Business Briefs are concise stories bringing you up to date with the county’s business news. This Morning:

AMO Pharma Raises $25 Million in Venture Deal

AMO Pharma, the privately held biopharmaceutical company, has raised $25 million in a venture financing deal with Woodford Investment Management.

AMO is focused on helping fight debilitating diseases that have either limited or no treatment options and the funds raised by the UK based company will be used to help develop its new drug candidates aimed at targeting rare muscular and central nervous system disorders. The company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Wayne, also plans to use some of the funds to consider acquiring additional development-stage products.

“Following our successful acquisition of two promising compounds, our financing with Woodford provides us with the resources we need to continue to rapidly advance our clinical development programs” said Michael Snape, founding director and Chief Executive Officer of AMO and it also helps “position us to further expand our pipeline.”

Movoto Names Devon and Berwyn as the Best Suburbs for Families

If you are looking for the best suburb to raise a family, Devon and Berwyn come out on top, according to the recent survey of the best local suburbs for families by Movoto Real Estate.

Following Devon and Berwyn in first and second place, respectively, are Bryn Mawr in third, Fort Washington in fourth and Blue Bell came in fifth.

The suburbs were ranked according to unemployment, crime statistics, commute time and schools ranking, with additional local input from real estate agent Karen Horn.

The survey points out that in Devon “families have their pick of modern condos, as well as spacious Colonial style homes”, while Berwyn offers avid young readers a great opportunity to “join a reading program or check out a new book at the Eastown Library and Information Center.”  

Dow Jones Sustainability Index Includes Ricoh for the Third Consecutive Year

Ricoh has been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the third consecutive year, by achieving the industry’s best score in “Innovation Management,” “Privacy Protection,” “Environmental Policy/Management System” and “Climate Strategy” categories.

Ricoh, with its U.S. headquarter in Malvern, is a global technology company specialized in document management systems and production print solutions. It was selected along with 6 other companies out of the 30 nominated for its work as a sustainability leader in the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics industry.

The index assesses a company’s corporate sustainability largely based on its economic, environmental and social development. Getting onto the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is very demanding, as the process involves reviewing around 2,500 companies from around the globe, before deciding which companies ‘make the cut.’ This year only 317 companies made it through this rigorous process and earned their well deserved place on this prestigious index.

Weisenstein Praises the Increase in WCU Enrolment

During his final state-of-the university address before retiring from WCU, President Greg Weisenstein used the opportunity to laud the significant increase in enrolment at the university.

Rising from a relative underdog to a school well known around the country, West Chester University saw its last enrollment have over 14,000 applications for the incoming freshman class of 2,300.

WCU’s popularity can partly be attributed to the fact that for the second time in three years, the university was awarded the Dixon Trophy as the top athletic program in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Another key attraction is that the university focuses on successfully preparing its outgoing students for the working world, something often overlooked at other institutions.

Weisenstein commented with pride that “about 87 percent of our students begin their first job after graduation in Pennsylvania and many rise quickly to leadership roles in their companies.”