Press release news from the public relations clients of Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.

July 25th, 2011

Advanced Instruments Introduces A2O Advanced Automated Osmometer Featuring Breakthrough Automation and Performance Levels

NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA, July 25, 2011 - Advanced Instruments, Inc., today introduced the A₂O^TM Advanced Automated Osmometer, a multi-sample instrument that sets new benchmarks for analytical performance, ease of use, and true walk away operation capabilities in osmolality testing. The announcement was made at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s 2011 Clinical Lab Expo.

“The A₂O represents a major step forward in osmometry technology and offers clinical laboratory customers an exceptional opportunity to enhance their productivity and workflow,” said Kelly Peterson, product manager, Advanced Instruments. “It combines a highly functional design, exceptional performance, and an intuitive software control package that is both powerful and elegantly simple to operate.”

A₂O Eliminates Time-Consuming Manual Pipetting

With its intelligent liquid handling, the A₂O is the first osmometer to eliminate time-consuming and labor-intensive manual pipetting – the leading cause of sampling errors and inaccurate test results. The instrument fully automates sample processing to achieve dramatic gains in laboratory productivity and efficiency.

The instrument’s flexible software brings exciting new features and benefits to clinical laboratories:

• Intuitive touchscreen interface provides easy-to-use functionality and operation
• Integrated quality control features include automated system calibration, statistical monitoring and reporting, method control limits for controls and patient samples, and built-in system linearity checks
• Selectable system operation and access levels provides operator login and password protection
• Positive sample identification eliminates transcription errors
• Sample testing protocols can be customized specifically for each laboratory’s unique test requirements

“Advanced Instruments has leveraged its 50 years of freezing-point technology experience to revolutionize osmolality testing,” said Peterson. “The A₂O’s technology will allow clinical laboratory users to achieve more results, faster – and more efficiently.”

For more information on the A₂O Advanced Automated Osmometer, visit http://www.aicompanies.com/A2O or call +1 781.320.9000.

About Advanced Instruments, Inc.

Advanced Instruments, Inc., and our subsidiaries, Delta Instruments and Mart^® Microbiology, design and manufacture instrumentation for clinical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, microbiology, and food laboratories. Our quality brands include Spiral Biotech, Fiske Associates, and D & F Control Systems. The products we make help healthcare providers improve their quality of care, and industrial companies enhance their quality and productivity.

Advanced Instruments products are available from a worldwide distributor network. For more information on our products and services or to find your nearest distributor, visit us at http://www.aicompanies.com or e-mail us at info@aicompanies.com.

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Note to Editors:

• Download high-resolution photos for publication from: http://www.aicompanies.com/documents/image/A2O.jpg

Tags: Advanced Instruments, clinical laboratories, clinical laboratory, Osmolality, osmometer, osmometry

July 19th, 2011

Tiziani Whitmyre Client Howard Leight Receives ISHN Advertising Excellence Award

SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS, USA — June 19, 2011 — Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., a Boston-area interactive marketing, advertising, and public relations firm, announced today that Howard Leight®/Honeywell Safety Products, an agency client, has been honored with an Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) Advertising Excellence Award.

Its advertisement, titled “VeriPRO®: Fit for the real world,” was honored for its high level of recognition, recall, and content based on a study of ISHN readers.

Howard Leight is a leading global provider of passive and intelligent hearing protection solutions. The ad features a hardworking factory employee wearing hearing protection, and reminded readers how the Howard Leight VeriPRO earplug fit testing system makes it easy for employers to get an accurate, real-world picture of their employees’ hearing protection effectiveness.

Nearly three-fourths (73%) of the respondents who indicated purchasing influence in the Safety Products category recalled noticing the advertisement. Readers scored the ad high in all key criteria — being informative; having a positive impact on readers’ impression of the company; influencing readers to more likely recommend the company; and addressing a current information need or want of readers.

Renee S. Bessette, COHC, Global Brand Manager for Howard Leight/Honeywell Safety Products, praised Tiziani Whitmyre for the agency’s “creative contributions and strategy for our integrated media plan. We have come a long way in gaining mindshare — and programs — of safety and hearing conservation professionals.”

Bob Tiziani, Chief Executive Officer, Tiziani Whitmyre, said the award “once again demonstrates the results of a strong strategic, collaborative client partnership; an innovative product; and imaginative creative presentation to influence audience acceptance and drive positive behavior.”

