Dr. Thomas McAllister has been named chairman of the department of psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. McAllister is currently vice chairman for neuroscience in the department of psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School. McAllister received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Dartmouth.

Eskenazi Health appointed Dr. Mark Bustamante to manage primary care in Eskenazi’s community health centers throughout Indianapolis. Bustamante will serve as CEO of the newly designated Eskenazi Health Center federally qualified health center, formerly the division of primary care at Wishard Health Services. Wishard changed its name to Eskenazi Health this year.

Gary Everling has been named vice president of strategy and business development for Hendricks Regional Health in Danville. Everling holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Greenville College and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis. He has been in health care administration since 1998 and most recently served as system executive of business development for Indianapolis-based hospital system St. Vincent Health.

Fort Wayne-based Medical Informatics Engineering appointed Craig Mathison as vice president of finance. He most recently served as chief financial officer and president at Felderman Design-Build in Fort Wayne.

The Franciscan Alliance hospital system has signed a deal with Philadelphia-based health insurer Cigna Corp. to offer an accountable care plan to Cigna’s customers in the Indianapolis area. Mishawaka-based Franciscan will use the same accountable care organization it formed in 2011 to work with the federal Medicare program. That organization includes Franciscan hospitals in Carmel, Indianapolis and Mooresville, as well as 600 physicians in central Indiana. Franciscan and Cigna will rely heavily on case managers, who will help patients, especially those with chronic diseases, navigate the health system. The case managers will use Cigna data to identify patients in need of such attention and will in some cases refer patients to Cigna’s health management and wellness programs.

Warsaw-based DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. kept selling an artificial hip implant even after the doctors it paid as consultants on the product had begun abandoning it and after the product had failed an internal test, according to internal company documents disclosed in a legal case and summarized by The New York Times. DePuy, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson, recalled the troubled hip implant, called the Articular Surface Replacement, or ASR, in 2010. The company has been the target of 10,000 lawsuits filed by patients who had to receive a second hip implant after the ASR failed. The device has been prone to shedding large amounts of metallic debris inside patients. DePuy’s own internal estimates show they expected the ASR to fail in 40 percent of patients within five years of their hip-implant surgery.

Greenwood-based Elona Biotechnologies Inc., which has been trying to bring a generic version of insulin to market, is running out of cash and struggling to find new investors. The company told Greenwood officials of its financial troubles earlier this month, which prompted the Greenwood Redevelopment Commission to vote Jan. 17 to declare Elona in default on $8.4 million of economic development incentives the city gave the company in 2010. Wendy Brewer, an attorney for the Greenwood Redevelopment Commission, said one potential investor in Elona wants the company’s exposure under the incentive programs altered as a condition of investing in Elona. “We’re continuing to talk to them,” Brewer said, adding that the company’s finances dictate that a decision be made in a couple of weeks. Greenwood loaned $6.4 million to help Elona build a 50,000-square-foot, $28 million insulin-production plant in Greenwood and hire 70 workers. The city also gave Elona $1.5 million to help it win approval for its insulin from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and $500,000 for equipment. So far, Brewer said, Elona has made no progress on its jobs commitments. Elona, founded by a former Eli Lilly and Co. scientist, has made its business doing contract drug manufacturing for other firms. But its growth plans hinged on making a generic version of insulin, something that was not allowed in the United States until the 2010 passage of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act. That law called for a pathway for “biosimilar” versions of biotech drugs, including insulin. As it stands now, a drug such as Lilly’s Humulin insulin faces no generic competition even though its patent expired in 2001. Nearly a year ago, the FDA issued draft guidance on “biosimilar” drugs that indicated it would require additional clinical trials of a biosimilar drug. That means a company like Elona would have to spend significant money to test its drug in patients before the FDA would declare it similar to an existing insulin. Calls to Elona founders Ron and Donna Zimmerman were not returned Tuesday morning.

