GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNVC) ** GNVC reported that it has extended its Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis.

Under the extension, Novartis will fund research at GNVC through January 2013 to support its hearing loss and balance disorders program.

In January 2010, GNVC entered into a worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement with Novartis to discover and develop novel treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders. According to the company, under the terms of the agreement, if certain clinical, regulatory, and sales milestones are met, GNVC is eligible to receive up to $213.6 million, including upfront and milestone payments in addition to royalties on future sales.

In August 2010, GNVC entered into an additional agreement with Novartis, to manufacture clinical trial material for up to two lead product candidates for this program.

GNVC is a biopharmaceutical company using differentiated, proprietary technologies to create superior therapeutics and vaccines.

A key component of GNVC’s strategy is to develop and commercialize its product candidates through collaborations. GNVC is working with leading companies and organizations such as Novartis, Merial, and the U.S. Government to support a portfolio of product programs that address the prevention and treatment of a number of significant human and animal health concerns.

GNVC’s development programs address therapeutic areas such as hearing loss and balance disorders; as well as vaccines against infectious diseases including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), dengue fever, influenza, malaria, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the area of animal health GNVC is developing vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

More about GNVC at www.genvec.com

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Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) recently announced the pricing of the public offering of $550 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2022 and $250 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2042 by its wholly owned subsidiary, Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc. The 2022 senior notes will bear interest at a rate of 3.875 percent per annum and the 2042 senior notes will bear interest at a rate of 5.125 percent per annum. The senior notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Macy’s, Inc.

Macy’s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates department stores and Internet Web sites in the United States.

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Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR) recently announced that it will release its fourth quarter and year-end 2011 results on Thursday, February 16, 2012 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, for Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern / 9:00 a.m. Central.

Newpark Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides fluids management, waste disposal, and well site preparation products and services primarily to the oil and gas exploration and production industry in the United States and internationally.

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Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) recently announced the internet availability of proxy materials for its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Notice and Access rules. UTI’s proxy materials can be found at http://bnymellon.mobular.net/bnymellon/uti. Pursuant to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Notice and Access rules, companies may satisfy their proxy materials delivery requirements by delivering a “Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials” to stockholders, providing internet access to the proxy materials, and providing a printed set of proxy materials by mail to any stockholder who requests them.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. engages in the provision of postsecondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, and marine technicians in the United States.