- December 16, 2025
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Inuvo sells Raleigh ad agency to management
Clearwater-based Inuvo Inc., an online marketing services firm, has sold its Raleigh, N.C.-based advertising agency subsidiary to its current management.
Inuvo announced plans to sell the subsidiary in 2008 and since then reported it to stockholders as a discontinued operation. The buyers will pay $769,000 over the next 90 days and assume the company's trade debt.
All proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce Inuvo's bank debt.
“The agency was not core to our vision,” Richard Howe, Inuvo CEO, said in a press release. “The sale gives us an opportunity to accelerate debt payments and focus on our faster-growing exchange and network businesses.”
Advanced Wound Management debuts new skin spray product
The St. Petersburg-based Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew has launched No-Sting Skin Prep Spray, a liquid film-forming dressing that dries in less than 30 seconds.
The new, alcohol-free spray leaves a clear waterproof, breathable, hypoallergenic and latex-free barrier that can by worn on a wound for up to four days.
The product was presented at the Clinical Advances in Skin and Wound Care national conference last week in Orlando.
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business.
Tigris Pharmaceuticals sells stock for $6.5 million
Bonita Springs-based Tigris Pharmaceuticals Inc. has sold a portfolio of Series C convertible preferred stocks for $6.5 million.
Riverbank Capital Securities Inc. acted as placement agent in the financing, which included current investors Wexford Spectrum Investors, Sonostar Capital Partners LLC and other institutional and individual investors.
Tigris plans to use the proceeds primarily in the development of its clinical products, including its lead compound anti-cancer agent Aminoflavone pro-drug (AFP-464).
A clinical study of AFP-464 has been completed at Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France and Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium. The company expects to start a breast cancer study by the end of the year.
Tigris is also conducting a trial for GGTI-2418, another anti-cancer substance, at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.
Tigris Pharmaceuticals Inc. develops therapeutic technologies to treat cancer and other diseases.
Roskamp Institute finds Alzheimer's slows brain cancer
Scientists at the Roskamp Institute in Sarasota including a team led by Dr. Steven Brem, a neurosurgeon with Tampa's Moffit Cancer Center, have demonstrated that mice with Alzheimer's showed a reduction in brain cancer growth as chronicled in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Brain cancer affects 612,000 people in the United States. Another 10,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with one of the most deadly brain tumors, malignant gliomas, the type tested in the study. Only 50% of patients are still alive a year after diagnosis, and 25% after two years, despite surgical and other medical treatment.
Scientists believe that the cancers in the tested mice didn't grow normally because Alzheimer's reduces blood supply in the brain. Cancers need large supplies of blood to grow tumors.
“We believe that small parts of the amyloid protein [that causes Alzheimer 's disease] may be harnessed to bring about these beneficial effects against cancer while the negative effects causing Alzheimer's are avoided,” Dr. Michael Mullan, director of the Roskamp Institute, said in a press release.
Yields improve at US Natural Gas' Hammonds well in Kentucky
US Natural Gas Corp. has increased the oil production of its Hammonds well in Russell County, Ky., from an average of one to two barrels per week to five a day, following treatment with foam acid.
Wayne Anderson, president of US Natural Gas Corp., said in a press release, “Given the success of this well and the number of previously drilled and producing wells on our leasehold base within close proximity, we plan to reenter and treat select wells after further studies are completed.”
US Natural Gas Corp is an independent energy company focused on mature long-lived oil and natural gas properties with current operations concentrated in the Appalachian Basin.
Air Force hires Oldsmar firm for new turbine engine blades
The U.S. Air Force selected Oldsmar-based Belac LLC — a joint venture of Chromalloy, Lufthansa Technik and United Airlines — to provide high-pressure turbine engine blades in a one-year contract valued at $2.6 million.
The new equipment will replace worn and scrapped blades of the F108 aircraft engines that power the KC-135 tanker aircraft.
