applied to performance football footwear.

“The Air Safari showed that you can create an athletic shoe that is beautiful and different without forgoing high-performance utility,” said Hatfield, VP of Creative Design at Nike. “It helped individuals make a personal style statement whether they wore it on a run or out at night.”

Built for speed
The game’s fastest player demands a boot that not only reflects his personal style but also delivers superb traction and responsiveness. The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II features the unique NIKE SENSE adaptive traction system where designers created a pair of adaptive studs in the forefoot that can extend and retract by up to 3mm, based on ground conditions and pressure exerted by the player.

Directionally positioned blades maximize cutting and allow for quick changes of direction, while secondary toe traction provides added toe-off power for those first critical steps. The result is a boot that enables greater speed in all directions.

Nike Flywire, a lightweight composite that forms the upper, increases range of motion while locking the foot to the sole plate, ensuring maximum transfer of energy from the foot to the ground. The carbon composite chassis keeps the player close to the ground for improved stability and responsiveness.

“The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II makes a statement on pitch and the Safari print expresses my style,” said Cristiano Ronaldo. “Combined with incredibly light and responsive performance the boot gives me everything I need to elevate my game.”

In another nod to speed, the boot’s arresting Safari print is overlaid with a tonal chevron pattern that is illuminated in certain light. Designed to appear as a flash in a player’s peripheral vision, the reflective graphic can improve player awareness on pitch.

The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II also gives consumers exclusive access to training insights from top players and coaches through Nike Football+. Each pair of boots comes with a unique user code to unlock insider tips and Master Speed training content.

Cristiano Ronaldo will debut the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II on pitch November 7 during “El Derbi” which features Madrid’s premier football teams. The boot will be available at retail globally and online at www.nikestore.com beginning November 15. Nike Football+ can be accessed at www.nikesoccer.com.

About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

About Nike Football+
Nike Football+ gives footballers insider access to the world’s best coaches, players and teams for total game improvement. People who purchase a new pair of Nike boots receive a unique user code that unlocks the full Nike Football+ program at nikefootball.com. They will receive all the benefits of Nike Football+ access at no added cost. The code will also provide access to future Nike Football+ programs that help players improve their game and win. Nike Football+ is available as an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch on iTunes and via the mobile web on all WAP enabled handsets.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6486542&lang=en
For media enquiries, please contact:
NIKE, Inc.
New York Media Relations, +1-212-367-4447 

New Therapeutic Surface from KCI Enhances Skin Integrity for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers

Skin IQ Microclimate Manager Helps Reduce Skin Moisture, Temperature, Friction and Shear
 
SAN ANTONIO, Friday, October 29th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI) announced today the U.S. launch of Skin IQ™ Microclimate Manager (Skin IQ™ MCM) through KCI’s Therapeutic Support Systems business. Skin IQ™ MCM is a for-sale, powered coverlet offering clinicians one of the most effective and intuitive products available for the prevention and management of pressure ulcers.

An estimated 10-18 percent of patients in hospitals and other acute care facilities suffer from pressure ulcers, and hospitalizations due to pressure ulcers rose 80 percent between 1993 and 2006.1 The estimated cost of treating a stage III or IV pressure ulcer can approach $40,000, which places a serious financial burden on health care institutions.2 3

“Pressure ulcers continue to present serious challenges for health care professionals across all settings, resulting in compromised quality of life for many patients and significantly increasing cost of care,” said Stephen Seidel, president, KCI Therapeutic Support Systems. “As its name implies, Skin IQ™ MCM features a highly intelligent design that meets facility, clinician and patient needs as we work to further reduce the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers around the world.”

Skin IQ™ MCM is a waterproof, vapor-permeable coverlet with bacterial barrier that uses KCI’s proprietary Negative Airflow Technology to actively reduce excess moisture and the temperature of the skin’s surface. This reduction in moisture and temperature is intended to help reduce the risk of maceration and the coefficient of friction, further reducing the shear forces that twist and tear the underlying blood vessels. Used in combination with a pressure redistribution mattress, such as the AtmosAir™ 9000 MRS, Skin IQ™ MCM provides an excellent alternative to conventional Low-Air-Loss therapy. Skin IQ™ MCM is also designed to be compatible with many of the pressure redistribution mattresses on the market today.

