Beacon NewsFlashes – October 12, 2009
Spanish Broadcasting System To Launch AIDS Awareness Campaign – The Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has announced that it will launch a public service campaign to increase AIDS awareness in Hispanic communities throughout Central and Southern Florida. The campaign, titled “El Momento Decisivo/The Turning Point,” will air for the first time on October 12 at 8 p.m. ET on the SBS show “Maria Elvira Live.” Carmen Dominicci, the spokeswoman for “The Latino Commission on AIDS,” will be making a guest appearance. In order to spread awareness, the campaign will focus on the importance of taking precautions to prevent HIV and AIDS. For more information, please see the News Blaze Web site.
Korean Company To Purchase Trimeris, Developer Of Fuzeon – Arigene, a Korean company, is set to acquire Trimeris, the biopharmaceutical company that developed Fuzeon (enfuvirtide). Although Trimeris reported an income of $1.3 million in August, a sum that was double their previous year’s income, the company stated that revenues were still declining and cost cuts were necessary to increase profits. Currently, Arigene is a manufacturer of medical devices; however, this new acquisition will help the company to expand into the field of biotechnology. For more information, please see the Trimeris press release.
President Appoints New U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator - On October 2, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Eric Goosby as the new Ambassador-at-Large and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Dr. Goosby has been working to fight AIDS since the disease first began spreading in the 1980s. Since then, he has held positions in several government and non-government related organizations. Most recently, he was CEO of the Pangea Global AIDS Foundation. Dr. Goosby stressed that although great strides have been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, much more needs to be done in terms of prevention, care, and treatment. For more information, please see the VOA News Web site.
Two Clinic Operators In Miami Convicted Of Fraud – Two clinic operators from Miami were recently convicted of committing fraud in a $51 million HIV infusion case. Scarlet Duarte and Rechart Garcia allegedly paid HIV-positive Medicare beneficiaries to feign receiving HIV treatment and subsequently bill Medicare for the supposed expenses. The fake treatments were administered at six different clinics. In total, the clinics claimed $51.8 million for the treatments, of which Medicare paid $21.1 million. Duarte and Garcia are scheduled for sentencing on December 14. For more information please see the South Florida Business Journal Web site.
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