TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE

• KemPharm painkiller APADAZ available nationally
• In the CBJ: New energy efficiency certifications taking hold
• Iowa economic index returns to growth in October
• Durham to address changing business climate during keynote
• Edward Jones opens latest Corridor location in Marion
KemPharm painkiller APADAZ available nationally
Coralville-based specialty pharmaceutical company KemPharm Inc. has announced that its prodrug painkiller, APADAZ, and its authorized generic, AG-APADAZ, are now available nationally through a licensing deal with pharma manufacturer KVK-Tech.
 
APADAZ, which contains a prodrug of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, is intended for the short-term management of acute pain severe enough to require opioids. A prodrug is chemically inert, or inactive, on its own, requiring users to ingest the drug to receive its benefits.
 
KemPharm President and CEO Travis Mickle said in a release that health plans and payors continue to evaluate the product’s “formulary placement,” or positioning within their lists of prescription drugs approved for reimbursement. He said several large national health plans, as well as state Medicaid plans in Alabama and Utah, have already added AG-APADAZ to their preferred drug lists.
 
“KVK-Tech plans to focus its efforts regionally based on the level of formulary access already achieved by AG-APADAZ at either a preferred reimbursement level with payors or where it has been added to a preferred drug list,” Mr. Mickle said. “We believe KVK-Tech has also established competitive list pricing, referred to as Wholesale Acquisition Cost, or WAC, as compared to competing generic products.   We are encouraged by KVK-Tech’s progress and look forward to providing additional updates in the future as our partner continues their commercial activities.”
 
KemPharm’s other prodrug product candidates are focused on the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and stimulant use disorder.
 
The company is set to announce its third quarter earnings Thursday after the market’s close.
In the CBJ: New energy efficiency certifications taking hold
Home buyers seeking energy savings and sustainability may find fewer new Energy Star-rated homes available these days, but homebuilders who remain in the green building market are offering some new ratings that may be even more useful.

The Energy Star program motivated many builders to add more layers of energy efficiency to their homes, and it wasn’t just about making the end product more appealing to buyers. Homebuilders could qualify for a $2,000 tax credit primarily by building a new energy efficient home with 50 percent energy savings from heating and cooling versus a standard energy code compliant home. That tax credit was phased out, however, and hasn’t been available since the end of 2017.

From a builder’s perspective, “There’s not as much incentive to build energy efficient homes,” explained veteran homebuilder Chris Mottinger, of Legacy GreenBuilders & Developers in Solon. He estimated that 80-90 percent of Corridor homebuilders originally signed on to the Energy Star program, but said only a small minority still participate.

Only two Corridor homebuilders are listed as 100 percent Energy Star builders on the DoE’s Energy Star website: Legacy GreenBuilders and Developers and Platten Construction of Robins.

While the financial incentives to build more efficient homes have gone down, the incentives for many homebuyers have gone up. A recent change in state law regarding utility energy efficiency plan requirements could lead to fewer rebates for homeowners to perform energy retrofit projects, and many area households have seen their electric bills rise due to a nearly completed Alliant Energy rate case to pay for things like smart power meters and a more reliable power grid.

Read the full members-only story in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.

IMAGE: Legacy GreenBuilders & Developers President Chris Mottinger and dog Ellie Mae outside his Solon office. PHOTO DAVE DEWITTE
Iowa economic index returns to growth in October
Iowa’s Business Conditions Index compiled by Creighton University rose into growth territory in October after two months of readings below growth-neutral, the Des Moines Business Record reports .

Iowa hit 53.5 in October, up from 49.6 in September. Anything above 50 suggests growth.

The segments feeding into the index based on a survey of supply managers included new orders at 59.3; production or sales, 57.9; delivery lead time, 49.2; employment, 51.2; and inventories, 49.8.

"Over the past 12 months the state’s manufacturing sector has boosted jobs by 2.5%, second among the nine Mid-America states, and hourly wages by 3.6%, fourth in the region," Creighton economist Ernie Goss said in a statement. "Based on recent surveys of manufacturers in the state, I expect job growth to slow, but remain positive, and hourly wage growth to continue at its current solid pace through the first quarter of 2020," said Mr. Goss.

The index for the nine-state region also climbed into growth territory after two months of below-growth indicators, rising to 52.6 from 49.1 in September.

"For 2019, the Mid-America economy has been expanding at a pace well below that of the nation," Mr. Goss said. "The trade war and the global economic slowdown have cut regional growth to approximately one-half that of the U.S. October’s survey results indicate that regional growth is likely to bottom at positive, but slow rate, in the fourth quarter of this year."
Durham to address changing business climate during keynote
From the United States' shifting demographics to the increasing demands of global customers, the environment in which our businesses, communities and workers operate is changing. The challenges and opportunities created by those changes will be the focus of a keynote presentation by Debi Durham at the fifth-annual Workforce Awards breakfast, presented Dec. 3 by the Corridor Business Journal and Kirkwood Community College.
 
Ms. Durham is director of both the Iowa Economic Development Authority - a post she has held since 2011 - and the Iowa Finance Authority, which administers affordable housing programs in the state.
 
