January 12, 2001

Ericsson has signed a strategic agreement with 3IC for the distribution of Ericsson’s wireless data equipment. The terms of the agreement include an undisclosed capital investment by Ericsson in return for a minority equity stake in 3IC.

The agreement is for 3IC to distribute Ericsson’s CDMA data products including the cdmaOne Interworking Function and the cdma2000 Packet Core Network to the Korean market.

In addition, 3IC also will handle certain system integration and technical support of Ericsson’s data equipment sales.

“Ericsson’s leading data products are very attractive for the advanced Korean CDMA operators,” says Bubba Rhee, president and CEO of 3IC. “Through minimal investment, mobile operators can now offer carrier class data services in existing networks, that will generate additional revenue and help ensure subscriber loyalty"

"We are excited to be strengthening Ericsson’s position with Korean operators through our relationship with 3IC,” says Ake Persson, president of San Diego-based Ericsson CDMA Systems. “The strategic alliance between Ericsson and 3IC provides both companies with expanded business opportunities as we are able to support the Korean operators’ need for enhanced data services."

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La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. announced at the JP Morgan H&Q Healthcare Conference that about 90 percent of patients enrolled in each of three previous clinical trials had high-affinity antibodies to its experimental lupus drug, LJP 394, prior to drug treatment.

Previously, the San Diego company announced that 89 percent of the patients in a Phase II/III trial had high-affinity antibodies and that drug-treated patients in this group had only one-third as many renal flares and less than one-half as many treatments with high-dose corticosteroids and/or cyclophosphamide as placebo-treated patients. In the two additional studies, 94 percent and 90 percent of patients had high-affinity antibodies to LJP 394. The trials enrolled patients with mild, moderate and severe disease.

"These results confirm the earlier observation that about 90 percent of lupus patients have high-affinity antibodies to LJP 394," says Steven Engle, Chairman and CEO. "These initial findings also suggest that a majority of lupus patients have high-affinity antibodies to LJP 394 regardless of the severity of their disease. If the results of the Phase II/III clinical trial are confirmed in the ongoing Phase III trial, we believe that LJP 394 could provide significant benefit to many lupus patients."

La Jolla Pharmaceutical initiated a Phase III trial for LJP 394 in September 2000 using a pharmacoproteomics assay to identify those patients who have the potential to be responders to treatment with LJP 394.

In the three previous trials, 90 percent of patients tested had high-affinity antibodies to LJP 394. The ratios for the trials were: 89 percent in the Phase II/III trial, 94 percent in the Phase II trial completed in 1996 and 90 percent in the Phase II trial completed in 1999. Patients in the Phase II/III trial had moderate to severe disease and a history of renal flares. Patients in the two Phase II trials had mild to moderate disease. Placebo and drug-treated groups had similar percentages at baseline in each clinical trial.

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The Golden State Capital Network has selected 39 out of a field of 450 candidate companies to present to equity financing groups at the Sacramento Golden State Entrepreneur Expo and Venture Capital Conference Jan. 29 and 30. The network is one of the leading organizations in California that investors and entrepreneurs tap into for quality deal-flow, critical content and valuable contacts.

Maptrace from San Diego is one of the 39 companies selected that will participate and present at the conference.

"We are extremely pleased with the number of entrepreneurs that submit applications to participate in the conference and even more excited about the 39 that were selected," says Jon Gregory, president and CEO of the network. "The Golden State Capital Network is a great way for these early stage technology companies to take the next step forward and we’re proud that the upcoming conference will feature such a promising group of entrepreneurs."

The 39 chosen companies will receive a workshop and grooming session, the opportunity to attend and make their presentations at the conference, exhibit space at the event and a final video product of their presentations. Finalists will make presentations to investors at the January event.

The conference also will include venture capital and angel investor panel discussion forums and a popular Golden State Capital Network series of peer networking events.

For more information, click on www.goldencapital.net.

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HOB Entertainment Inc., parent company of the House of Blues conglomerate of nightclubs, concert promotions and other media properties, has retained San Diego-based agency Bailey/Gardiner Inc. to handle its national marketing efforts for three new West Coast venues opening in 2001.

BGI, one of Southern California's fastest growing integrated marketing firms, will be responsible for the public relations, promotions, media buying and advertising initiatives for House of Blues venues in Anaheim, San Diego and San Jose, California.

"We retained Bailey/Gardiner's services for one deceptively simple reason: they get it," says Jack Gannon, HOB's senior director of marketing. "Our corporate marketing team met with several top-notch agencies, but BGI stood out from the pack. They have extensive experience in the hospitality and entertainment arenas but, more importantly, they clearly understand what the House of Blues concept is all about and our desire to firmly establish House of Blues as the premier dining and entertainment destination."

"We are extremely pleased to be adding House of Blues to our roster of highly reputable clients," says Jonathan Bailey, CEO of Bailey/Gardiner Inc. "We consider ourselves a 'David' among 'Goliath' agencies and, though small in comparison to industry giants, our team has represented several top-shelf brands, from the Emmy Awards to the Country Music Association. It is an honor to now represent House of Blues. They have worked hard to build their reputation as one of the most recognized and respected names in the entertainment industry, and we look forward to taking them to the next level."

The Anaheim venue's grand opening takes place later this week. San Diego will follow in mid-September and San Jose shortly thereafter.

Each of these venues will mirror the signature House of Blues style — a tribute to Southern Blues culture through an impressive and unique collection of folk art — and offer daily live concerts in a 1,000-person capacity music hall and the best in Delta-inspired cuisine in a 200-300 seat restaurant.

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The best TV commercials from around the world will be shown at the San Diego Advertising Club's noon luncheon Jan. 17 at the Paradise Point Resort, 1404 West Vacation Road, in Mission Bay.

Robert Goldsborough, special projects director with Advertising Age magazine, will show a reel of more than 30 of the most creative TV spots from the United States and abroad, as chosen by a jury of editors from Advertising Age and ad agency creative directors and marketing executives of advertiser companies, and editors and reporters at Advertising Age.

More than 1,000 spots were entered in the annual competition representing product and service categories, including automobiles, package goods, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, technology-communications, grocery products, apparel, retailing and public service.

The winners included big-budget, prize-winning TV commercials as well as creative spots done "on the cheap."

Networking at the Ad Club luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m., with the luncheon and program starting at noon. Cost is $30 for Ad Club members and $35 for non-members with reservations. For more information and reservations, phone (858) 576-9833.

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Bank of America Private Bank has named Laura Swartz senior v.p. and market executive. She will oversee Private Bank offices in the San Diego market with offices in downtown San Diego, Del Mar Heights and Rancho Santa Fe.

"Laura brings depth of experience and knowledge of portfolio management, asset allocation, banking and financial market strategies to our valued affluent clients in the San Diego market — one that we consider crucial to our growth strategy,” says Connie Beck, president of the Private Bank Western Region. “She is a proven leader who will effectively guide the San Diego team serving clients who entrust the Private Bank to be their premier financial advisor and to provide innovative solutions to help them grow and preserve their wealth."

Swartz, a long-time resident of San Diego, has a diverse career in financial and business management spanning 20 years. Prior to this appointment, she was with Advanta Corp. for 11 years, as senior v.p. in charge of the retail and wholesale home equity division, as founder and head of the correspondent division, and as treasurer of the mortgage division.

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