“Our mission is to achieve the highest standard in software quality, safety, and reliability for our clients and their customers,” stated Samir Dandekar, Director of Business Development.  “Achieving ISO 13485 and 9001 is a major accomplishment for our company and confirms our position as a solid development partner.  It also highlights our commitment as an organization to keep patient safety and product quality a deep-rooted part of our culture.”

UL is an internationally recognized independent safety science company that assesses management systems and provides product safety services and certifications.

Recently, Code Refinery celebrated 15 years of serving medical device and clinical diagnostic instrumentation manufacturers.  Code Refinery launched in 1997 to fill unmet needs in turnkey software development specifically for lab automation and integration.  Since its establishment, Code Refinery has cultivated a thorough understanding of requirements for medical device software and has consistently provided world-class FDA compliant software development services to medical device and clinical diagnostic industry leaders.

About Code Refinery

Code Refinery is a privately-held custom medical device software development company serving medical device and life science clients.  As a leading OEM supplier of custom FDA-compliant software products and services, Code Refinery has developed and tested software applications used in clinical lab diagnostics, point-of-care devices, imaging and surgical tools for clients ranging in size from start-ups to major life science corporations.

Tekelec’s president and CEO, Ron de Lange, will explain how to overcome signaling storms and why the New Diameter Network is the foundation of a successful mobile data business at the Signaling Special Focus Day on May 22 at 9:30 a.m. He will also discuss use cases including load balancing, adding value to over-the-top (OTT) applications, congestion management and LTE roaming.

Houck Reed, vice president of Broadband Network Solutions at Tekelec, will present on managing data traffic and monetizing the LTE network with Diameter signaling and policy control on May 23 at 2:50 p.m. He will address the critical role of Diameter signaling, policy, and subscriber data management in delivering new services, as highlighted in the new white paper: “New Diameter Network: Over-the-Top, Clouds and Machines.”

Three Tekelec panels will give service providers additional insight into how Diameter routing, policy and subscriber data management address the rapid growth of mobile data and signaling:

“Quiz the vendor — Hear Deutsche Telekom’s SVP, Next Generation Technology quiz the industry’s leading OEM’s” on May 24 at 1 p.m. Dr. Kim Larsen of Deutsche Telekom, Germany, will query Mr. de Lange and other vendors on how they are developing technologies to launch and grow LTE services.
“Optimizing the network to provide the best possible end user experience” during the Signaling Special Focus Day, on May 22 at 3:15 p.m. Jason Emery, director of product management for the Diameter Signaling Router, will join participants from Deutsche Telekom Germany and MTN Ghana to discuss how to ease signaling burdens in the core network.
“Ensuring LTE is an opportunity for all, rather than simply opening up the network for 3rd parties” on May 23 at 4:50 p.m. Mark Ventimiglia, director of strategy and innovation, will help explain how OTT groups can further their service offerings as a result of LTE networks, and which types of services will benefit most from LTE.

Tekelec is the “front runner” in the emerging Diameter signaling market, according to a new Infonetics Research report that cites the company’s key customer wins. The company was also named top policy management vendor by service providers in an Infonetics Research survey in 2011 for the third in year row.

Supporting Resources
New Diameter Network: Over-the-Top, Clouds and Machines White Paper
The New Diameter Network White Paper
The Time for Diameter Is Now White Paper
Why Tekelec for Policy: Key Considerations in Selecting a Next-Generation Policy Server
Diameter Signaling Router product brief
Policy Server product brief

About Tekelec
Tekelec’s intelligent mobile broadband solutions enable service providers to manage and monetize mobile data and evolve to LTE and IMS. We are the architects of the new Diameter network, the foundation for session, policy and subscriber data management. More than 300 service providers use our market-leading solutions to deliver cloud, machine-to-machine and personalized services to consumers and enterprises. For more information visit www.tekelec.com.

