With major news headlines being generated by a flock of regional firms on a regular basis Lehigh Valley continues to earn its top-75 metro region title – and keeps adding to its GDP of $33 billion and its roster of more than 15,300 companies.

This week was more of the same – great news generated by and about great companies.

B. Braun

In a joint venture with the German company CeGaT, Bethlehem-based B. Braun is working to get its next generation genetic sequencing technology accepted as the standard of diagnostic care for a variety of cancers, neuromuscular diseases and epilepsy.

A news releases noted: Globally, Diagnostic Panels, a CeGaT innovation, were first made available in 2010. The worldwide demand for molecular diagnostics is growing explosively, therefore to supply the U.S. market with the highest quality Diagnostic Panels and molecular diagnostic services, B Braun US and CeGaT have combined forces and established a US company based in B Braun Medical’s Bethlehem headquarters, Pennsylvania. The name of the new company is B Braun CeGaT, LLC.

“It’s good news for Bethlehem, but even better news for the region is it’s sign of growth in the life sciences and biotech businesses,” said Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

Click here for more on this story.

http://articles.mcall.com/2014-06-09/business/mc-bbraun-genetic-testing-20140608_1_sequencing-sanger-method-new-headquarters

LifeAire Systems LLC

A new in vitro fertilization laboratory has opened in New York and is highlighting the air purification technology developed by LifeAire Systems LLC, a fast-growing firm in Upper Macungie Township.

LifeAire Systems, the 2012 winner of the popular Ben Franklin Venture Idol event, was founded by Kathryn C. Worrilow, Ph.D. Its purpose: to develop a means to provide clean, contaminant-free air essential for uncompromised and successful In Vitro Fertilization.

Through the development process, it became clear that this revolutionary air purification technology could also be used for an array of other critical applications, from biological and pharmaceutical products to hospitals, air security and more.

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http://www.lvb.com/article/20140609/LVB01/140609879/Valley-company-debuts-in-vitro-technology-at-New-York-lab

PPL Corp.

PPL Corp. of Allentown reached a deal with Riverstone Holdings LLC, a privately held global energy company, to spin off its competitive energy generation businesses and combine it with Riverstone’s portfolio to create a new, stand-alone publicly listed independent power producer to be called Talen Energy Corp.

“Given the challenges, uncertainties and opportunities in the wholesale power markets, maintaining the status quo was not a viable option. This transaction provides greater clarity for shareowners, our PPL Energy Supply employees, customers and the communities we serve,” said William H. Spence, PPL chairman, president and CEO.

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http://www.lvb.com/article/20140610/LVB01/140619992/PPL-to-spin-off-most-of-its-generation-business