“This is the first agreement of its kind for Belac and the U.S. Air Force for the use of [Parts Manufacturer Approval] equipment to replace components in the critical hot 'gas path' of the aircraft engine,” said Chong Yi, president of Belac. “Belac parts are subject to the same FAA requirements and scrutiny as original equipment manufacturer blades yet they cost significantly less. The Air Force is saving millions of dollars on the cost of new parts.”
The company has provided more than 43,000 PMA turbine blades to major airlines worldwide.
PMA replacement parts are FAA-certified to meet or exceed the performance, reliability and durability specifications of original manufacturer parts.
Vista System's Wayfinding signs utilized in Spain KFC redesigns
Sarasota-based Vista System International recently supplied Wayfinding sign frames to Carbonell Rotulación + Imagen for installation at all KFC branches in Spain.
The signs have been part of an image upgrading process undertaken by all KFC locations in the country during the last two years, focusing mainly on point-of-sale areas. Wayfinding signs by Vista were selected due to their appearance, ease of updating with information by workers at locations, and quick shipping capabilities.
Proper Power & Energy trims list of potential partners
Proper Power & Energy Inc., of Tampa, narrowed its choices for joint venture candidates to two, and is considering engaging both companies to cover different regions of the country.
One of the companies focuses its efforts on the West Coast as one of the region's largest land leaseholders. The other is specific to Kentucky and the region. However, both have experience and interest in assisting with Proper Power's main lease property in Utah's Rush Valley.
“We feel that if we can strategically align ourselves with a joint venture company that can add equipment, manpower and producing properties, we can leverage these resources to achieve our goals in Utah,” Joseph Abdo, Proper Power CEO, said in a press release.
Proper Power & Energy was formed in 2006 as an exploration and production company for oil and gas.
Valpak to first launch regional offers on new web site
Largo-based direct mail company Valpak is planning to launch a new Web site ValpakDeals.com in November, to first provide daily deals for consumers in Long Island, N.Y., Omaha, New Haven and Las Vegas, with plans to cover the entire network next year.
The company has begun sales efforts and consumer registrations for the initial four markets.
“These deals will extend our audience reach and also deliver great deals daily,” Greg Bicket, president of Valpak's parent company Cox Target Media, said in a press release, adding the offers will be different than previous ones offered on Valpak.com and in its famous blue envelope mailings. “We're continuously creating innovative ways to bring consumers new types of offers that fit their lifestyle.”
nFinanSe launches prepaid cards at Fred's, Cumberland Farms
Tampa-based nFinanSe Inc. has launched its $3 reloadable prepaid Discover cards through Fred's Hometown Discount Stores in the Southeast and Midwest, and Cumberland Farms convenience stores in New England, the mid-Atlantic and Florida.
The company also launched its $3 Visa reloadable prepaid debit cards at Cumberland Farms.
“As a result of the unchecked growth of Walmart in the reloadable prepaid card marketplace, [we've] stepped up to help all other retailers compete with them on price,” Jerry R. Welch, chairman and CEO of nFinanSe, said in a press release. “Our [Discover] cards sell for $3 like Walmart's, but from there, we differentiate,” noting its low reload, monthly maintenance and ATM withdrawal fees plus online bill payment system.
Fred's Hometown Discount Stores operates 674 stores. Cumberland Farms has stores in 11 states.
Technology Research Corp. plans quarterly cash dividend
Clearwater-based Technology Research Corp. announced a second fiscal quarter dividend of two cents per share to be paid on Oct. 15.
The company provides fault-detection and fire-sensing solutions for power management and control, intelligent battery systems technology and electrical safety products.
St. Petersburg-based HSN has partnered with singer Mariah Carey for the exclusive Oct. 20 launch of her Merry Christmas II You release ahead of worldwide distribution on Nov. 2 on the Island Def Jam Music Group.
A 30-minute DVD will feature behind-the-scenes footage of Carey recording, footage from a photo shoot and interviews with the artist. A DVD will include interviews with her mother and composer Marc Shaiman, plus photos from Mariah's personal holiday collection.
Consumers can currently pre-order the total package for $14.95 at www. hsn.com/mariahcarey.