About Tiziani Whitmyre
Tiziani Whitmyre (http://www.tizinc.com) is a Boston area marketing services agency that builds brands, generates sales leads, and delivers a measurable ROI for its clients’ marketing communications budget. Services include public relations (PR), Internet marketing (including search engine optimization, affiliate marketing, and Web design), advertising, direct marketing, graphic design, and corporate branding strategy.

Tags: advertising, Award, boston agency, marketing

July 6th, 2011

Microtest Laboratories Announces New Fast-Track Toxicity Testing for Medical Devices Using Zebrafish Embryos

AGAWAM, MASS. - July 6, 2011 - Microtest Laboratories has announced a new fast-track test to screen plastics and polymers in medical devices for toxicity using Zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio), a technique already widely utilized in drug development studies.

“Testing has revealed that Zebrafish embryos are highly susceptible to toxins. In fact, Zebrafish labs are ubiquitous in most universities and research hospitals,” said Steven Richter, Ph.D., president and scientific director of Microtest Laboratories, and former U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) official.

“We’ve confirmed the application of Zebrafish embryos in the toxicity testing of materials used in medical devices,” Dr. Richter said. “With our in-vitro test, manufacturers and bio materials researchers can screen thousands of polymers in less than a week – yielding significant economic savings in both the time and expense of medical device testing.”

In its research, Microtest Laboratories found that the current “gold standard” USP Cytotoxicity Assay, which utilizes live mouse fibroblasts (L929) cells in culture, failed to detect the toxicity of a BPA extract during testing – while Microtest’s new Zebrafish embryo screen succeeded.

BPA (bis-phenol A) is a suspected toxic polymer assumed as having both carcinogenic and teratogenic effects on humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that BPA will be slated for screening soon.

“Microtest’s new Zebrafish embryo assay has better sensitivity and generates more scientific data than the small animal tests currently recommended by the FDA,” Dr. Richter said.

“The use of Zebrafish embryos will reduce or eliminate the current animal testing required for all medical devices testing. This important vertebrate model has demonstrated similarities to mammalian models and humans in toxicity testing,” he noted.

Microtest Laboratories’ new Zebrafish embryo assay for the toxicity testing of medical devices is immediately available. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com/zebrafish-embryos-testing or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680

About Microtest Laboratories

Microtest Laboratories is a leader in medical device testing and related services for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company provides expertise and flexible processes that enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680. Follow Microtest Laboratories on Twitter @MicrotestLabs at http://twitter.com/MicrotestLabs.

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Press Contact: Don Goncalves, Tiziani Whitmyre, 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com

Download high resolution image from: http://www.microtestlabs.com/photos

Tags: medical device testing, Microtest Laboratories, toxicity testing, zebrafish embryos

June 7th, 2011

New White Paper Helps Medical Device Manufacturers Validate Cleaning Processes

A free white paper that guides manufacturers of medical devices in the validation of their cleaning processes is available from Microtest Laboratories.

It is available for download from: http://microtestlabs.com/cleaning-validation-paper

As many medical devices are made of high-tech materials such as metallic alloys or synthetic plastics, manufacturers may require the use of various agents to aid in the manufacturing process, or produce contaminants that need to be removed. Thus, these products must be cleaned to ensure both patient safety and the continuing functionality of the device.

In the white paper titled, “Five Steps to Validating the Cleaning Process of Medical Devices,” Patrick Kenny, Manager of Analytical Services at Microtest Laboratories, reviews medical device regulation under 21 CFR Part 820 – Quality System Regulation.

Several sections of Part 820 can be directly related to medical device cleanliness. For manufacturers, the challenge is to validate the cleaning process to ensure the devices are free of residue (chemical and particulate) in order to ensure patients are safe.

In the paper, Kenny presents a five-step process that provides a framework to assist manufacturers of medical devices in their cleaning validation efforts:
#1: Evaluate the Process, Determine the Potential Contaminants
#2: Determine the Limits
#3: Identify the Analytical Test
#4: Validate the Method for Use
#5: Validate the Cleaning Process

Download a free copy of “Five Steps to Validating the Cleaning Process of Medical Devices,” at http://microtestlabs.com/cleaning-validation-paper.

At Microtest Labs, Kenny leads the services group performing medical device and pharmaceutical analytical testing. He holds a M.S. degree in Chemistry and has spent the past 13 years working in QC, R&D and manufacturing laboratories.