“Controlling microclimate is an important and often overlooked area of pressure ulcer prevention,” stated Joyce Black, Ph.D., RN of the University of Nebraska, a leading expert and former president of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP). “It may be the missing link in providing the best skin care for patients. When heat and humidity rise in the skin, more blood and oxygen are needed, and with skin under pressure these nutrients cannot be supplied.”

Both acute and long-term care facilities can benefit from Skin IQ™ MCM in the management of patients’ skin integrity. When used with a facility-owned pressure redistribution mattress, the single-patient-use design of Skin IQ™ MCM:
  • Enables facilities to stock product on-site
  • Offers considerable workflow benefits and fewer steps to initiate therapy
  • Allows nurses to spend more time in the direct treatment of their patients
  • Provides streamlined surface and protocol selection
  • May help to reduce nosocomial risk as the result of earlier therapy initiation

About KCI
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE:KCI) is a leading global medical technology company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative, high-technology therapies and products for the wound care, tissue regeneration and therapeutic support system markets. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI's success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in innovation and a passion for significantly improving the healing and the lives of patients around the world.

The company employs 6,800 people and markets its products in 20 countries. For more information about KCI, and how its products are changing the practice of medicine, visit www.KCI1.com.

All trademarks designated herein are proprietary to KCI Licensing, Inc. its affiliates and/or licensors.

1 The Role of Nutrition in Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment: National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel White Paper, 2009. Authors; Dorner, B., Posthauer, M.E., Thomas, D.
2 Lyder CH. Pressure ulcer prevention and management. JAMA. 2003;289(2):223-226.
3 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS Proposes Additions to List of Hospital-acquired Conditions for Fiscal Year 2009. Baltimore, MD; US Department of Health & Human Services. 2008.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Kinetic Concepts, Inc.
Media:
Maggie McMahon, 210-838-3329
maggie.mcmahon@kci1.com

Investors:
Todd Wyatt, 210-255-6157
Wireless: 210-347-3540
todd.wyatt@kci1.com

GEM - Global Emerging Markets, and United Arab Investors closed a Convertible Bond agreement of JD 25 million

AMMAN, Jordan, Friday, October 29th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Arab Investors Company (UAIC), Jordan's leading investment company, and Global Emerging Markets Limited (GEM) a Swiss-based, international alternative investment group, announced the closure and execution of a convertible bond agreement for JD 25 million. Both signed parties agreed on the repayment method of this bond to be cash and/or equity shares over 3 years.

Following the approval on the agreement of the United Arab Investors Irregular General Assembly held on the 20th of September, and completion of all prerequisites, United Arab Investors (UAIC) received today the first tranche of the bond.

Khalifeh & Partners of Amman, Jordan, acted as legal advisor to UAIC on contractual and local governance regulations and the investments under Jordanian law. Hogan Lovells, an international law firm based in London, acted as legal advisor to GEM.

Engineer Haitham Dahleh, CEO of UAIC commented: “We are proud of signing this agreement which is considered our second venture with GEM, as we believe that together both with this international renowned investment institution and this deal will boost our financing structure. GEM is a strong international investor that conducts careful due diligence before entering new investments, and signing this convertible bond agreement of JD 25 million shows the real strategic partnership and mutual trust, especially right after GEM became a Strategic Shareholder In UAIC and Taameer Jordan in the previous deal.”

About GEM Group
Global Emerging Markets Limited, www.gemny.com, was founded in 1991. GEM is a USD 3.4 billion investment group having completed 285 transactions in 60 countries. The firm is an alternative investment group that manages a diverse set of investment vehicles across the world. GEM’s funds include: CITIC/GEM Fund; VC Bank/GEM Mena Fund; Kinderhook; GEM Global Yield Fund; GEM India and Banco Pine/GEM Funds.