Interviews will take place during the week of May 21-25 at the Double Eagle flex space, which is where the winner’s new office will be located. The judges are Fran Scarlett from UNCW Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), Steve Tetrault of Gig Salad, Kristen Beckmeyer of Coastal Cupcakes, Andrew Gray of TayloeGray, John Hinnant of WDI and Jeanette King from the Double Eagle flex space.

Why call it BootStrap?

It’s about boot strapping your idea, and bringing it to life. It’s about taking a company to the next level. BootStrap is designed to create an environment for success and to bring people together to collaborate on great ideas. BootStrap honors Wilmington’s heritage as a hard working blue collar town, with contemporary tech edge. So let’s go Wilmington, let’s BootStrap!

After a competitive bid process that began last August, World Fiber Technologies, Inc. (World Fiber) of Alpharetta, Ga., was awarded a $2.1 million contract in November 2011 to attach conduit and install fiber-optic cable within the conduit  along the Virginia Dare Bridge (U.S. 64 Bypass over Croatan Sound); U.S. 17 over Chowan River; U.S. 94 over Intracoastal Waterway; Washington Baum Bridge (U.S. 64 Bypass over Roanoke Sound); and the Wright Memorial Bridge (U.S. 158 over Currituck Sound).

MCNC successfully applied for encroachment permits from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to allow for the installation on all five bridges included on the route. Extensive daily coordination with NCDOT related to lane closures and management of traffic was a key component to completing the project in the short timeframe before peak tourist season on the Outer Banks.

“The impact of the MCNC projects on the future of rural North Carolina will be significant, particularly in eastern North Carolina where this infrastructure is sorely needed. This fiber will mean better access to education, more efficient and effective health care and economic opportunity for our citizens,” commented Gene Conti, North Carolina Secretary of Transportation.

Using fiber manufactured by CommScope in Hickory, N.C., World Fiber placed 12 miles of 288-strand fiber-optic cable along the five bridges. The bridge hanger support materials were custom manufactured in the United States to ensure proper fit. This also was an opportunity for World Fiber to follow the “Buy American Clause” stimulating the economy through local material procurement and production.

“It’s vitally important to World Fiber to promote economic growth while also connecting rural communities with state of the art fiber-optic cable that makes the transfer of Internet, video, voice, and data communication less expensive and more reliable,” said World Fiber President and CEO Mark Battle. “It was a true honor to have been selected for this crucial project and a pleasure to work closely with the NCDOT and MCNC to further expand the GLRBI.”

The first phase of the GLRBI was complete on April 27 and included 904 total miles, of which 414 was new construction in western and southeastern North Carolina. Round 2 encompasses 1,700 miles overall, of which 1,338 miles is new construction. In eastern North Carolina, the fiber loop will run from Roanoke Rapids east to Dare County and then back to Rocky Mount. Initially, the fiber will link area schools, colleges, libraries, and other community anchor institutions in facilitating improved Internet access and more capacity for online learning. A portion of the fiber will be available for use by local service providers to improve connectivity in the area.

Northeast Rural Broadband is working with GLRBI fiber marketing partner ECC Technologies and stakeholders in each county of the region to use the new capacity to expand access for unserved and underserved households and to maximize the economic development potential of the fiber loop.

“Improving internet access for the education, health care, and other community anchor institutions served by NCREN is our main goal with the project,” said MCNC President and CEO Joe Freddoso. “We also are working with local leaders like Northeast Rural Broadband and for-profit broadband service providers to extend robust broadband access to areas of the state lacking the broadband infrastructure to scale to their future needs.”

“This is an opportunity for northeast North Carolina to make an economic and social jump forward,” added Paul Tine, board member of Northeast Rural Broadband.

Installation was completed quickly to minimize impact on bridges during the height of tourist season on the Outer Banks. The next step in the project will be to link the bridge installations with the fiber installed underground.

The entire GLRBI project is on track to be completed by first quarter of 2013 and operational by summer 2013.