About Microtest Laboratories
Microtest Labs is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company’s expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680. Follow Microtest Labs on Twitter @MicrotestLabs at http://twitter.com/MicrotestLabs

Tags: cleaning processes, cleaning validation, Medical Devices

June 3rd, 2011

Debby Chui, Brian Mann Join First Commons Bank to Lead New Wellesley Branch

Newton, Massachusetts, USA – June 3, 2011 – First Commons Bank, N.A., of Newton, Mass., has announced the management team for its soon-to-open Wellesley branch office: Debby Chui will be Vice President and Branch Manager, and Brian Mann will be Assistant Branch Manager. The Wellesley branch is scheduled to open this summer at 161 Linden Street, in Linden Square. First Commons Bank opened for business on July 22, 2009, and serves businesses and individuals in Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts.

“We are pleased that Debby and Brian joined our team. Together, they have 33 years of banking experience and, more importantly, they have over 20 years of Retail Banking experience in the town of Wellesley. Debby and Brian will provide our clients with solid banking expertise as well as extensive knowledge of the local community,” said Tony Nuzzo, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

As Vice President and Branch Manager, Ms. Chui, of Newton, Mass., will be responsible for the daily sales and operations of the new Wellesley office; and she will be reporting to Mark Jurilla, Chief Retail Officer. Prior to joining First Commons Bank, Ms. Chui was Vice President and Branch Manager of two RBS Citizens Bank branches in Wellesley. She managed the Linden Street branch from 2006 until 2011, adding responsibility for the Central Street branch in 2007 until 2011. Prior to joining RBS Citizens, Ms. Chui was a Project Manager for Dataware Solutions in Burlington, Mass., where she managed the Putnam account. Previously, she was a Business Consultant for CGU in Foxboro, Mass. Ms. Chui is active in the Wellesley community. She is a member of WOW (World of Wellesley), a nonprofit organization supporting minority professionals in Wellesley. She is also a past board member of the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Chui is a graduate of Brandeis University.

Mr. Mann, of Newton, Mass. will be the Assistant Branch Manager in Wellesley and support the branch’s day-to-day sales and operations. Mr. Mann has 27 years of banking experience. Before joining First Commons Bank, Mr. Mann was a banking executive in the Wellesley community for 16 years. He was Assistant Branch Manager for Cambridgeport Bank in Wellesley for 8 years and remained Assistant Branch Manager with RBS Citizens when it acquired Cambridgeport in 2003. Previously, Mr. Mann was a Mortgage Consultant Manager with Cambridgeport in Cambridge, Mass. He was also a Branch Manager for The Provident Institution for Savings, in Boston. Mr. Mann is a graduate of Suffolk University.

About First Commons Bank

First Commons Bank, N.A., is a new, nationally chartered, FDIC-insured full-service community bank, dedicated to serving the businesses and individuals of Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts. The bank, which opened for business in July 2009, reports total assets of more than $119 million, making it larger than 41% of all FDIC-insured banks in the U.S. First Commons Bank provides clients with superior, personalized service and the highest-quality banking through its onsite management team, experienced staff members, a unique and welcoming branch environment, and advanced banking technologies. Of note: Tony Nuzzo, Chairman, President, and CEO, was named Financial Services Executive of the Year in the prestigious 2010 American Business Awards. First Commons Bank (http://firstcommonsbank.com) is headquartered at 718 Beacon Street in Newton Centre, Mass. Follow First Commons Bank on Facebook at http://facebook.com/firstcommonsbank, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/firstcommonsbnk, and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/first-commons-bank-newton-centre-ma.

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• Press contact: Don Goncalves, Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com
• Download high-resolution photos for publication: http://goo.gl/sXTI5

Tags: community bank, first commons bank, Massachusetts, Newton, private placement, tony nuzzo, Waltham, Wellesley

May 31st, 2011

Immunetics Receives $500,000 from Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to Commercialize BacTx® Test for Bacterial Contamination in Platelet Transfusions

Immunetics, Inc., today announced it has been awarded a $500,000 Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Small Business Matching Grant (SBMG) to commercialize its BacTx^® rapid test for detecting bacterial contamination in platelets.

