Metabolix Inc., a Cambridge-based bioscience company focused on helping customers in the plastics, chemicals, and energy industries to achieve environmental goals, said it has entered into a distribution agreement with Tianjin GreenBio Materials Co. Ltd., a biomaterials company based in China. Biogen Idec Inc. said Friday that it will price Tecfidera, its new pill to treat multiple sclerosis, at $54,900 a year per patient. Officials at the Weston-based biotechnology company said the figure represents a “solid value” to MS patients. “We think it’s appropriate price,” said Tony Kingsley, executive vice president for commercial operations at Biogen Idec. “The clinical benefit of the product is very meaningful. We look at it in comparison to the alternatives on the market and the investment we’ve made.” Biogen Idec, which won Food and Drug Administration approval Wednesday to sell the twice-a-day oral therapy in the United States, said Tecfidera will distributed, stocked, and available to multiple sclerosis patients throughout the country “on or around” Monday. QD Vision Inc., a Lexington nanomaterials company that makes Color IQ optical components for LCD applications, said Friday that it closed a $20 million round of financing that will be used to further expand high volume production capacity and to fund long term company growth. "Here & Now," a weekday news program produced by WBUR and hosted by Robin Young, will expand from one hour to two hours in July, and Young will be joined by Jeremy Hobson as a co-host as the show looks to attract a wider audience. “Fresh Air,” a 60-minute public radio program that WBUR currently broadcasts at 1 p.m., will be moved to 2 p.m. “Talk of the Nation,” an NPR show that WBUR airs at 2 p.m., is ending production at the end of June. “Talk of the Nation” currently airs on 407 public radio stations while “Here & Now” is heard on 182. More stations are expected to pick up “Here & Now” when “Talk of the Nation” goes off the air. Alaska Airlines said it is launching nonstop flights today between San Diego and Boston, the sixth new city the carrier has begun serving from San Diego in the past year. The press release from the airlines included a statement from Ed Freni, director of aviation for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Logan International Airport. ‘‘This expansion of service by Alaska Airlines is good news for Boston Logan International Airport and the millions of passengers who choose to fly from New England’s gateway,’’ Freni said. ‘‘Alaska Airlines is a key player in the transcontinental market, and this new service to San Diego will give passengers even more choices. Alaska’s success here is indicative of the strong market in Boston for business and leisure travel.’’ At a time when bunnies jump and frisk and Willy Wonka has to put on a night shift at his chocolate factory, a retail website called Mydeals.com projects that the average US child will consumer more than 5,000 calories worth of junk food over the Easter holidays. Tokai Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Cambridge biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for prostate cancer, announced the appointment of Jodie Morrison to the position of chief executive. | | |
