Boeing Co. workers are putting together the 500th 777 to come down the Everett assembly line. The three main sections of the plane were joined together last week. The plane – a 360-seat, extended-range 777-300ER – is being built for International Lease Finance Corp., which will lease it to Air France. The delivery is scheduled for next month. According to Boeing, its 777 program has reached the 500-delivery milestone faster than any twin-aisle airplane in history. The first 777 was delivered to United Airlines in May 1995.
Federal Reserve eyes Boeing land
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is buying 10.8 acres of land in Renton from the Boeing Co. A Fed spokeswoman said she could not disclose the purchase price. The Fed plans to build a new Seattle district branch office on the land, which has been part of Boeing’s 205-acre Longacres site that includes its Commercial Airplane Group headquarters. Construction is scheduled to start in 2005, with the office to be open by the end of 2007. The Fed’s Seattle branch now is in downtown Seattle.
Nastech evaluating new treatments
Bothell-based Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. said Monday that it is evaluating, with two separate, unnamed research partners, the development of nasal sprays for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies will be done to assess whether drugs targeting the two conditions can be delivered via the mucous membranes in the nose. Type 2 diabetes affects more than 90 percent of the 18 million Americans who have diabetes. Alzheimer’s afflicts an estimated 4 million people in this country.
Bothell biotech adds Canadian partner
Helix BioMedix Inc. of Bothell has signed a marketing agreement that allows Body Blue Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of personal care items and cosmetics, to use Helix’s peptides. The special proteins with wound-healing properties are being used increasingly in cosmetics. Helix said it is holding discussions with a number of Body Blue’s clients, which include Procter &Gamble and Revlon, about adding peptides to anti-wrinkle lotions, deodorants and even mouthwashes.
Slowdown strikes Amazon customers
Amazon.com said Monday that its Web site was experiencing slowdowns, and the company didn’t immediately know when the problem would be fixed. Spokeswoman Patty Smith said the world’s largest Internet retailer began having problems about 8:30 a.m., causing problems for some customers trying to get on the Web site or buy items.
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