Platelets are a vital blood product enabling clotting, and patients suffering from trauma, surgical procedures, cancer, or chemotherapy must receive platelet transfusions to survive. Bacterial contamination of platelets is the leading cause of infection during transfusion, with patients facing the risk of severe or fatal transfusion-associated sepsis from the roughly 1 in 2,000 platelet units that are contaminated.

“Rapidly detecting bacteria in platelet units presents a major challenge. Some current testing methods are ineffective because of low sensitivity. Others are overly difficult or time-consuming to perform close to transfusion,” said Dr. Andrew Levin, president and scientific director, Immunetics.

“According to the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), a rapid test with high sensitivity performed close to the time of transfusion would represent a breakthrough in transfusion safety. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center grant will help us transition the critical juncture from R&D to manufacturing scale-up and regulatory approval — and commercially launch BacTx,” Levin said.

Immunetics has concluded clinical trials for BacTx^® and plans to submit an application for approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this summer. With FDA approval, BacTx^® could be launched as early as this year.

Immunetics was one of four life sciences firms named by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Board of Directors (“the Center”) to share in $2 million in new SBMGs. The four recipients were chosen through a competitive process after extensive review by the Center’s peer review panel, Scientific Advisory Board, and Board of Directors. The grants foster job growth and technology commercialization in the Massachusetts Life Sciences Supercluster.

“Helping our life sciences companies grow is all about creating jobs,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “As we continue to strengthen our global leadership in the life sciences, the Center’s Small Business Matching Grant Program is meeting an important need and making Massachusetts an even more attractive place for life sciences companies to locate and grow.”

“The SBMG program is another example of the Center’s leveraging strategy,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “Federal SBIR/STTR grants provide Massachusetts companies with funds for their research and development; our SBMG program then provides the funds that companies need to bridge to commercialization. These four promising companies will bring cost-effective new treatments to the market and expand employment opportunities in Massachusetts. We are especially pleased that some of our grantees will contribute directly to the creation of biomanufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth.”

“As an author of the legislation creating the Life Sciences Center several years ago, I am excited about the wonderful opportunity to grow the Life Sciences industry on the South Boston Waterfront,” said State Senator Jack Hart (D-South Boston).

“Immunetics is doing important work to prevent infectious disease and improve public health in our state and around the world,” said State Representative Nick Collins (D-South Boston), a member of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This award by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is an example of the Commonwealth’s commitment to investing in our state’s economic future. It is also another sign of the continued emergence of the South Boston Waterfront as a center for innovation and job creation in the life sciences industry.”

“I am extremely grateful for the continuing support by the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center of our mission to introduce innovations in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, as we grow our company in South Boston and become a stronger part of — and employer in — the very exciting Massachusetts Life Sciences community,” Levin said.

Immunetics received two SBIR Phase II grants totaling approximately $4 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), an agency of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which supported the research and development of the test. The technology underlying the test is protected by a recently issued U.S. patent, and foreign patents with approved claims are in process of issue.

With FDA approval, the BacTx^® test will be marketed to blood centers and hospitals throughout the U.S. and around the world. In total, about 5 million platelet units are collected annually in the U.S. and an equal number outside the U.S.

About Immunetics, Inc.

Immunetics Inc. (http://www.immunetics.com), offers state-of-the-art assay technology for infectious disease diagnosis and pathogen detection, and for over 10 years has been a leading innovator of tests for bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. The company produces and markets a range of infectious disease assay kits and instruments. Its mission is to deliver better, cost-efficient care through more accurate diagnosis. Immunetics is headquartered in Boston, Mass. Follow Immunetics on Twitter at http://twitter.com/immunetics.

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Press Contact: Don Goncalves, Tiziani Whitmyre, 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com

Tags: bacterial, bacterial contamination, blood, blood banks, detection, diagnosis, diseases, platelets, tests, transfusions

May 25th, 2011

Free Seminar to Help Connecticut Employers Improve Hearing Conservation Programs

— AIHA and ASSE members are eligible to receive CEUs —

A free seminar is scheduled for June 6, 2011 to help employers improve their Hearing Conservation Programs and prevent noise-induced hearing loss among their workers.

The seminar, titled “HearForever™: Best Practices in Hearing Conservation,” will provide practical information on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and the latest research and technologies that can help enhance employers’ Hearing Conservation Programs – as well as their bottom line, said noted Hearing Conservation expert Dr. Theresa Y. Schulz (Lt. Col., retired, U.S. Air Force).

