DURHAM -- The majority of companies in Durham plan to maintain their current staff levels, according to a quarterly employment survey by job recruitment firm Manpower on Tuesday.
From April to June, 73 percent of the companies interviewed plan to maintain their current workforce levels, while 17 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more workers and 7 percent expect to make cuts. Three percent of the companies are not certain of their hiring plans.
The Durham survey shows a more positive local employment outlook than the national outlook.
Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed across the country, 73 percent expect no change in their hiring plans, according to Manpower, while 16 percent expect to be hiring and 8 percent expect to reduce their payroll.
Chimerix therapy in Phase 2 trials
DURHAM -- Chimerix Inc. has begun Phase 2 clinical trials for the company's lead compound.
CMX001, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, is being tested in stem cell transplant recipients who have cytomegalovirus infection.
CMV, a member of the herpesvirus family, is manageable for patients with responsive immune systems, but could lead to death in transplant recipients with weak immune systems.
CMX001 is also being studied as a promising biodefense countermeasure for use in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
Chimerix is based in Durham and has received $56 million in venture capital.
N.C. insurance recovery tallied
RALEIGH -- The N.C. Department of Insurance helped consumers recover $20 million in 2009, Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said Tuesday.
The Consumer Services Division handled about 90,000 calls and processed more than 8,500 written complaints, helping citizens recover more than $9 million from insurance companies.
The Healthcare Review Division returned $175,540.32 to consumers who received an external review because of a health insurance claim denial. The Market Regulation Division returned $981,300.81 to policyholders.
The Criminal Investigations Division's investigators closed 413 cases with more than $10.5 million in restitution and recoveries, 89 criminal convictions and 175 arrests.
Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program Division assisted more than 76,000 consumers with general Medicare questions and helped enroll more than 2,600 Medicare recipients in the Low-Income Subsidy program that provides savings for prescription drug costs.
Students@Work launched
RALEIGH -- First gentleman Bob Eaves, in partnership with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, has launched a new initiative, Students@Work, aimed at encouraging businesses to offer job shadowing opportunities for middle school students.
Middle school is a crucial time for dropout prevention, according to Gov. Beverly Perdue's office.
For information, go to www.studentsatwork.nc.gov.
