Research And Development

Human Genome Sciences Inc. reported yesterday a net loss of $2.2 million, or 10 cents per share, on revenue of $14.8 million for its second quarter, which ended June 30.By comparison, the Rockville-based gene sequencer and developer of genomics-derived medicines had net earnings of $1.2 million, or 5 cents a share, on revenue of $13.9 million in the corresponding period a year earlier.In the first half of the year, the company said, its net loss increased to $14.5 million, or 63 cents a share, on revenue of $16.2 million.

Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. broke ground yesterday for its $20 million research-and-development building, bolstering Baltimore's attempt to market itself as a biotechnology hub.The building will be in the Holabird Industrial Park, adjacent to Guilford's headquarters at 6611 Tributary St. In addition to top Guilford executives, the groundbreaking was attended by local officials including Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, Baltimore Development Corp. President M. J. "Jay" Brodie and James D. Fielder, acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

The University of Maryland Baltimore County has won approval for a research park that could bring up to 750 jobs to the southwest county -- a project that has drawn criticism from some area residents.Dismissing concerns that the park would create traffic congestion, harm wetlands and destroy architectural sites, Hearing Officer Lawrence E. Schmidt said he "easily" concluded that the scaled-down, 36-acre project complies with the county's development regulations."Quite obviously, the protestants would prefer that this parcel remain in its undisturbed state," Schmidt wrote in an opinion released yesterday.

Rockville-based GenVec Inc. and consumer health care giant Warner-Lambert Co. said yesterday that they have struck a deal worth an estimated $100 million to jointly develop a gene therapy product to treat common cardiovascular diseases.The deal with Warner-Lambert's Parke-Davis pharmaceutical division is the first collaboration GenVec has struck with a major pharmaceutical house, and it is a sign of growing recognition among some major drug companies that gene therapy may have promising medical applications.

Whenever a resupply ship lashes up with a Navy vessel on the high seas and starts delivering fuel or boxes of corned beef hash, it uses the kind of equipment Dale Spencer and his 40 workers make at their shop in Stevensville.Their cargo slings, flexible hose fittings and high-pressure valves keep supplies and fuel flowing between two moving vessels on a heaving ocean.But the company, Hydrasearch Co. and Technical Products Inc., has felt a little seasick for the last few years. The Navy isn't slinging so much hash now that the Pentagon budget is at a prolonged ebb.Revenues are flat even though Hydrasearch has bought a competitor and doubled its product line, said Spencer, president and chief executive officer of the privately held company.

Citing a 45.7 percent increase in research and development expenses, Gaithersburg-based Antex Biologics Inc. reported a net loss of $120,872 for the third quarter that ended Sept. 30, compared with a net loss of $157,551 for the same period of 1996.The small biotechnology company said yesterday that it booked third-quarter revenue of $965,331, compared with revenue of $623,646 for the year-ago quarter.Research and development expenses increased to $801,228 in the third quarter of 1997, from $549,762 in the comparable 1996 quarter.

Anne Arundel County became the third Maryland subdivision last night to eliminate property taxes on equipment used for research and development, primarily computer hardware and software.By a 7-0 vote, the County Council approved the legislation that is backed by the Gary administration as a way for Anne Arundel to attract and retain coveted high-tech business.County Executive John G. Gary, a Republican, is expected to sign the bill within days."This establishes us in a leadership position at a modest cost," said Michael S. Lofton, chief executive officer of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.

The Gary administration has proposed legislation that would save Anne Arundel research companies $2.2 million over the next five years by eliminating property taxes on equipment used for designing new technology.The legislation, introduced Monday to the County Council, is the county's most recent tactic to retain coveted high-tech businesses while attracting companies from outside the county.If the bill wins support from a Republican-majority council, Anne Arundel will become the third Maryland county to eliminate property taxes on equipment used for research and development, primarily computer hardware and software.

Anne Arundel County became last night the third Maryland subdivision to eliminate property taxes on equipment used for research and development, primarily computer hardware and software.By a 7-0 vote, the County Council approved the legislation that is backed by the Gary administration as a way for Anne Arundel to attract and retain coveted high-tech business.County Executive John G. Gary, a Republican, is expected to sign the bill within days."This establishes us in a leadership position at a modest cost," said Michael S. Lofton, chief executive officer of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.

25 years ago Howard Research and Development officials announced the intention to hire a full-time president for the Columbia Association. This was in response to concerns expressed by the CA executive committee about problems related to the organization's rapid growth and lack of strength.The Howard County Council acted to block construction of a Holiday Inn at the intersection of Routes 1 and 175. The point of conflict was the developer's plan to expand the temporary sewage treatment plant that was serving the area until the Deep Run Interceptor Sewer was completed.