About World Fiber Technologies, Inc.
The World Fiber Technologies, Inc. is a premiere turn-key construction company, providing engineering design, construction and maintenance services for fiber optic and wireless communications, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), traffic signalization, fiber optic bridge attachments, and broadband telecommunications solutions.

We have earned a reputation for providing quality turn-key operations throughout the US, and we have the experience, expertise, personnel and company-owned equipment to self-perform our work.  We strive to complete projects safely, efficiently, on-time, on-budget and to our clients’ satisfaction.

World Fiber’s Bridge Division is dedicated to providing the most reliable, cost effective solutions for each fiber optic bridge project. Almost every World Fiber project includes bridge work either as a stand-alone project or in combination with our other core services.  We believe each bridge is unique with its own community purpose and characteristics.  During our bridge project investigation phase, we assess the bridge components alongside the client’s specific needs.  We begin with the basic fiber optic cable theory: fiber uses light to transfer data/video from one place to another (across a bridge).  Data is converted to light, sent through an optical fiber and conveyed to its intended end user.  The question then becomes, how does this fiber optic cable become part of a bridge as a cost effective method of data transfer? Our answer is custom fiber optic bridge attachments based on experience and proven technology.  World Fiber’s bridge solutions have been implemented across the US, connecting community networks and making fiber optic infrastructures on bridges affordable and cost effective.

MCNC & NCREN Community
MCNC is an independent, non-profit corporation. MCNC’s main focus is to operate the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN). For a more than a quarter century, NCREN continues to provide advanced Intranet and Internet connectivity to a constantly expanding number of Community Anchor Institutions throughout North Carolina. Today‘s users of NCREN include all 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina System, all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges, all 115 K-12 public school districts as well as a growing number of K-12 charter and private schools, the majority of the state’s private colleges and universities, several non-profit and public health care facilities, and a number of the state’s premier research institutions. NCREN also serves as the Internet gateway network for all state employees. MCNC currently is working on a $144 million expansion of NCREN scheduled to be completed by summer 2013. This initiative has been labeled the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative. Visit www.mcnc.org or follow @MCNC or @GLRBI.

About Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative
MCNC currently is working on a $144 million expansion of NCREN scheduled to be completed by 2013. This initiative has been labeled the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI).

To fund this expansion, MCNC applied for and received two U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) awards totaling $104 million. In addition, MCNC raised $40 million in private matching funds as required by the BTOP program. MCNC’s sources of matching funds included $24 million from the Golden LEAF Foundation, $8 million from the MCNC Endowment, $4 million from private-sector wholesale telecommunications company FRC, and an estimated $4 million through donations of land and existing conduit from individual community colleges, universities, and others including the Albemarle Pamlico Economic Development Corporation. No direct funding from the State of North Carolina was required. MCNC estimates this project will create or save 2,500 engineering, construction, and manufacturing jobs in the state.

Both MCNC awards are a part of a coordinated strategy developed by the Office of North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, the N.C. Office of Economic Recovery & Investment, and e-NC Authority to improve broadband access for businesses and residents in underserved areas. Once all work is complete, the two rounds of BTOP infrastructure have the potential to serve directly, or through MCNC partnerships with private-sector service providers, more than 1,500 community anchor institutions, 180,000 businesses, and reach more than 300,000 underserved families.

“Patersons shares our commitment to developing automated cloud-based solutions that enhance the workplace practices of our clients,” said James Freshwater, Executive Vice President of WorkPlace Systems. “As a result of our new partnership, we’ll be able to provide more clients around the globe with our leading-edge Schedule and Attendance Management solution and help them create greater efficiency and accuracy in their payroll processes.”

Andrew Pearson, CEO of Patersons, added, “WorkPlace Systems provides us with a means of delivering improved payroll solutions through the company’s comprehensive attendance management system. Patersons will continue to expand its partner program to include best-of-breed products and services to enrich our client offerings and to enable our partners to benefit from integration with the most complete global payroll management service available in the cloud.”

