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Tue. Mar. 06, 2012 Hub is the world’s ‘most fertile environment’ for biotech innovation, Sanofi chief says The chief executive of French drug maker Sanofi SA, which last year acquired Genzyme Corp. of Cambridge, said Tuesday that his company has established a presence in the Boston area because of its innovation ecosystem. Citing the area’s dense cluster of universities, hospitals, biotechnology start-ups, and venture capital firms, Christopher A. Viehbacher told Boston College’s Chief Executives’ Club of Boston that “I think the most fertile environment in the world today is right here in the Boston-Cambridge area.”	Advertisement
New Liberty Mutual ad gives special effects a workout A new ad from Liberty Mutual Insurance for its Home Protector Plus product makes use of so many special effects that it was almost a year in the making. The message of the ad is that Boston-based Liberty Mutual works hard to get a customer’s life back to normal after something bad has happened. Ads were created by Hill Holliday of Boston, Liberty Mutual’s long-time ad agency.
Boston start-up launches mobile ad platform SessionM, a Boston start-up cofounded by a former Apple Inc. executive, came out of stealth mode Monday to launch a mobile advertising platform.
Southworth to buy Willowbend from Paul Fireman Southworth Development LLC said today that it has agreed to buy the Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee and its remaining residential real estate from Paul Fireman, who for many years headed up the Reebok brand of athletic footwear and apparel. Headquartered in Newton, Southworth is a privately held firm specializing in the development of residential resort communities. One of the firm’s owners is David Southworth, a former business partner of Fireman’s who served as president and chief executive of Willowbend Development from 1992 to 2005.
Mass. business confidence rose last month A statewide business confidence index posted a 54.9 reading last month, up 2.1 points from the January reading, as Massachusetts businesses are becoming more convinced that the economy is improving. The index is maintained by Associated Industries of Massachusetts, an association of employers in the Bay State. The monthly Business Confidence Index uses a 100-point scale. A reading above 50 indicates that the state’s employer community is predominantly optimistic, while a reading below 50 points represents a negative outlook.
Pittsfield radio station drops Rush Limbaugh’s talk show Pittsfield radio station 1420 AM WBEC has dropped Rush Limbaugh’s radio program from its lineup. On his syndicated radio show, Limbaugh recently called a Georgetown University law student a “slut” after the student gave testimony to congressional Democrats in support of their national health care policy. Georgetown is a Jesuit university, and the Democrats’ health care policy would compel Georgetown’s health plan to cover her birth control. Limbaugh’s remarks provoked a storm of controversy, and Limbaugh has since apologized.
Fallon Community Health Plan launches new ad campaign Fallon Community Health Plan, a Worcester-based health care services organization, is launching a new brand campaign with the theme of “More New Thinking, More You.” The campaign was developed by Mechanica, a Newburyport ad agency, and the campaign includes digital ads as well as TV spots. Billings for the campaign are not being disclosed.
Beer buffs throng NH brewery to sample a stout called Kate PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Never mind that it was freezing — nearly 500 people waited outside a NewNew Hampshire New Hampshire brewery to get a taste of a favorite beer that’s released just once a year. Fans celebrated the release of Kate the Great Russian imperial stout on Monday. It was first brewed in 2005 at the Portsmouth Brewery and has received high marks in beer publications since.
New Balance adding more jobs in Maine New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. plans to hire 40 more workers at its Norridgewock, Maine, facility by the end of the month. A company representative said Monday that the Boston-based company could add even more jobs if its plant converts to all natural gas, which could save up to 60 percent in energy costs. The company said natural gas could help New Balance stay competitive by combining its oil, propane, and electricity systems, saving 50 to 60 percent on energy costs.
4s3 Bioscience raises $20m 4s3 Bioscience, Inc., a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on developing genetic disease therapies for orphan neuromuscular disorders, has raised $20 million in financing from KLP Enterprises, LLC. A KLP subsidiary, Alopexx Enterprises, LLC, will work with 4s3 to build and manage the company. The funding will be used to support the continued development of a proprietary antibody technology that provides targeted and active intracellular delivery of active proteins, enzymes and other macromolecules to skeletal muscle.
Lebron James to promote Dunkin’ Donuts in Asia Dunkin’ Brands Inc. said that NBA superstar Lebron James has agreed to promote Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins ice cream in Asia where the company has about a third of its stores. James will promote Dunkin’s brands in China, Taiwan, India, and South Korea through advertisements, online media, and in-store marketing, said Dunkin,’ which is headquartered in Canton. James will also make personal appearances in Asia after the season ends in June.
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