The financially troubled developer of a huge business park being built at Aberdeen Proving Ground to serve base restructuring has backed out of the project and handed it off to Baltimore-based St. John Properties. Under plans approved by the Army, Rockville-based Opus East assigned development rights to St. John, which announced the agreement Tuesday and said it plans to start work on three or four research and office buildings. The 400-acre project, Government and Technology Enterprise, or GATE, is being developed as a 2 million- to 3 million-square-foot research and development park in partnership with the Army to handle growth from BRAC - military base restructuring.

The first building on the 400-acre research and development complex under development at Aberdeen Proving Ground has opened and is fully leased. Rockville-based Opus East, which is developing the Government and Technology Enterprise, or GATE, site in partnership with the Army, designed the $12 million structure to suit the needs of CACI International Inc., a technical consultant and federal contractor headquartered in Arlington, Va. The 60,000-square-foot structure...

A Pittsburgh-based developer will build a hotel and conference center, offices and shops at Fort Detrick in Frederick County under an arrangement in which the U.S. Army donates 24 acres at the base in return for future development services. Detrick Properties LLC, a joint venture of Dick Corp. of Pittsburgh and Hunt Development Group, said yesterday that the Army selected it for the project through an agreement known as an "enhanced-use lease." The developers would be given the land to build the hotel and conference center and an undetermined amount of Class A office, technology and research space and shops, which the developer would lease to either government or private-sector tenants.

About a dozen years ago, MedImmune Inc. - now the state's largest biotech business and among the top 10 in the world - nearly shut down. It had developed a respiratory treatment only to have the Food and Drug Administration reject it, and executives didn't have much in the way of a backup plan. Retooling a clinical trial eventually won FDA approval of the drug, but the lesson wasn't lost on executives: There is safety in numbers. For every 10 tries, only one drug makes it to market, which means there needs to be a long line of potential products in the wings for a company to continue.

WASHINGTON -- The high-tech industry is furious that the Senate failed to extend a tax credit for research and development costs before departing yesterday for its monthlong summer recess. The credit, which saves U.S. companies about $7 billion a year by offsetting approximately 6 percent of their research and development expenses, expired Dec. 31. It's used heavily by high-tech firms as well as many traditional manufacturing companies. Business lobbyists have been pressing Congress to pass a retroactive extension so companies can accurately estimate their taxes and plan research initiatives.

Richard M. Ivey Worldwide vice president of research and development BD Diagnostics (a segment of Becton, Dickinson and Co.), Sparks Salary --$200,000 Age --49 Years on the job --23 How he got started --Ivey holds a bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a master's from George Washington University. An engineer by training, Ivey first worked in the nuclear power industry and later for a large plastics manufacturing firm. He started at BD as a manufacturing engineer, then went on to work as a design engineer and in program management before going into management of research and development.

BSO requires strong board The Sun's editorial underscoring the significant management challenges facing the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra after its recent self-funded bailout is right on target but perpetuates a misconception about the role of a development director ("Intermezzo," April 2). The writer singles out that position as being the "key fundraiser." But that role may be better understood by an analogy to a sports team where the development director could be seen as the coach. A development director can only organize the plays and must depend upon the dedication and determination of the team and a commitment to sound organization from the front office.

Allison blazes path to business future The investment by Allison Transmission, a division of General Motors, represents the future of manufacturing in Maryland ("New GM hybrid, new shot at jobs," Feb. 2). Innovation is the essence of today's business enterprise and the only way to stay competitive in manufacturing today. By thinking creatively and responding to the market with an innovative hybrid transmission, Allison has carved out a future in today's turbulent economic waters. With its high level of investment in research and development, Maryland has the best climate in the country for manufacturing innovation and new products.

China's manufacturing cost advantage, growing research and development efforts and millions of science and engineering graduates are helping Beijing rapidly catch up with the United States' high-tech capabilities - posing not just an educational and economic challenge but also a potential military threat. Let's connect some of the dots: Almost half the states are doing a poor job setting high enough academic standards for science in their public schools, according to a report recently released by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Doug Doerfler says his Gaithersburg company has had to bag its flu-vaccine manufacturing project. Carol A. Nacy says her Rockville business might not be able to develop treatments for tuberculosis. And in Colorado, Kirk Christoffersen says an HIV vaccine his company was developing will have to be shelved because his corporation can't afford to proceed. "It's extremely costly" to find new cures and treatments, said Doerfler, chief executive officer of MaxCyte Inc., a 22-person company developing technology to help scientists work with cells.