Daily Business Report: Friday, Nov. 11, 2023
Gene therapy finds new life in an old home
Upcoming symposium highlights the translation of gene
therapy research into clinical trials and actual treatments
By Scott LaFee
The idea of gene therapy is simple: Repair or replace a defective gene to treat or cure the disease caused by that abnormality. The reality of gene therapy, however, is more complicated and has proven much harder to achieve.
Perhaps only now, after decades of work, is the promise of gene therapy truly blossoming into practice, with scores of diverse genetic diseases being treated or seriously investigated.
Some of these efforts will be highlighted in a symposium Nov. 17-18, 2022 at UC San Diego, in which researchers and physicians will discuss current clinical trials using gene therapy, here and abroad. The event, open to students, faculty and industry (registration/fee required), is hosted by UC San Diego School of Medicine, the Embassy of France in the United States and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris as part of French-American Innovation Days.
“For some genetic disorders, like cystinosis, gene therapy may offer the only real path to a cure, and the only way to prove it is through clinical trials,” said Stephanie Cherqui, professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and one of the symposium organizers. “The symposium is a meeting of like-minded minds, an opportunity to discuss clinical trials in gene therapy on both a local and international scale.”
San Diego’s Safewell Essentials’ Essential Pencils gets
Special Mention on TIME’s Best Inventions 2022 list
TIME magazine announced its prestigious list of Best Inventions of 2022 and awarded San Diego’s Safewell Essentials Special Mention for its innovative Essential Pencils. The pencils are made from sustainable recycled paper, coated with a germ-inhibiting Microban coating and are naturally-infused with aromatherapy essential oils.
Essential Pencils were developed by Stephanie Bowman, an educator for special needs children at La Costa Canyon High School, and her husband Thomas Bowman, a former Hasbro employee. During the early days of the COVID pandemic Mrs. Bowman was in the classroom with students and she taught them frequently about health and wellness. While using an essential oil diffuser to calm the children in times of stress, she thought that a common pencil infused with essential oils would be very beneficial to her children. Thus pencils got a long-overdue upgrade with an innovative combination of materials and processes.
In addition to the TIME honor, Essential Pencils has also received the Hot Diggity seal of approval. The third-party company evaluates hundreds of consumer products each year, awarding only the best of the best with a Hot Diggity Award.
Consumers of all ages can be positively influenced by the aromatherapeutic scents while they are writing. The company’s Colored and Graphite #2 pencils feature six individual aromas including Lavender, Jasmine, Peppermint, Bergamot, Grapefruit and Cinnamon scents and priced at $9.99 for a pack of six. The entire Essential Pencils line is available for purchase from the Safewell Essentials web site: https://www.safewellessentials.com.
Port of San Diego extends agreement with and
reinvests in Sunken Seaweed pilot farm in San Diego Bay
The Port of San Diego is adding five years onto its agreement with Sunken Seaweed LLC., a local startup demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of seaweed and shellfish aquaculture in San Diego Bay. The Port is also investing an additional $100,000 in the project in exchange for an increase in revenue share from 5 percent to 6 percent and an extended revenue share period from 2043 to 2048.
Sunken Seaweed is led by two marine ecologists (Leslie Booher, Torre Polizzi) committed to pioneering sustainable seaweed aquaculture in San Diego. They are growing culinary seaweeds including dulse, sea lettuce, ogo, and other larger kelp varieties. Sunken Seaweed’s goal is to sell their seaweed to chefs and food production and distribution companies. They are also exploring a range of products including fertilizers, human food supplements, and livestock feed additives. Sunken Seaweed’s pilot farm is located at the northwestern end of Grape Street Pier Number 1 along the North Embarcadero.
Request denied: SANDAG board won’t hold emergency
review of CEO’s job performance after scathing audits
By Jennifer Bowman | inewsource
After yet another scathing assessment of agency spending practices, a veteran board member of the San Diego Association of Governments wants an early review of CEO Hasan Ikhrata’s job performance.
He’s not going to get it.
Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall asked for a closed-door session two days before the board’s regularly scheduled Friday morning meeting, citing the results of a recent contracts audit and “prior performance issues that have come to light,” according to a letter that inewsource obtained.
His request was denied by the next day.
The latest audit found officials increased contracts by tens of millions of dollars more than their original amounts. The agency’s 10 vendors with the highest percentage changes originally were awarded nearly $48 million in work, but that total more than doubled over a four-year period to nearly $106 million.
Southwestern College breaks
ground on new instructional complex
Southwestern College has broken ground on a new instructional complex that, along with providing classroom and support space, will finally bring a university presence to Chula Vista. The Instructional Complex 1 will feature a new planetarium and 80,000 square feet of classroom space and support facilities, including classrooms for business, technology, language and literature, arts, communication and social sciences classes.
At night the building will be a University Center that will allow students to obtain four-year degrees from partner universities like National University, Point Loma Nazarene University and San Diego State University.
Upon the completion of the University Center in 2024, Southwestern College students will be able to take four-year degree programs offered by university partners including National University, Point Loma Nazarene and San Diego State University at the center. Southwestern College is also in talks with both UC San Diego and National University to expand student opportunities in Chula Vista.
Topgolf to open new venues in
Sorrento Valley and East Harbor Island
Modern golf entertainment leader Topgolf is initiating plans to bring its technology-enabled venue experience to the San Diego area, with new locations being proposed in Sorrento Valley and East Harbor Island.