Dr. Schulz, Hearing Conservation Manager at Howard Leight/Honeywell Safety Products, will present the seminar.

AIHA and ASSE members are eligible to receive CEUs.

Designed for industrial hygienists, occupational health and safety professionals, safety managers, audiologists, and liability and risk management professionals, the seminar will address the following topics:
• Basics of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
• Key Elements of an Effective Hearing Conservation Program
• Impending Changes to the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and How They Affect Employers
• Selection and Fitting of Hearing Protectors
• Employee Motivation and Training Techniques/Resources
• New Hearing Conservation Innovations and Technologies

The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to noon, with registration and a complimentary breakfast starting at 8 a.m.

The seminar will held in Milford on Monday, June 6, 2011, at the Hilton Garden Inn.

All attendees will receive a free gift bag with training materials, literature and hearing-protection samples from Howard Leight and other Honeywell Safety Product groups. VeriPRO® and QuietDose™ demonstrations will be available following the seminar.

Dr. Schulz is a past president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and also past chair of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). During her 20-plus-year career in the U.S. Air Force, she was twice recognized as USAF Outstanding Audiologist of the Year. Most recently, she served as a senior service fellow at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH’s) Hearing Loss Prevention Program. Dr. Schulz holds a Ph.D. in hearing science from Ohio State University.

To register, visit: http://www.hearforever.org/northeastseminar.

Howard Leight Hearing Conservation seminars have been presented to more than 2,500 safety professionals on five continents over the past five years. They are part of Howard Leight’s industry-leading HearForever initiative to raise awareness of the dangers, risks and consequences of noise-induced hearing loss.

Follow us on Twitter: @HearForeverOrg at http://twitter.com/HearForeverOrg.

About Howard Leight
Howard Leight / Honeywell Safety Products, is a leading global provider of passive and intelligent hearing protection solutions, and the founder of the HearForever® initiative. For over 30 years, Howard Leight has pursued the prevention of occupational noise-induced hearing loss through innovation in hearing protection design, technology, performance and comfort, and the promotion of progressive Hearing Conservation Programs. Leading solutions include the highest attenuating Max® single-use earplug; patented Air Flow Control™ technology for optimal earmuff attenuation; QuietDose™ personal in-ear dosimetry; and the industry-changing VeriPRO® earplug fit testing system.

Visit the Howard Leight website at http://www.howardleight.com. Follow us on Twitter: @HowardLeight at http://twitter.com/HowardLeight.

About Honeywell
Honeywell International (http://www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. The company is based in Morris Township, N.J. Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit http://www.honeywellnow.com.

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments, and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements.

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• Press contact: Don Goncalves, 1-781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com
• Download photos for publication: http://goo.gl/XC7t6

Tags: AIHA, ASSE, CEUs, hearing conservation programs, hearing protectors, NIHL, noise-induced hearing loss, seminar

May 11th, 2011

“Five Critical Factors for Selecting Fieldbus Valve Manifolds” — New White Paper from Numatics, Inc.

Tags: applications, ASCO, automotive, chemical, fieldbus valve manifolds, material handling, Numatics, OEM, original equipment manufacturers, packaging, pharmaceutical, pneumatic valve manifolds, tire, wastewater, water

May 3rd, 2011

Immunetics Awarded $2.4 Million NIH Grant for Clinical Trials of New Blood Test for Chagas’ Disease

BOSTON – May 3, 2011 – Immunetics, Inc. today announced it has been awarded a $2.4 million, 3-year Phase II SBIR grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support clinical trials of the company’s new confirmatory test for Chagas’ disease, a serious and potentially fatal parasitic infection.

Chagas’ disease is endemic in large parts of Latin America, where it affects up to 11 million people, and has emerged in the U.S., where more than 300,000 people are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and is often silent for years before clinical symptoms appear. During this time, carriers can pass on the parasite through blood donations and infect transfusion recipients.

Existing screening tests that detect antibodies to the parasite are frequently inaccurate. A complex method called radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA) is sometimes used to confirm screening test results, but is beyond the reach of most laboratories. There are no FDA-approved confirmatory test methods.