About Patersons
Patersons is the leading provider of integrated global payroll services, delivering expert solutions to customers in more than 160 countries. Patersons integrates the capabilities of payroll engines, payroll partners, workflow, and managed services in a secure and compliant service that is delivered using an on-demand, SaaS-based business model. This allows organizations to consolidate and control their multi-national payroll operations on one technology platform. The results are streamlined processes, better visibility, increased compliance, and reduced costs. For more information about Patersons, please visit
www.patersons.com

About WorkPlace Systems
WorkPlace Systems is a world leading cloud based Workforce Management company with particular strength in UK/European, American and Australian markets. WorkPlace Systems (WorkPlace) has over 25 years’ experience in the Workforce Management software market and has more than 400 deployments worldwide in major corporate and medium-sized organizations, managing some of the largest and most challenging work environments across many industry sectors.

WorkPlace clients include; BAE Systems, BBC, British Airways, Chelmsford Star Co-op, Coral, CSC, Fiskars, H&M, Hillingdon Borough Council, IGA Champions, Manpower, Menzies Aviation, Metro Group, Rite Aid, Safeway, South West Water, Subway, Tetley, Thorntons, Viridian Power, Wickes and World Duty Free.

The North Carolina Companies to Watch Award, presented in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, honors high-growth, second-stage companies headquartered in the state that demonstrate high performance in their market, exhibit innovative products, and display other unique qualities that make them “worth watching.” 2012 recipients were selected from an initial pool of more than 200 nominees.

Netsertive helps small businesses and their partner brands attract consumers and increase sales through its patent-pending online marketing technology and unique digital co-op platform. The company focuses its efforts in certain vertical markets including automotive, sports and fitness, audio/video and security, appliances and furniture, and dentistry and optometry.

Founded in 2009, Netsertive currently employs 45 professionals, with plans to expand to 90 by the end of 2012. In 2011, the company increased its revenues to seven times its 2009 results while expanding its innovative digital advertising and channel marketing technology into several new markets.

“We are truly honored that CED recognized our current success and prospects for even faster growth as a North Carolina Company to Watch,” said Brendan Morrissey, CEO. “Our incredible team, and the recognition from clients of the value our services bring to their businesses, are what drive our company. We’ve grown by helping our clients grow and manage the complexities of digital marketing through technology solutions.”

For more information, visit www.netsertive.com or call 800-490-4351.

About Netsertive
Based in the Research Triangle Park near Raleigh, N.C., Netsertive (www.netsertive.com) helps small businesses and their partner brands attract consumers and increase sales through its patent-pending digital advertising and channel marketing technology. The company, backed by prominent New York-based venture capital firms RRE Ventures and Greycroft Partners, works with clients to drive increased sales with its data-driven approach to online search and display advertising. Netsertive serves a wide range of local businesses in North America and brands/manufacturers that leverage local channel partners for sales.

“For some time we discussed bringing Tech After Five to Asheville and we are thrilled to now finally host it with the sponsorship of some of the most forward thinking tech companies in one of the most burgeoning tech cities in the Southeast,” said Phil Yanov, Executive Producer of Tech After Five. “It’s a great step forward for Tech After Five and we are excited to connect with the vibrant tech community in Asheville.”

Tech After Five, headquartered in Greenville, SC, will host its premier event on May 22 at Hickory Tavern in Asheville with launch sponsors Charter Business and TSAChoice, Asheville & Western NC’s largest voice, telecommunications, IT, data, network and audio-visual company with an expansion in Upstate South Carolina.

To receive notifications about the first upcoming Tech After Five event in Asheville, sign up at TechAfterFive.com/Ta5/Asheville-NC.

