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January 11, 2002
Qualcomm Inc. and Reliance Communications Ltd., a company promoted by Reliance Industries Ltd., India's largest private-sector enterprise, have formed a strategic alliance to support the introduction of next-generation CDMA wireless technology in India.
As part of the alliance, Qualcomm has committed to invest up to $200 million for a minority stake in the equity capital of RCL. RCL intends to provide basic telephone services, Wireless Local Loop with limited mobility and national long distance services in India. RCL also proposes to enter into international long distance telephony once the sector is open to private companies.
RCL has acquired licenses for providing basic telephone services in 17 out of 21 circles in India. Including Gujarat, this covers approximately 95 percent of India's population. RCL proposes to provide limited mobility wireless services under these licenses by deploying advanced CDMA2000 1X technology during 2002.
To date, foreign telecom investors have been interested primarily in the cellular services sector and total foreign investment in the basic services sector has been limited to Rs. 8 billion in the past seven years. The investment by Qualcomm in Reliance of Rs. 10 billion is the largest investment in basic services in any single telecom services licensee company in India.
"With recent positive regulatory policy changes in India that allow the provision of limited mobility wireless services under a basic telephone license, CDMA is an attractive solution for Wireless Local Loop operators," says Jeff Jacobs, president of global development for Qualcomm. "Reliance's industry leadership and financial strength make it well positioned to deploy advanced voice and data wireless services nationwide. We look forward to working with them closely to make the implementation of CDMA technology a success."
"Availability and affordability of telecom services have been the key constraints that have led to a low teledensity in India,” says Mukesh Ambani, vice chairman, Reliance Industries Limited. “RCL plans to leverage the cost, capacity and quality advantages of CDMA to offer the most competitive wireless voice and data services nationwide to meet the availability and affordability needs of consumers in India. In partnering with Qualcomm, RCL brings in the best and the latest available wireless technology for the benefit of Indian telecom users and this will make a significant contribution in realizing the objectives of the Government of India's New Telecom Policy.
"The proposed alliance would ensure success of the next-generation CDMA2000 1X technology in India and reflects the confidence of Qualcomm in the ability of RCL to tap the large untapped demand potential in India," Ambani says.
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In other Qualcomm news, the firm has plans with Nextel Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc. to develop a Direct Connect product for global wireless network operators using CDMA platforms.
Nextel has signed an agreement with Qualcomm that complements and builds upon Nextel's existing and continuing agreements with Motorola. Specifically, Nextel and Qualcomm have entered into a licensing agreement for the further development and deployment of Qualcomm's QChat software.
Motorola will integrate the overall infrastructure solution for use in CDMA networks and will develop specific enhancements to CDMA2000 to ensure the fast call set up, mobility management and iDEN interoperability necessary for Nextel's Direct Connect service.
Subject to a definitive agreement, Motorola will have marketing rights for the enhanced Direct Connect product outside the United States.
“This agreement combines Qualcomm's innovative software application, QChat, with Nextel's strong track record of offering unique services, such as Direct Connect," says Irwin Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. "Qualcomm's CDMA QChat software combined with Motorola's infrastructure will enable the creation of a global community of Direct Connect users. For instance, a Direct Connect customer in Boston will be able to instantly communicate with a Direct Connect customer in Beijing."
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Sempra Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, has been selected by the Veterans Integrated Service Network of Ohio to design energy conservation measures at six major medical facilities in Ohio and Kentucky serving U.S. veterans and their families. The estimated value of the contract is more than $30 million.
Over the next 25 years, Sempra Energy Solutions will work with VISN 10 facilities management teams to create long-term energy solutions at each facility.
"We have a long history of developing integrated energy solutions for some of the nation's most prestigious federal and medical institutions, and we look forward to helping the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs achieve their energy-efficiency goals while establishing state-of-the-art energy infrastructure," says Bob Dickerman, president of Sempra Energy Solutions.
Sempra will identify opportunities to reduce energy usage through performance contracting, and engineering analysis and construction. Performance contracting does not require any out-of-pocket expenses, since the cost is paid over time by the achieved savings.
Potential activities include designing and constructing new central plants, upgrading existing HVAC equipment, replacing interior and exterior lighting, implementing water-conservation measures, and providing ongoing technical support.
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UCSD Medical Center is offering a new clinical trial for children who have, or expect they may have, attention deficit disorder or its closely affiliated condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which are manifested by symptoms such as an inability to focus, short attention spans and impulsive behavior.
