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Category Archives: Company Focus

80 Years since first double-blind clinical trial; Spotlight on leading Texas-based Ventavia Research Group

Clinical trials have been part of medicine since 1747, when Dr. James Lind began researching a treatment for scurvy. This year, 2023, commemorates the first double-blind clinical trial, which took place in the UK in 1943 in an effort to find treatment for the common cold. In this trial, neither the treating doctor not the patient knew if the patient was receiving the medication or a placebo. While the tested medication did not yield effective results at treating a cold, the trial set the stage for future double-blind clinical trials.

The purpose of clinical trials is to ensure the safety and efficacy of new treatments before they are introduced to the market, such as drugs, dietary supplements, and vaccines. Ventavia Research Group (VRG) was founded in 2013, and is a prominent company that conducts clinical trials in the areas of maternal medicine, senior health, pediatrics and healthy patient trials. They are currently running clinical trials for RSV vaccines for seniors, pediatrics, and pregnant women. Ventavia Research Group is the largest privately-owned Texas-based clinical research company, with branches in 9 cities across Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. They have a team comprised of physicians, certified clinical research coordinators and recruitment specialists. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce awarded Ventavia Research Group the Small Business of the Year award in 2016, and they are nominated for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards for Best Women-Owned Business.

As of late March 2022, Ventavia Research Group is conducting RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine trials for seniors, pregnant women, and pediatrics. As RSV is a leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in children under 12 months old, as well as posing a risk to adults over 65 or with weakened immune systems, an RSV vaccine would protect the most vulnerable in the population.

Checkers and Rally’s Restaurants

When the pandemic began in 2020, restaurants were in the industry most hardest hit from beginning to end.  Some of them shuttered immediately, others tried to weather the storm but then there was a third category that managed to make lemonade out of lemons.  They were the ones who were able to turn their entire… Continue Reading

Wheat Flour Markets

North America’s Wheat Flour Market: C.H. Guenther & Son C.H. Guenther & Son – a company that was established in 1851 in Texas, today has over 3,500 staff spanning 24 locations throughout America, Canada and Western Europe.  It was originally started with Carl Hilmar Guenther building a flour mill near Fredericksburg, TX but eight years… Continue Reading

Rosalind Brewer Becomes 20th Black CEO in America

Rosalind Brewer has been named incoming CEO of Walgreens, effective March 15, 2021. This role makes Brewer, who is leaving her position as COO at Starbucks, the only Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Brewer joins the other 19 Black CEOs — 17 men and two women — who have ever been listed as… Continue Reading

Broadway Ticketing Reworked by NY-based Company

Broadway Ticketing Reworked by NY-based Company

Jujamcyn, the company responsible for the operations of five Broadway theaters, has signed a deal with New York-based SeatGeek. Many theater and performance spots are planning ahead for post-COVID reopenings. For Jujamycn, part of its new strategy included a major rework of its ticketing system. SeatGeek, a well-known sports industry player, is using its contract… Continue Reading

Funding Boost for NY Security Company

The New York City-based, BigID, a privacy and protection technology company, has raised $70 million in Series D funding. Salesforce Ventures and Tiger Global lead the investing this cycle. Longstanding supporters of BigID, Bessemer Venture Partners, Scale Venture Partners, and Boldstart Ventures put forth additional funding. Series A funding in January 2018 yielded $14 million… Continue Reading