About Tech After Five
Now in its fifth year, Tech After Five connects tech professionals, business owners, and tech enthusiasts through a series of connected networking events offered free of charge to attendees. Through targeted invitations and facilitated networking activities, attendees are encouraged to create new professional relationships and strengthen existing relationships. Each event acts as a networking hub for attendees seeking expertise. Events are held monthly in Greenville, SC, Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Charlotte, NC and Asheville, NC. Learn more: http://www.TechAfterFive.com

Under the terms of the agreement, Furiex will be eligible to receive a $15 million payment upon closing, up to $20 million in regulatory and launch milestones and up to $40 million in sales-based milestones, plus tiered royalties on product sales ranging from mid-teens to mid-twenties in percentage terms. Menarini will assume responsibility for commercialization activities in the licensed territories and will fund ongoing clinical trials.

June Almenoff, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief medical officer of Furiex, stated, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Menarini and are confident that our experience and skills, coupled with the global presence and pharmaceutical experience of Menarini, should expand the development and commercialization of Priligy®.”

Commenting on the transaction, Dott. Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, Member of the Board of Menarini Group stated, “Priligy® is an innovative drug and the only product that has received regulatory approval specifically for the treatment of premature ejaculation. Premature Ejaculation is an underdiagnosed medical condition with only 9 % of sufferers seeking medical advice due to the social stigma associated with the condition. Menarini is committed to enhance the medical and scientific information available on the condition, in order to contribute in improving the quality of life of millions of people.”

As previously disclosed, Furiex recently entered into an agreement with ALZA and Janssen whereby ALZA and Janssen would transfer to Furiex worldwide Priligy® product rights.

The asset transfer agreement between Furiex, ALZA and Janssen and this license agreement are subject to various closing conditions, including negotiation and execution of additional agreements with Janssen designed to ensure a smooth transition of all production and marketing capability for the product.

About Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a distressing sexual dysfunction that can be present from the first sexual encounter or can develop later in life. It is the most common male sexual dysfunction, affecting about 30 percent of male adult population at some point during their lives. The condition consists of three major components: a short time to ejaculation, lack of ejaculatory control, and negative personal impact, including distress related to rapid ejaculation. A combination of physiological and psychological factors is believed to influence the mechanism of ejaculation. Research suggests serotonin plays a central role in the timing of ejaculation.

About Priligy®

Priligy® (dapoxetine) is the first oral medication approved for “on-demand” treatment of PE. Priligy® is a unique, short-acting, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) designed to be taken only when needed - one to three hours before sexual intercourse is anticipated - rather than every day. The drug is specifically developed for the on-demand treatment of PE and was evaluated in five randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trials involving more than 6,000 men with PE and their partners. This is the largest and most comprehensive clinical trial program to date for a drug therapy to treat PE.

Priligy® is approved for on-demand treatment of PE in 43 countries. On January 20, 2012, the European Commission issued a decision confirming the positive opinion adopted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommending the approval of Priligy® in the remaining 20 European Union countries, Norway and Iceland where the drug was not yet approved. Pending national regulatory steps, marketing authorizations can be granted in these 22 European countries.

About Furiex

Furiex Pharmaceuticals is a drug development collaboration company that uses innovative clinical development design to accelerate and increase value of drug development programs by advancing them through the drug discovery and development process in a cost-efficient manner. Our drug development programs are designed and driven by a core team with extensive drug development experience. The company collaborates with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and has a strong, diversified product portfolio and pipeline with multiple therapeutic candidates including two Phase III-ready assets, one compound in Phase III development with a partner and two products on the market. The company’s mission is to develop innovative medicines faster and at a lower cost, thereby improving profitability and accelerating time to market while providing life-improving therapies for patients. For more information, visit www.furiex.com.