Immunetics’ test, called an immunoblot, detects antibodies to the parasite and is based on the same technology used in confirmatory tests for HIV and several other bloodborne infections. Data presented by Immunetics at meetings in 2010 of the American Association of Blood Banks and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene showed the immunoblot test to be as accurate as RIPA in preliminary studies, said Dr. Andrew Levin, president and scientific director, Immunetics.

“The new NIH grant will enable Immunetics to undertake a full-scale clinical trial to obtain data to submit to the FDA for approval of the immunoblot as a confirmatory test. Immunetics will undertake the studies with collaborators at Blood Systems Research Institute, the American Red Cross, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Levin said.

“This grant award gives us the opportunity to take our Chagas’ immunoblot test through the clinical studies needed to establish its validity as a confirmatory test. We are very grateful for NIH support for this project, which will allow us to bring forward a practical solution to one part of the growing public health and blood safety problem that Chagas’ disease presents in the U.S. and Latin America,” he said.

About Immunetics, Inc.

Immunetics Inc., (http://www.immunetics.com) offers state-of-the-art assay technology for infectious disease diagnosis and pathogen detection, and for over 10 years has been a leading innovator of tests for bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. The company produces and markets a range of infectious disease assay kits and instruments. Its mission is better, cost-efficient care through more accurate diagnosis. Immunetics is headquartered in Boston, Mass. Follow Immunetics on Twitter at http://twitter.com/immunetics.

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Press Contact: Don Goncalves, Tiziani Whitmyre, 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com

Tags: assay, assays, bacterial, blood, blood banks, blood supply, Chagas, Chagas disease, detection, diagnosis, disease, diseases, infectious, infectious diseases, National Institutes of Health, NIH, parasitic, pathogen, SBIR, Technology, tests, viral

April 29th, 2011

First Commons Bank Raises $7.4 Million in Private Placement — Assets Grow to $119 Million in 7th Quarter of Operations

Newton Centre, Massachusetts — April 29, 2011 — First Commons Bank of Newton, Mass., today announced it had raised approximately $7.4 million of new capital in a private placement that ended April 20, 2011. Approximately $5.9 million was raised in the quarter ending March 31, 2011, contributing to an 8.5% increase in total assets to $119 million versus the previous quarter ending December 31, 2010. First Commons Bank opened for business on July 22, 2009, and serves businesses and individuals in Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts.

“We are pleased with our continued ability to raise capital in these difficult economic times. Since the bank’s deposit growth has exceeded initial expectations, the net proceeds from the sale of common stock in our recent offering will provide us with new Tier 1 regulatory capital that provides additional room for growth. The new $5.9 million in capital raised by March 31, 2011, brought our total capital raised to almost $25 million since pre-formation and our March 31, 2011, Tier 1 capital ratio to 15.81%,” said Tony Nuzzo, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, our loans grew by approximately 10% and our net interest margin grew by approximately 20%, reflecting our focused pursuit of sustained profitability.”

“It is also interesting to note that with more than 7,500 FDIC-insured banks in the U.S. filing quarterly reports for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, First Commons Bank assets have now surpassed those of more than 3,100 other banks, or more than 41 percent, after just 7 quarters of operations,” Nuzzo said.

First Commons Bank financial results are available on the FDIC Website at http://www.fdic.gov or directly through this link: http://goo.gl/dchRM.

About First Commons Bank

First Commons Bank, N.A., is a new, nationally chartered, FDIC-insured full-service community bank, dedicated to serving the businesses and individuals of Newton, Wellesley, Waltham, and eastern Massachusetts. The bank, which opened for business in 2009, reports total assets of more than $119 million, making it larger than 41% of all FDIC-insured banks in the U.S. First Commons Bank provides clients with superior, personalized service and the highest-quality banking through its onsite management team, experienced staff members, a unique and welcoming branch environment, and advanced banking technologies. Of note: Tony Nuzzo, Chairman, President, and CEO, was named Financial Services Executive of the Year in the prestigious 2010 American Business Awards. First Commons Bank (http://firstcommonsbank.com) is headquartered at 718 Beacon Street in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Follow First Commons Bank on Facebook at http://facebook.com/firstcommonsbank, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/firstcommonsbnk and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/first-commons-bank-newton-centre-ma.

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Press contact: Don Goncalves, Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com

Company contact: Tony Nuzzo, First Commons Bank, 617-243-4410

Tags: community bank, first commons bank, Massachusetts, Newton, private placement, tony nuzzo, Waltham, Wellesley

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