About United Arab Investors Corporation (UAIC)
United Arab Investors Corporation (UAIC) is a public shareholding company listed within the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). Established in 1994, the company has grown to become one of the largest market players shaping the Jordanian investment field. With its diversified investment portfolio, the company’s scope of operations includes investments in the real estate, financial, insurance as well as many other sectors. UAIC's investments include but are not limited to TAAMEER Jordan Holdings, Aman Securities Company, Investors & Eastern Arab Industrial & Real Estate Investments, Kingdom Electricity Company, in addition to Union Bank and others. UAIC plans to expand regionally and vary its investment base to further solidify the company's portfolio and status as the leading Jordanian investment company.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Global Emerging Markets Limited (GEM)
Warren P. Baker, III, +1-212-582-3400
wbaker@gemny.com

PCI Security Standards Council Releases Version 2.0 of the PCI Data Security Standard and Payment Application Data Security Standard

—Feedback from global stakeholders shapes revisions; new standards and website ease implementation for merchants—
 
WAKEFIELD, Mass., Friday, October 29th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), a global, open industry standards body providing management of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), PIN Transaction Security (PTS) requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS), today released version 2.0 of the PCI DSS and PA-DSS. Reflecting input from the Council’s global stakeholders, this latest version is designed to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilitate improved understanding of the requirements and eased implementation for merchants. Version 2.0 becomes effective on January 1, 2011.

The updated standards were the main topic of discussion at the Council’s Annual Community Meetings in Orlando, Florida and Barcelona, Spain where, in the last stage of the lifecycle process, stakeholders had the opportunity for final review of the standards. More than 1,500 people from 600 organizations around the world participated in these gatherings, adding to the thousands of pieces of feedback the Council received from merchants, banks, processors and the PCI community throughout the development process.

A summary of changes to the standards was shared with the market prior to the release, highlighting the main types of revisions that include clarifications, additional guidance and evolving requirements.

Version 2.0 does not introduce any new major requirements. The majority of changes are modifications to the language, which clarify the meaning of the requirements and make understanding and adoption easier for merchants. Key revisions serve to reinforce the need for a thorough scoping exercise prior to assessment in order to understand where cardholder data resides; promote more effective log management in securing cardholder data; allow organizations to adopt a risk-based approach when assessing and prioritizing vulnerabilities that is based on their specific business circumstances; and accommodate the unique environments of small merchants to simplify their compliance efforts.

The standards, detailed summary of changes and supporting documentation can be found at https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/security_standards/documents.php.

“The nature of the changes is a testament to the strength and growing global maturity of the standards as a framework for securing cardholder data,” said Bob Russo, general manager of the Council. “I want to thank each and every individual and organization who contributed to the development of these standards. It’s their input that’s critical in making the PCI Security Standards an excellent baseline for protecting payment card data.”

In addition to the standards documents, the Council has also launched a new website with updated materials and navigational tools aimed at providing its diverse stakeholders with the targeted information they need to understand the standards and how to apply them in their organizations. As part of a broader initiative to help small merchants develop their PCI security programs, it also includes a dedicated site for this key group with resources to address their unique environments.

The release of version 2.0 begins the new three year lifecycle for standards development, which streamlines the development process by aligning DSS, PA-DSS and PTS on a similar three year schedule. The lifecycle also allows for minor revisions or errata to be issued throughout the cycle as necessary.

The new standards are effective January 1, 2011, but validation against the previous version of the standard (1.2.1) will be allowed until December 31, 2011. This gives stakeholders more time to understand and implement the new versions of the standards as well as provide feedback throughout the process. However, the Council encourages organizations to transition to the updated version as soon as possible. From January 1, 2012 and moving forward, all assessments must be under version 2.0 of the standards.

The Council also invites Participating Organizations and the public to a webinar that covers the updated standards in greater depth, followed by a Q&A session with representatives from the Council’s Technical Working Group. Registration details can be found here:
November 9, 3:00 p.m. ET / noon PT (Participating Organizations only)
November 11, 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT (Participating Organizations only)

For More Information:
For more information on the PCI Security Standards Council and how to become a Participating Organization, please visit www.pcisecuritystandards.org or contact the PCI SSC Secretariat at secretariat@pcisecuritystandards.org.

About the PCI Security Standards Council
The mission of the PCI Security Standards Council is to enhance payment account security by driving education and awareness of the PCI Data Security Standard and other standards that increase payment data security.

The PCI Security Standards Council was formed by the major payment card brands American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. to provide a transparent forum in which all stakeholders can provide input into the ongoing development, enhancement and dissemination of the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS), PIN Transaction Security (PTS) requirements and the Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS). Merchants, banks, processors and other vendors are encouraged to join as participating organizations.