Open to children between the ages of 6 and 12, the trial will test a skin patch that contains methylphenidate, the ingredient found in Ritalin, the most popularly prescribed ADD/ADHD medication. The patch provides a steady level of drug through the skin to the bloodstream and offers an alternative to twice-daily pills.
The study is funded by the patch’s maker, Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Dr. David Feifel, director of UCSD Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Program and its Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Clinic, notes the skin patch may reduce some of Ritalin’s side-effects, such as jitteriness and stomach aches since these side effects are often due to the rapid fluctuations in methylphenidate blood levels associated with taking the short-acting oral form of the drug multiple times a day.
Another potential advantage, says clinical trial coordinator Beata K. Kawamoto, is that “children would not have to experience the stigma associated with going to the nurses office to take medication.”
For information on the skin patch clinical trial, call UCSD at (619) 543-6495 or (619) 543-7570.
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Data has been presented on La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.'s drug candidate for lupus renal disease, LJP 394, from a previous Phase II/III clinical trial which indicates that treatment with LJP 394 improved or sustained health-related quality of life in patients with lupus renal disease following 16 weeks of treatment with LJP 394 and following renal flares when compared to placebo.
Dr. Vibeke Strand, clinical professor of medicine, division of immunology, Stanford University, and Bruce Crawford, Mapi Values, presented a paper titled "Improvement in Health Related Quality of Life in 230 SLE Patients Enrolled in a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing LJP 394 Treatment with Placebo" at the SLE: Targets for New Therapeutics scientific conference sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the SLE Foundation.
"Following 16 weekly treatments, patients treated with LJP 394 reported improved health-related quality of life compared with placebo — a very short time to show such a change," says Strand. "The largest difference between drug treatment and placebo treatment occurred in the 'role emotional' domain, indicating that patients felt better when treated with LJP 394, despite a renal flare. These improvements were not determined to be due to differences in the use of high-dose corticosteroids and/or cytotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide. And, although this is the first health-related quality of life evaluation of LJP 394, the longitudinal improvement is consistent with other reported benefits — the delay of renal flares and the delay in treatments with high-dose corticosteroids and/or cyclophosphamide.”
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In keeping with its mission to support affordable housing programs, Comerica Bank-California has made a sizable commitment to a North County organization that serves the same mission.
The Faith Based Federal Credit Union (in formation), of Oceanside, received from Comerica a $50,000 interest-free certificate of deposit to assist in the implementation of programs focused on providing affordable housing to low- and moderate-income families. The Faith Based Federal Credit Union will achieve this goal by offering financial literacy and savings programs to families in addition to down payment assistance.
Although the credit union is not yet open to the public (it is expected to be open by the end of the first quarter 2002), it has received preliminary charter approval from the National Credit Union Association and has so far raised approximately $1.5 million in grants and non-member deposits to support its programs and start-up costs.
Daniel Scott, executive director of the Faith Based Community Development Corp., says the organization is not affiliated with any specific religious group, although it has the support of many faith-based groups and expects many of their customers to be referred by those groups.
"The Faith Based Federal Credit Union represents the CDCs major economic development project," says Scott. "With the support of Comerica Bank, the credit union will address the unmet financial needs of low-income community residents and help to achieve economic empowerment
"This contribution is just our way of saying 'thank you' to a local organization that we know will help provide valuable housing assistance for those who need it," says Comerica Bank-California President and CEO Mike Fulton. "Hopefully this contribution — and others like it from fellow corporations — will help provide ongoing assistance to this extremely worthwhile organization."
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Dr. Kenneth Kaushansky has been named the new chair of the department of medicine at UCSD.
Currently serving as professor of medicine and adjunct professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington, and chief of the hematology section at the University of Washington Medical Center, he will begin his new position Feb. 1.
Kaushansky, a highly respected hematologist and distinguished scientist, is currently editor-in-chief of the journal “Blood.”
"Dr. Kaushansky is an outstanding individual whose professional accomplishments and leadership skills will be a tremendous addition to the Health Sciences and to our university community," says Dr. Edward W. Holmes, vice chancellor for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine, in his announcement of the appointment. "I also want to thank Dr. Roger Spragg for serving as interim chair during the recruitment phase. He has done a superb job, ensuring that the department has continued to maintain its excellence on all fronts and maintained its position as one of the top departments of medicine in the country."
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IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. has promoted William R. Rohn to president and COO. William H. Rastetter will continue as chairman and CEO.
