Maryland : Earnings

Ore reports loss for 4Q of $8.8 million

Ore Pharmaceuticals, formerly known as Gene Logic Inc., said yesterday that its quarterly loss increased as it made the transition from a genomics company to one finding new uses for current drugs. The Gaithersburg company reported a net loss of $8.8 million, or 28 cents per share, for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31. That was compared with a net loss of $5 million, or 16 cents per share, for the quarter a year ago. The 2007 losses included $3.9 million associated with the sale of its genomics information business. For the full year, the company's net loss was $34.7 million, or $1.09 per share, compared with a loss of $54.7 million, or $1.72 per share, a year ago. Revenue was $700,000 for the fourth quarter and $1.6 million for the year. The company said it has reported no meaningful revenue from its new drug repositioning and development business.

Andrea K. Walker

Food industry

Grand Brands gets grant from the state

Baltimore-based Grand Brands Inc. has received a $156,250 grant from the state Department of Business and Economic Development. The five-year-old natural food and beverage company will use the money to promote and sell its products.

Allison Connolly

Region

: Airlines

2 carriers given right to new Reagan flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday awarded AirTran Airways and Spirit Airlines the right to each begin a new daily round-trip flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The AirTran flight would be to Jacksonville, Fla., or Milwaukee, DOT spokesman Bill Mosley said. Spirit would add a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The DOT said the new flights must begin by May 3.

Laura McCandlish

This column was compiled from dispatches by Sun reporters.