Mill Valley's Achieve Life Science teams with OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals on smoking cessation; other North Bay business news

Mill Valley-based Achieve Life Science Inc. and Vancouver, B.C.-based OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: OGXI) on March 1 announced a strategic collaboration with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health to conduct nonclinical studies in support of an overall clinical development plan for cytisine to help people stop smoking.

In January, Achieve announced plans to merge with OncoGenex.

Achieve is providing cytisine to the NIH for studies required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug (IND) application.

“We intend to file the IND in the second half of 2017,” said Rick Stewart, Achieve chairman and CEO.

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Alten Construction of Richmond expects to complete construction this summer on the new Roseland University Prep High School facility in Santa Rosa.

The charter school, established in 2004, is currently based at an off-site rental property, and the new facility will mark the first time the high school will have a building of its own, the company stated. About 450 students will attend school in the new 31,000-square-foot facility on two acres starting in the fall.

The architect of the $12 million facility is Aidlin Darling Design. Alten stated that the two-story building, includes a multipurpose room with a large motorized 10-by-40 foot door on a track that allows the room to be open to the outside. The room will be used for events, meetings, recreation and as a gathering space.

The building will also include a science lab, media classroom, administrative offices and 18 classrooms, which will have birch wood paneling as a design element. Outside, students will be able to enjoy benches, picnic tables and a basketball court.

Alten Construction started the project in February 2016 and is currently completing structural steel main framing and interior wood framing on the building. Soon Alten Construction will begin work on the roof, exterior wood sheeting and windows before turning to drywall, finishes and bathrooms.

The Roseland School District, which includes a preschool, three elementary schools, two middle schools (one of which is a combination middle and high school) and two high schools (Roseland University Prep and Roseland Collegiate Prep).

The school's construction was funded in part through a state grant and private fundraising. Actor Edward James Olmos from “Stand and Deliver” and “Miami Vice” also helped Roseland create a video that was used for fundraising.

Founded by Bob and Shannon Alten in 1995, Alten Construction employs more than 100 people with annual revenues of over $80 million.

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The city of Vallejo launched ChooseVallejo.com to promote local economic opportunities, talent and business sites for expansion, relocation or startup. The website dashboard offers a GIS mapping, property database and business intelligence.

The website has tools to research and analyze demographics, consumer spending, talent pool, workforce, infrastructure, transportation, housing and businesses to map, chart and graph complex infographics. Research can be easily exported, emailed or shared on social media.

It's the centerpiece of a series of city economic-development outreach and engagement campaigns.

The launch coincides with two other city efforts to make it easier to do business there. A public fiber initiative is set to provide high-speed, low-cost internet service to businesses, schools, and public agencies beginning this summer. And the city's Central Permit Counter has extended hours.

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The Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics said students in the Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business program will be meeting with counterparts and officials at organizations in Reims, France, and Capetown, South Africa. The university stated the trip was to begin March 11.

Meetings scheduled in the Champagne region of France include Le Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC), a governing and research body charged with organizing and controlling the production, distribution, and promotion of Champagne wines; Sparflex, a bottle packaging and design company with global clients; and Caves Champagne Mercier, considered the top-selling Champagne in France.

In South Africa, the schedule includes meetings with Vondeling Wines, a 3-century-old winery focused on sustainable farming and Explore Sideways, a cultural, food and wine tour company.

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The Santa Rosa Symphony opens its sixth season as the resident orchestra of the Green Music Center by honoring long-time Santa Rosa Symphony-supporter Donald Green at a special benefit for our music education programs.This event celebrates the profound impact of community leader Donald Green with a reception, private piano recital with Joyce Yang in Weill Hall and a gourmet dinner in Prelude Restaurant at the Green Music Center on Oct. 6.

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