Rohn has served as COO since May 1998 and was appointed senior v.p., commercial operations in April 1996. He joined IDEC in August 1993 as senior v.p., commercial and corporate development. Rohn will continue to be responsible for sales, marketing, business development, biopharmaceuticals sciences, manufacturing, process sciences, quality and medical affairs. Additionally, he will take on responsibility for chemistry, manufacturing and controls and regulatory affairs.
"Bill has played a major role at IDEC since joining the company eight years ago," says Rastetter. “He has helped establish and build Rituxan (rituximab), our first commercial product with co-promotion partner Genentech, into a blockbuster therapeutic for certain B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and he has made significant contributions to the development of Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan), our second product candidate, for which we are seeking marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. I look forward to working closely with Bill in his new, well-deserved role as IDEC's president."
John Dunn has been appointed the company’s senior v.p., legal and compliance, and general counsel. Kenneth J. Woolcott, IDEC's general counsel since 1992, will continue at the company as special counsel for a transition period. Dunn will head IDEC's legal and compliance departments and serve as a member of the company’s senior management team.
Previously, Dunn had been a partner with Pillsbury Winthrop.
In addition, IDEC named Herbert Boyer to the board. In 1976, Boyer and Robert Swanson founded Genentech. Boyer remained v.p. of Genentech from its founding until 1990. He has served on Genentech's board since its inception.
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The new U.S. Bank at 3560 El Cajon Blvd. is open and ready for business. Community leaders will join the bank to celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. today and neighborhood festival from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Jerry Grundhofer, president and CEO of U.S. Bank parent company U.S. Bancorp, will preside over the ribbon cutting ceremony. "We expect the year 2002 to be successful and prosperous not only for the bank but for the nation and in particular, the communities that we serve,” Grunfhofer says. “I’m confident that the opening of this U.S. Bank location will be the first of many positive steps forward in the revitalization of the City Heights neighborhood."
Toni Atkins, city councilwoman for San Diego’s third district, will deliver a special proclamation in honor of the grand opening. "I applaud U.S. Bank for bringing a new financial institution into what for many years was a blighted area," Atkins says. "This is further proof that our revitalization efforts in Mid-City are working. I join with the community in welcoming U.S. Bank to City Heights."
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The San Diego Sports Arena, occasional home to the greatest names in sports and entertainment, and also the Clippers at one time, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
Recently the facility was named the No. 1 facility in the nation for venues 10,001-15,000 seats by Amusement Business and Billboard magazines.
The arena opened for its first event on Nov. 17, 1966, when the San Diego Gulls defeated the Seattle Totems 4-1 before a crowd of 12,844.
Continuing today, the San Diego Sports Arena has been home to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, U2, James Brown, Tina Turner, Rolling Stones, Garth Brooks and Pavarotti along with hosting the NCAA Final Four, championship fights including the Ali-Norton bout, NBA Rockets and Clippers, Gulls and Sockers games, Lakers exhibitions and the NBA All-Star game, to name a few.
"We’re quite proud of being the home for thousands of entertainment events over the years," says Ernie Hahn, g.m. of the Sports Arena. "We continue to make improvements to enhance the entertainment experience for our customers. Our new scoreboard, food court and improved signage throughout the building are just a few of the changes we’ve made. It’s only the beginning as we work to improve all aspects of our operations."
"I’m proud of the Hahn family and how they have improved this wonderful building,” says Bob Breitbard, who built the San Diego Sports Arena. “Hundreds of thousands of people have been able to see hockey, basketball, ice shows, circuses and concerts here. I feel honored to have been a part of this great adventure."
The Sports Arena will be unveiling this spring a lifesize photo display of many of the top moments in Sports Arena history. Other 35th anniversary promotions will be announced later.
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Southrail Equities LLC, an affiliate of Westcore Industrial Properties, has purchased the Southrail Business Park, a 16-building complex in Chula Vista for $12.4 million.
The 224,451-square-foot business park, located at 611-696 Marsat Court and 1413-1596 Jayken Way, was sold by the California State Teachers Retirement System.
Southrail, located on 16.4 acres, was constructed in phases in 1984 and 1987. The buildings are 87 percent leased, with major tenants including Quality Plus Automotive Parts, Apparel Creations, Bay Port Press, OSI Security Devices and LGB Inc.
Southrail Equities LLC is a California limited liability company with MRB Manager serving as its managing member.
The acquisition was financed through a loan from Union Bank.
Both sides in the transaction were represented by Steve Rowland, formerly of Burnham Real Estate Services and currently with Business Real Estate Brokerage Co. Leasing will be handled by Michael Mossmer of Voit Commercial Brokerage.
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