During her eight-year tenure at the IEDA, she has turned the agency into a successful public-private partnership, landed billion-dollar economic development projects and worked to expand trade and investment opportunities for the state. Prior to joining the IEDA, Ms. Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce.
 
The awards event, to be held at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, will also feature a "Coming to the Corridor" panel discussion moderated by Tim Carty of ICR Iowa, and recognize eight Corridor companies and organizations that are ahead of the curve in creating and maintaining their workforce talent edge. This year's honorees include:
 
  • Employer and Education Workforce Collaboration: Cedar Rapids Community School District - Tara Troester
  • Training for Existing Employment Needs: Clickstop Inc.
  • Hiring Strategies of Iowa Graduates: Holmes Murphy
  • New Jobs Training 260E: IDx Technologies
  • Internship Program [Small Company]: National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
  • Retention Strategy: Tanager Place
  • Internship Program [Large Company]: University of Iowa Center for Advancement
  • Marketing and Recruitment Campaign: Van Meter Inc.
 
Tickets are $45 per individual and $450 per table of 10 through Nov. 26. Breakfast will be provided. For more information or to register, visit www.corridorbusiness.com/events or call Ashley Moore at (319) 665-6397, ext. 311.
Edward Jones opens latest Corridor location in Marion
Edward Jones will celebrate the opening of its newest location in Marion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. today.

The latest office is the first tenant in a new commercial development at 295 Tower Terrace Road and is led by financial advisor Bob Eustice. After 40 years in the financial services business, Mr. Eustice joined Edward Jones in April 2018, moving from Des Moines to Marion to begin his practice.

"I work with people of all ages, partnering with them to provide solution-based strategies, and helping them achieve their financial goals and dreams," Mr. Eustice said in a release. "My total focus is to help people, build great relationships, and give back to the community where I live and work."

Mr. Eustice grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Washington High School and later attending Iowa State University, where he earned degrees in architecture and business.
Learn more at edwardjones.com/bob-eustice .
Short Term Event Planner
Nov. 12
Small Business Lunch Roundtable, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Build lasting relationships, share best practices and get help with challenges. Free. To register, visit conta.cc/2MP3DqP.

Natural Grocers Ribbon Cutting, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4-5 p.m., Natural Grocers, 1404 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/34ABQSj .

Nov. 13
1 Million Cups , by 1MC Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR .

1 Million Cups , by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/
 
Finding Bipartisan Policy Solutions in Today’s Political Climate, by ImpactCR, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE. State Sen. Zach Wahls (D) and Rep. Joe Mitchell (R) will discuss their participation in the Iowa Future Caucus, a group of the state’s youngest lawmakers dedicated to reaching bipartisan policy solutions addressing issues faced by millennials and future generations. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2MpTtg9 .
 
Re-Connect: Careers & Conversation, by IowaWORKS, 3 p.m., Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., Coralville. This event will host employers from six major industry sectors in the region. Each employer will present their industry sector, their individual company and answer questions from job candidates. This event is open to veterans. Free. For more information, visit iowaworks.gov .

New Member Speed Networking, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4-5 p.m., Drury Inn & Suites, 815 First Ave., Coralville. Learn how to get involved in the chamber’s various committees and programs. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/33c1wEe .
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
A Crawfordsville woman is dead after a near head-on collision Monday morning in rural Washington County. Authorities say that a car driven by Elizabeth Jean Pauley, 30, of Crawfordsville, was driving north on Spruce Avenue around 8:45 a.m. Monday when she crossed the center lane and was hit broadside by a truck driven by Andrew Kucera, 33, of Ainsworth. Ms. Pauley died from her injuries in the crash. The crash is under investigation by Iowa State Patrol.

Several current and former residents of a Quasqueton trailer home park are raising concerns about homes that some consider inhabitable. Current resident of Quasky Village Mobile Home Park Apartments Vanessa Johnson says she and others in the community take issue with several recent actions. "Issues with them with working on water lines," says Ms. Johnson. "Forcing tenants out when they're asking for repairs." Ms. Johnson says one former resident had a hole in their trailer home for some time that was never fixed. CBS2/FOX 28 News did reach out to the managing company, Providential 2 LLC. In lieu of an on-camera statement, they released the following statement: "Our company, Providential 2, LLC, purchased this park at the end of May of this year. Over the past five months, we have made many needed improvements to the park. We will continue to do so in the future to make it an even better place for our tenants and the community of Quasqueton."
 
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
CBS2 Weather First Forecast
High pressure will remain overhead today and lead to a sunny day. The sun will not do much for our temperatures, as we'll be stuck in the teens this afternoon. That will likely lead to some records for coldest high temperatures. Clouds begin to move in tonight and temperatures will be around 10 degrees. Clouds will be in overhead to start Wednesday and temperatures will climb into the mid- to upper 20s. A clipper will move into the area in the afternoon and evening and lead to snow from north to south. Accumulation looks minor right now, with one to two inches near and north of Highway 20 and an inch or less down to the south. There is still some uncertainty in the exact track and the forecast may change.