Topgolf’s venue experience centers on players taking part in point-scoring games in outdoor hitting bays that are equipped with the company’s Toptracer ball-tracking technology. The ball’s distance, height, speed and more are tracked, and players earn points based on the game they’re playing. Topgolf also features specialty menu items like its signature nachos, top-shelf drinks, family-friendly programs and other offerings in addition to game play.
Current plans for Topgolf in Sorrento Valley are focused on Topgolf redeveloping the Carroll Canyon Golf Center, replacing it with a three-level venue equipped with the company’s latest technology throughout its 80+ bays. At the Port of San Diego, a future Topgolf venue could kick off East Harbor Island redevelopment efforts with a three-story venue housing over 100 hitting bays.
San Diego hotels ‘cautiously bullish’ for 2023 forecast
San Diego County Lodging Association’s 2023 Hotel Economic Forecast predicts that the region’s hotels are poised to continue their recovery from nearly two years of pandemic shutdowns, welcoming business and convention travelers who are choosing Southern California over other destinations. “We are recovering, but we’re not recovered yet,” said Fred Tayco, executive director. “We’re cautiously bullish that business and convention travelers will make San Diego County their preferred destination in 2023.”
Analysis of the 2023 forecast data suggests San Diego hotels are likely to see:
• Business and convention travel increase 9.8 percent over 2022, but be 10 percent below 2019.
• Leisure travel decrease slightly by 0.8 percent from 2022’s rebound spike but still be 3.0 percent above 2019 as financial concerns, rising borrowing costs, a looming recession, and increased competitive pressures from other destinations each have an impact.
• Fewer overall guests – compared to pre-pandemic numbers – yet those guests are likely to stay longer.
• Staffing stabilization as hotels hire and train new workers to match occupancy demands and adjust to increased labor and supply costs.
• Travelers select San Diego over other California regions that were slower to re-open.
SDG&E and General Motors to explore
vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home technology
San Diego Gas & Electric and General Motors announced an agreement to investigate the feasibility of integrating bidirectional electric vehicles into the electric grid as a local energy resource. Following GM’s announcement of its newest business unit, GM Energy, the study will examine the hardware, software, processes and construction considerations necessary to accelerate wider adoption of Vehicle-to-Grid Integration capabilities.
Under the new agreement, GM and SDG&E will study three VGI capabilities: Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), and a Virtual Power Plant, which can leverage distributed energy resources such as EVs, batteries and chargers to help the grid meet demand.
Qualcomm and Renault boost
collaboration to target SDV platforms
Renault Group and Qualcomm Technologies announced that the companies intend to further expand their technology collaboration, aiming to deliver a centralized compute architecture for Renault’s next-generation of software-defined vehicles.
Known as “Software Defined Vehicle” (SDV) Platforms, the new automotive platforms would be based on Snapdragon digital chassis solutions from Qualcomm Technologies and support digital cockpit, connectivity, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The companies also announced that Qualcomm Technologies, or one of its affiliates, will also be investing in the Renault Group’s dedicated electric and software company, known as Ampere.
Water activities to be suspended at Miramar Reservoir
For the safety of City of San Diego residents and visitors, water activities at Miramar Reservoir will be suspended beginning next week through early 2023 due to pipeline construction work for the Pure Water Program. Shore areas, including picnic and barbecue areas, paths and shore fishing, will remain accessible to the public during the project. Water activities will also be suspended in mid-2023 during a second phase of the pipeline project. During these two construction periods, boats, canoes, kayaks and float tubes will not be allowed.
Lipidio Pharmaceuticals announces
close of Series A extension financing
Lipidio Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for dermatological and metabolic diseases, announced the close of an extension to its Series A financing, bringing the total amount raised to over $20 million. In addition to current Series A investors, this extension was led with participation of several new investors, including Nancy Chang (former founder and CEO of Tanox), John Maraganore (former Founding CEO of Alnylam) and Brent Saunders (former chairman & CEO of Allergan), along with a selected group of world-renowned dermatologists.
ATX Networks launches field training program
to address cable industry labor shortage
ATX Networks, a global leader in broadband access and media distribution solutions, unveiled its Field Personnel Replenishment Program (FPRP), a cable technician training initiative spearheaded by the company’s recently expanded professional services organization. The program’s mission is to work with community colleges and other vocational training centers to supply the cable industry with a steady flow of qualified field technicians necessary to overcome severe labor shortages and assist MSOs in the completion of their ambitious HFC evolution projects. The ATX-developed curriculum produces graduates with a ready-to-hire skillset.
GA-ASI SES and Hughes team up on demonstration
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) SES and Hughes Network Systems worked together to successfully demonstrate multi-orbit satellite communications using a General Atomics-supplied MQ-9B SkyGuardianRemotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The demonstration took place at the company’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, Calif. The higher data rate SATCOM transmission featured SES’s multi-orbit satellite communications service leveraging high-throughput, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit, and Geostationary fleet, and was powered by a Hughes HM series software-defined modem and Hughes Resource Management System.
Cal State San Marcos ranks first in nation in social mobility
Cal State San Marcos ranks first nationally out of more than 1,400 schools measured in the ninth annual Social Mobility Index (SMI) by the online publication CollegeNET. The SMI rates four-year U.S. colleges and universities “according to how they hold the line on tuition, enroll students from low-income backgrounds, graduate those students into good jobs, and apply their promotional messaging to solve our nation’s social mobility problem.”
CSUSM had been included in the top 5% of the index for each of the previous seven years, but this is the first time that it has topped the list. Seven other California State University schools ranked in the top 20.
