Medical Research Means Business

A professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore's School of Medicine is showing that he is a businessman as well as a scholar.Dr.J. Marc Simard,M.D.,PhD.,receieved the Research Lecturer of the Year Award from the university in 2007 for discovering a new use of the diabetes drug glyburide.An intravenous form of the drug may be used for treating strokes,head or spinal cord injuries.The drug can reduce brain cell death,swelling and hemorrhaging.In 2008,Dr.Simard received the university's Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his effort to market his discovery.This involved setting up a company,Remedy Pharmaceuticals,which aims to raise enough capital for extensive clinical trials on the way to Food and Drug Administration approval of the new use for glyburide.The company raised its initial goal of 22 million dollars,but more needs to be done.
Dr.Simard has spent many hours pitching his discovery to investors,explaining the complex science and outlining the business implications as well.He has known success as an inventor in the past,with 30 patents issued or pending to his name.Dr.Simard said he's happy to do the legwork for the benefit of patients with untreatable diseases.
University of Maryland, Baltimore has six professional schools,plus a graduate school.It is a world-class research institute and seed-bed for business.

Commercial Real Estate Check

The CEO of Vornado Realty Trust,Steven Roth,has been analyzing the sector's prospects.After a vicious,very sharp downdraft,Mr.Roth says,we are in the process of seeking a bottom.That will take 3-5 years.There's no doubt that commercial real estate has re-priced lower.Brokers and tenants now feel that we're in a bottom.We want two-year leases;tenants want long term.This is the traditional sign of a bottom.
The last cycle,in the 1990s,lasted 10 years peak-to-peak.From 1988-91,there was a vicious downdraft.We're exactly on track with the historic 90's cycle.That downdraft lasted three years,with re-equitizing and base-building for the next 3-6 years.That's the best time to do acquisitions and load up on capital,which is what Vornado is doing now,Mr.Roth pointed out.
The government's TALF program is going to finance the AAA portion of a real estate loan.By historical standards,that's a fairly low amount.Vornado is in the TALF queue for refinancing.It's a very slow process,Mr.Roth observed.

Gift Card Good News

American Express is going beyond what the new credit card law will require in its gift card provision.As of August 2010,the law forbids fees on gift cards held less than 12 months.AmEx is abolishing all such fees immediately,without exception.It used to charge two dollars a month on gift cards held a year or longer.To sum up:anyone who has an AmEx gift card,or plans to purchase one,should stop worrying that fees will eat up the balance.That won't happen anymore.It will be interesting to see if competitors will match AmEx's new policy.
AmEx stock rose 2.45 last week,closing at 34.94.It had a dividend yield of 2.1% at that price.The stock was up this morning in early European trading.

Coca-Cola Takes Health Tack

Coca-Cola says it is taking steps to help Americans realize their health goals.First,it is adding calories per serving and servings per container information on the front of all U.S. packages.To further help people manage their caloric intake,Coke is introducing 90-calorie slim cans in 2010.The company also points out that,since 2006,Coke has not sold full-calorie sparkling beverages in schools,in accordance with national school beverage guidelines.Since that time,total beverage calories in schools have decreased more than 58%,Coca-Cola reports.
All that being said,Coke goes on to admit that they know more needs to be done.Childhood obesity,and obesity generally,are major health concerns in America today.

Sears Holdings' Christmas Strategy

Sears Holdings got an early and shrewd start on the holiday shopping season.Noticing that many of its Sears stores were in malls that had lost KB Toys stores when that chain was liquidated,Sears decided to take up the slack and start selling toys itself at these malls.Since August 15,Sears has been selling toys at 20 locations in the Chicago,New York,Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.The Toy Shops are stocking private label toys such as My First Craftsman,My First Kenmore and Just Kidz,as well as Fisher Price,VTech,Hasbro,LeapFrog and Bakugan.Specialty brands Schylling,Gund Plush and Thomas Wooden Railway are also being sold at the Sears stores.

Saudi Aramco's Long View

Saudi Aramco,Saudi Arabia's state oil firm,sees its prospects from a long term perspective.Oil demand in the West is currently very sluggish,according to Khalid al-Fallih,CEO of Saudi Aramco,but Saudi Arabia can survive on lower prices than others can,given the scale of its production.The world has 9-10 trillion barrels of oil.If we look at history,Mr.al-Fallih says,the industry has been able to replace its reserves and more.Our expectations in technology,both in discovery and production,have been very,very bullish.It's gonna take decades to shift from oil in any meaningful way.There is a happy medium,Mr.al-Fallih assures us,where consumers will not be hurt and investors will support exploration.

Study Shows Exercise Benefit

Twenty minutes of moderate exercise lifts the spirits for up to 12 hours,a University of Vermont study indicates.This significant positive effect was noted in all participants.Fitness level,gender and age didn't matter.The work-outs by the subjects were at 60% maximum aerobic capacity,which is the equivalent of a brisk walk.Exercise affects body chemistry,provides a change of pace and results in social interactions,all of which may induce a brighter outlook in participants.Perhaps mood medication isn't as necessary as was previously thought.