For media enquiries, please contact:
PCI Security Standards Council
Laura K. Johnson, +1-781-876-6250
press@pcisecuritystandards.org

Octapharma Clinical Trial Begins in the US and Germany Treating Hemophilia A Patients with First Recombinant Factor VIII Derived from a Human Cell-Line

Multi-Center Study Investigates Prospects of Improved Safety, Immunogenicity
 
LACHEN, Switzerland, Thursday, October 28th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Octapharma, one of the largest human protein products manufacturers in the world, today announced that patients diagnosed with severe hemophilia A have started treatment with the first recombinant Factor VIII derived from a human cell line (Human-cl rhFVIII). Researchers are investigating pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of Human-cl rhFVIII for previously treated patients with severe hemophilia A.

The prospective, randomized, actively controlled, open label, multicenter Phase 2 trial is being conducted at research centers in the US and Germany under the title “Clinical Study to Investigate the Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity of Human-cl rhFVIII, a Newly Developed Human Cell-Line Derived Recombinant FVIII Concentrate in Previously Treated Patients with Severe Hemophilia A.” The study started in spring 2010 and patient enrollment is well underway. Please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov for details.

Human-cl rhFVIII is a fourth-generation recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) concentrate developed by Octapharma for the control and prevention of bleeding episodes and for surgical prophylaxis in patients with hemophilia A. Human-cl rhFVIII is produced in genetically modified Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293F cells. Human-cl rhFVIII is currently the only rFVIII, which has a human glycosylation pattern. Today, the development of antibodies against infused FVIII represents the most devastating complication in modern Hemophilia A replacement therapy. The human glycosylation pattern in Human-cl rhFVIII should make it possible to avoid potentially immunogenic epitopes as expressed by hamster cells. This may result in improved safety and long-term reduced immunogenicity of Human-cl rhFVIII. During a previous first single-center clinical study, Human-cl rhFVIII demonstrated its safety and efficacy in 22 PTPs without causing any inhibitors or non-inhibitory antibodies against Human-cl rhFVIII.

Human-cl rhFVIII is concentrated and purified for virus inactivation/removal by solvent detergent and nanofiltration although the cell bank and end of production cells have been extensively tested to ensure they are free of any endogenous or infectious viruses. The process ensures that any theoretical virus contamination is safely inactivated and/or removed. The manufacturing of Human-cl rhFVIII is completely free of animal or human derived added materials. The clinical development plan for Human-cl rhFVIII follows the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European guidelines.

About the Octapharma Group
Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest plasma products manufacturers in the world and has been committed to patient care and medical innovation for over 27 years. Octapharma’s core business is the development, production and sale of high quality human protein therapies from both human plasma and human cell lines. Octapharma is currently developing the first commercial recombinant coagulation FVIII from a human cell line (Human-cl rhFVIII), which is designed to reduce the overall immunogenic challenge (and resulting inhibitor formation) to the haemophilia A patient.

At the present time, Octapharma has 37 subsidiaries and representative offices. The company employs over 4,000 people and is making sales in 80 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.octapharma.com.

© Octapharma AG, 2010

For media enquiries, please contact:
Octapharma AG
Corporate Communications
Corinne Landolt
Tel.: +41 (55) 451 21 36
Corinne.Landolt@octapharma.com

Momentive Offers New Thermal Management Solutions to Enhance Performance and Service Life of LEDs and LED Lighting Assemblies

ALBANY, N.Y., Thursday, October 28th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- To help increase the performance and service life of LEDs (light emitting diodes) and LED assemblies, Momentive Performance Materials has introduced a new line of thermally conductive silicones to be considered for use in LED manufacturing and assembly. Available as the TIA series of curable thermal gels and adhesives and TIS series of curable thermal compounds, the new products may help LED lighting manufacturers solve the ongoing challenges of heat transfer and dissipation in LED lighting assemblies.

Momentive’s TIA thermal gels are liquid-dispensed materials for heat dissipation, available in a variety of thermal conductivity levels, viscosities and curing profiles to meet a wide range of design needs. Easy to use, the new gels, which include TIA221G and TIA216G, may extend the service life of LED light bulbs by helping manage the heat generated by drivers used to regulate voltage. Since drivers are three-dimensional and typically housed inside a light bulb fixture, a liquid-dispensed thermal material that can conform to the assembly’s design and flow into the cavity, creating a heat path from the driver to the fixture, is generally required. The TIA series is an excellent candidate to consider for use in this type of application, as the liquid-dispensed gels can fill gaps between the driver and surrounding fixture and cure at either room temperature or by accelerated heat cure to create a soft elastomer. This creates a thermal path while providing the added benefit of absorbing thermal stress due to its softness.

