Tech Digest: what's moving in the Midwest
By WTN News • 09/27/04
- FDA approves quick-dissolving oral tablets for Parkinson's disease
- Fiserv forms banking deals on East Coast
- QRG Bioscience names UW-Milwaukee professor its scientific advisor
- Badger Meter partners with DCSI for meter readings
FDA approves quick-dissolving oral tablets for Parkinson's disease
MILWAUKEE Schwarz Pharma announced it has received FDA approval for and launched a new drug for Parkinsons disease that dissolves quickly in the mouth and does not need to be taken with water.
Released under the brand name Parcopa, the drug is a formulation of carbidopa-levodopa, a combination of chemicals that can help fight the breakdown of brain cells.
By eliminating the need to obtain water, Parcopa provides Parkinsons disease patients with easy access to their medication, which may make performing daily activities easier, said Ron Stratton president of Schwarz Pharma. Parcopas orally dissolving formulation also offers patients the ability to take the medication discreetly in public.
Fiserv forms banking deals on East Coast
BROOKFIELD, Wis. The information management firm Fiserv announced on Monday that it has formed deals with banks in California and New York to use their technology systems for fund transferring and processing.
Sidney Federal Credit Union of Sidney, New York, has signed a five-year deal with the EFT/CNS unit of Fiserv to provide services for ATMs and electronic fund transfers. The system is designed to provide complete ATM operational support, processing services, and on-line host authorizations, and will be implemented through Sidney FCU's six banks in upstate New York. While Sidney FCU has used Fiserv systems since 1991, this marks the first direct purchase outside of a reseller agreement
The Bank of Stockton in California has agreed to purchase and implement the Fiserv CBS Worldwide processing system in the first quarter of 2005. This system is configured for all aspects of banking, including image technology and commercial e-banking.
"They [at the Bank of Stockton] have a vision regarding technology," said Greg Green, chief operating officer of CBS Worldwide," and that is enormously helpful as we roll out new products and services."
QRG Bioscience names UW-Milwaukee professor its scientific advisor
MILWAUKEE QRG Bioscience, a developer of therapeutic products for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, has announced the appointment of James R. Moyer, Jr., as the company's scientific advisor.
Moyer is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's department of psychology and neuroscience. His research has focused on investigating neurophysiological, cellular, and behavioral changes that occur during both associative learning and aging.
"Dr. Moyer is the right person to help us explore the physiological and behavioral aspects of our new therapeutic compounds," said Mike Beaman, chief executive of QRG Bioscience.
Badger Meter partners with DCSI for meter readings
MILWAUKEE Badger Meter announced on Monday that it has partnered with Distribution Control Systems to develop and market a new automatic meter-reading system for utilities. In this agreement, Badger Meter will combine its Orion AMR radio frequency technology with DCSIs TWACS power line transponders, meaning each transponder can receive readings from all water and gas meters equipped with the system.
Weve learned that when it comes to AMR, theres no `one size fits all solution, said Richard Meeusen, CEO of Badger Meter. The utility industry has talked about migration of mobile AMR systems to fixed network AMR systems for years ... Its now a reality.
