Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | January 22, 2018 | wbjournal.com B R I E F S Marlborough drugmaker to focus on cancer treatment Marlborough drugmaker RXi Pharmaceuticals is shifting its business strategy to focus on the development of the most potentially lucrative of its three treatment areas: immuno-oncology. RXi is working on using its RNAi treat- ment to replace antibody treatments, a potentially $100-billion market. The com- pany was largely focused on developing treatment for dermatology (skin care) and ophthalmology (eye care) until it acquired Cambridge drugmaker MirImmune, Inc. in 2017 to look at immuno-oncology to treat cancer. In a statement on Tuesday, RXi President and CEO Geert Cauwenbergh cited positive clinical results from its der- matology study validating the safety and efficacy of the company's self-delivering RNAi compounds' ability to treat cancer in humans. The company plans to partner or out- license its dermatology and ophthalmolo- gy franchises. Proceeds from those trans- actions will be used to fund the compa- ny's renewed focus on immuno-oncology, the company said. Hanover Theatre has first female chairwoman The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester has appointed the first female chair of its board of directors. Marianne Felice, who has been a member of the the- ater since it opened in 2008, was named the board's first female head in January. Felice is a profes- sor of pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecolo- gy at UMass Medical School and is a for- mer chair of pediatrics at the school. The Hanover Theatre will mark its 10th anni- versary in March. Beer bottle manufacturer to close Milford facility Glass container manufacturer Ardagh Group will close its Milford production facility, which employs 250 people. The closure is due a decline in demand from the mass beer market in the U.S. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility at 1 National St. is expected to close by the end of March. The decision follows a review of the company's glass North America operations in October finding growth opportunities in stronger per- forming markets, like wine and food. T H E T I C K E R 30 New union members added to Worcester electrical union IBEW Local 96's membership in 2017 Source: IBEW Local 96 Proposed reduction in National Grid's natural gas original $87-million rate increase request, due to federal tax code changes $36 million Source: National Grid Higgins Armory sells part of site for $1.5M The Higgins Armory in Worcester has sold an unused part of its site for $1.5 million for what is expected to become a storage facility. The site at 90 Barber Ave. is 4.5 acres, but about 2 acres is being sold, said Brian Thibeault, who bought the armory museum building in 2014 after the museum closed. The segment of the site that sold has long been vacant. The parking lot for the armory will remain. The property was bought by Banner Worcester Storage LLC, with the sale closing on Dec. 11, according to the Registry of Deeds. Clinton hospital to close endoscopy unit The endoscopy unit at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital will close later this month. Closure of the unit is due to a staffing issue, according to Deborah Weymouth, the HealthAlliance president and CEO. The Massachusetts Nurses Association argued the planned closure is in viola- tion of Department of Public Health regulations. The MNA sent a notice to the state urging officials to intervene. Closure of gastrointestinal services at Clinton Hospital will result in the layoff of six registered nurses, a licensed prac- tical nurse and other support staff, the Massachusetts Nurses Association said. R.I. Senate approves $83M PawSox stadium As the team remains mum on any potential deal in Worcester, the Rhode Island Senate on Jan. 16 approved an $83-million stadium deal for the Pawtucket Red Sox, which would have the city and state putting up a respective $15 million and $23 million. The approval comes after lengthy meetings between Worcester and PawSox officials about a possible new stadium in the Canal District. The team, however, has not said anything public about a possible Worcester deal. The team would put up $45 million, including the first $12 million in equity spent on the new ballpark proposed to be built at the site of the Apex Cos. retail store. The new ballpark will replace the aging McCoy Stadium, the team's home of nearly 40 years. Worcester officials declined comment after the Senate's vote. 42 Source: CVS Planned drug disposal centers at CVS stores in the state, as an effort curb opioid addiction by helping people dispose of unused prescriptions Continued from previous page Amount gained by a Georgia man sentenced to 21 months in prison for defrauding Framingham-based Staples via a rewards program scheme 900,000 Source: U.S. District Attorney's Office Marianne Felice Deborah Weymouth, president and CEO of HealthAlliance Hospital

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