For designs requiring mechanical adhesion, the TIA thermal adhesives are excellent candidates to consider. This line, which includes the TIA250R and TIA600R products, is available in room-temperature and heat-accelerated cure formulations that adhere well to a wide variety of substrates. Thermal adhesive TIA0220, for example, offers corrosion-free adhesion to most metals (including copper), plastics, ceramics, glass and other surfaces without the use of primers.

The TIS series of thermal compounds, which includes TIS380C, cures at room temperature and can be considered for use in minimizing thermal resistance in LED lighting assemblies. As soft Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs), these thermally conductive compounds can help provide stress relief for delicate components as well as extremely low oil bleed and volatile contents - attributes which contribute to stability in high temperature environments.

Momentive’s TIA thermal gels, adhesives and compounds can be considered for use to create a thermal path between the LED board and heat sink, which helps protect the LED from heat emission. The TIA products are all liquid-dispensed, allowing for an exact amount of material to be applied to precise locations and assembled to create a thin bond line. This contributes to overall efficiency in heat transfer. The new products are available in thermal conductivities ranging from 1 ̴ 6 Watt/m.K, and depending on the grade, they can be applied by dispensing or screen/stencil printing.

Mr. Craig Borkowski, Global Marketing Director of Micro-electronics at Momentive, said, “We are pleased with how quickly our thermal management solutions are gaining acceptance among manufacturers. These products, along with our U.S. Department of Energy-funded research in advanced LED technology, demonstrate the depth and breadth of our commitment to supporting innovative products and markets such as LED lighting that contribute to the sustainability of everyday life.”

In addition to the TIA family of thermal gels, adhesives and curable compounds for LED assemblies, Momentive provides a comprehensive line of InvisiSil* LED silicone materials that are excellent candidates to consider for use in helping address performance and reliability challenges in LED packaging. InvisiSil materials are available either as dispensable encapsulants or as moldable grades for injection, compression, or transfer molding systems.

The encapsulants offer high transmittance (>98%) even after 1,000 hours of heat exposure (150°C) and UV exposure (400nm, 800nm) coupled with refractive indices from 1.4-1.5 to extract the maximum amount of light. Momentive also provides silicone adhesives that can be used to bond lighting components, such as globe caps. These adhesives resist heat and yellowing over a wide range of operating conditions.

For more information about Momentive’s specialized solutions for the global LED market, please contact Kristy Bagan at +518 233-3773 in the Americas, Mark Fraser in Europe at +49 214-30-43729, or Keiji Kabeta in Asia at +81-3-5544-3006.

About Momentive Performance Materials Inc.
Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a global leader in silicones and advanced materials, with a 70-year heritage of being first to market with performance applications for major industries that support and improve everyday life. The Company delivers science-based solutions, by linking custom technology platforms to opportunities for customers. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC. Additional information is available at www.momentive.com.

About the New Momentive
Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC is the ultimate parent company of Momentive Performance Materials Inc. and Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. (collectively, the “new Momentive”). The new Momentive is a global leader in specialty chemicals and materials, with a broad range of advanced specialty products that help industrial and consumer companies support and improve everyday life. The company uses its technology portfolio to deliver tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of its customers around the world. The new Momentive was formed in 2010 through the combination of entities that indirectly owned Momentive Performance Materials Inc. and Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. The company is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC. Additional information about the new Momentive and its products is available at www.momentive.com and at www.hexion.com.

* InvisiSil is a trademark of Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Media Contact-Americas
Nancy Pitts, +001-203-801-0836
Nancy.Pitts@momentive.com

Media Contact-Europe, Middle East & Africa
Fabienne Verrey-Kalaidjian, +41 (0) 22 792 2856
Fabienne.Verrey-Kalaidjian@momentive.com

 
Media Contact-Asia/Pacific
Joyce Sun, +86-21-3860 4706
Joyce.Sun@momentive.com