About Menarini

Menarini is an international pharmaceutical company with over 13,000 employees worldwide and a presence in more than 100 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. The company was established 125 years ago and currently markets products in the cardiovascular, gastroenterology, metabolic, infectious disease and anti-inflammatory/analgesic therapeutic areas. With a three billion Euro turnover the Menarini Group is one of the world’s largest private pharmaceutical companies. For further details, visit www.menarini.com

As part of the transaction, Cornerstone will acquire product rights to CARDENE® I.V. and RETAVASE®. CARDENE I.V. is indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable. RETAVASE is indicated for use in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in adults, for the improvement of ventricular function following AMI, the reduction of the incidence of congestive heart failure and the reduction of mortality associated with AMI.  In 2011, EKR generated $58 million in net revenue, primarily from sales of CARDENE I.V. In 2013, Cornerstone is targeting FDA approval of a new active ingredient supplier and relaunch of RETAVASE, which could increase revenues significantly versus 2012. These products complement Cornerstone’s existing hospital products: CUROSURF®, which is indicated for the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants, as well as CRTX 080, a product candidate for treatment of hyponatremia.

“This transaction brings Cornerstone critical mass in the hospital-based therapeutics area and represents a major step forward in our strategy to focus on the hospital channel,” said Craig A. Collard, Cornerstone’s Chief Executive Officer. “With a significantly expanded product portfolio and larger sales and additional account management infrastructure, we believe we have enhanced our platform to drive future growth.”

Mr. Collard continued, “We plan to pursue additional hospital product licensing opportunities and company acquisitions that complement our enhanced hospital presence. We believe this strategy will position Cornerstone for growth and bring the Company to the next level of value creation.”

“The successful launch of CARDENE I.V., and development successes of RETAVASE have been great achievements for EKR,” said John E. Bailye, CEO of EKR Therapeutics. “We are very proud of the work our employees have done, particularly our sales organization who has established CARDENE I.V. as an important hospital franchise. We are pleased that Cornerstone recognizes the value of our business and look forward to their success in progressing these products, which will benefit clinicians and the patients they serve.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Cornerstone will make an initial cash payment of approximately $125 million, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, and make certain additional payments contingent upon the achievement of certain milestones related to regulatory approval of a new active ingredient supplier for RETAVASE and sales of RETAVASE during approximately the first three years following commercial relaunch. Pursuant to the merger agreement, a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Cornerstone will merge with and into EKR, with EKR continuing after the Merger as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornerstone. The EKR Board of Directors has approved the merger agreement and recommended its adoption by EKR’s stockholders.

In connection with the EKR transaction, Cornerstone and its majority shareholder, Chiesi Farmaceutici, SpA, have entered into a debt financing commitment, including customary covenants, whereby Chiesi will provide to Cornerstone a senior secured term loan facility comprised of (i) a five-year Term Loan A of up to $60 million at 7.5% interest per annum and (ii) a five-year Term Loan B of up to $30 million at 6.5% per annum. Term Loan B may be converted into common stock of the Company at $7.098 per share at Chiesi’s option at any time during the 24 months following the closing of the debt financing.

Advisors

Stifel Nicolaus Weisel is acting as financial advisor and Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. is acting as legal advisor to Cornerstone Therapeutics. Lazard is acting as financial advisor and Foley & Lardner LLP is acting as legal advisor to EKR.

About Cornerstone Therapeutics

Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRTX), headquartered in Cary, N.C., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing products for the hospital, niche respiratory and related specialty markets. Key elements of the Company’s strategy are to focus its commercial and internal development efforts in the hospital and related specialty product sector within the U.S. pharmaceutical marketplace; continue to seek out opportunities to acquire companies and marketed and/or registration-stage products that fit within the Company’s focus areas; and generate revenues by marketing approved generic products through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Aristos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more information, visit www.crtx.com.

About EKR Therapeutics

Since its inception, EKR has focused on acute-care hospital products. With its professional field sales force, commitment to excellence in customer service and medical education, EKR is an experienced provider of acute-care specialty products.

Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East is the east coast’s premier conference program for research and development, design, engineering, quality, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs professionals within the medical device industry. Attendees will have access to top suppliers, essential educational opportunities, and innovative solutions from industry experts. With 16 full-day conference programs, MD&M East offers customizable programs to get attendees the timely solutions they need to develop their next-generation medical products within a robust quality management system.

Registration and additional information about MD&M East can be found at www.canontradeshows.com/expo/east12/.