WellPoint Inc. ended the year on a high note, posting fourth-quarter sales and profit that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. The Indianapolis-based health insurer earned $464 million, or $1.51 per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31, a 38-percent leap from the same quarter a year earlier. Excluding investment gains and one-time charges, WellPoint would have earned $1.03 per share. On that basis, analysts were expecting 95 cents per share. Membership in WellPoint’s health plans shot up nearly 8 percent in the fourth quarter to more than 36 million nationwide. That represented a net gain of  more than 2.6 million customers. The increase was entirely attributable to WellPoint’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Virginia-based Amerigroup Corp., which added 2.7 million members in Medicaid plans. But the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer on Wednesday gave analysts a conservative forecast for 2013, due in part to a daunting list of expenses it could face. WellPoint will spend roughly $300 million this year preparing for coverage expansions under the health care overhaul coverage and changes to its Medicare Advantage business. The insurer also expects to spend as much as $125 million integrating Amerigroup into its business, and it says it could take hits from flu claims, possible cuts to Medicare funding and an increase in health care use. Counting those expenses, WellPoint expects to earn at least $7.60 per share in 2013 compared to the $8.18 per share it earned last year.

St. Vincent Health will add air medical service at Rush Memorial Hospital in Rushville. The new StatFlight helicopter base, scheduled to open in late April or early May, will be St. Vincent's fourth helicopter base in Indiana. The others are located in Anderson, Danville, North Vernon and West Lafayette. St. Vincent contracts with PHI Air Medical LLC to operate its StatFlight air medical service.

The Community Health Network hospital system has created a new partnership with Indianapolis-based Lutheran Child and Family Services to provide treatment for children who have experienced trauma and are dealing with behavioral challenges. Indianapolis-based Community will help Lutheran manage the behavioral health services for children and adolescents at Lutherwood, a youth residential treatment facility, and Trinity House, a transitional group home for young men. The collaboration also will include community-based programs previously managed separately under Indianapolis-based Gallahue Community Mental Health Center and Lutheran. Lutheran will continue to offer spiritual care programs of its own for children and their families. Community serves more than 25,000 behavioral health patients each year. Its behavioral health unit employs more than 600 physicians, psychologists, advance practice nurses, psychiatric nurses, therapists, counselors, life skills specialists and care managers.

-Indytworr LLC leased a 240,000-square-foot industrial building at 1428 Henry St. The tenant was represented by Bill Spencer of Anfield Advisors. The landlord, Power Chord Properties LLC, was represented by Rick Suja, Janice Paine and Rob Christman of Colliers International.   

-Zenith Global Logistics leased 90,400 square feet in Park 100 Building 85, 7826 Allison Ave. The tenant was represented by James Medbery of Binswanger Midwest of Indiana. The landlord, Duke Realty, was represented by Duke's Mark Hosfeld.

-LH Express LLC leased 60,800 square feet of industrial space at 5252 Decatur Blvd. The tenant was represented by Michael Weishaar of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, Industrial Income Trust, was represented by Luke Wessel of Cassidy Turley.

-Invisible Fence Brand/Paws and Play Dog Resort and Training Center leased 29,524 square feet of industrial space at 9001 E. 133rd St., Fishers. The tenant was represented by Jeffrey Merritt of Summit Realty Group. The landlord, EGO Enterprises, was represented by Michael Weishaar of Cassidy Turley.

-The Fresh Market leased 24,261 square feet at Delaware Commons, 11752 Cumberland Road, Fishers. The tenant was represented by Frank Swiss of Swissco Real Estate LLC. The landlord, Sunbeam Development, was represented by Mark Perlstein of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate.  
 
-Planet Fitness leased 24,202 square feet of retail space at 5206 W. 38th St. The tenant was represented by Bart Jackson and Scot Courtney of Lee & Associates. The landlord, MKIN LLC, was represented by Cindy Hoskinson and Herb Feldmann of Lee & Associates.

-Maginot Moore & Beck LLP leased 12,325 square feet at One Indiana Square at the corner of Ohio and Pennsylvania streets. The tenant was represented by Matt Langfeldt and Rich Forslund of Summit Realty Group. The landlord, One Indiana Square Associates,  was represented by Ralph Balber and Todd Maurer of Newmark Knight Frank Halakar Real Estate.

-Dollar Tree leased 11,700 square feet of retail space at Castleton Crossing, 5410-5540 E. 82nd St. The tenant was represented by Christian Conville of ECHO Retail. The landlord, American National Insurance Co., was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley.

-Five Below Inc. leased 9,328 square feet of retail space at Castleton Crossing, 5410-5540 E. 82nd St. The tenant was represented by Paul Gold of ECHO Retail. The landlord, American National Insurance Co., was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley.

-CrossFit Nap Town leased 5,600 square feet of retail space at 611 N. Delaware St. The landlord, McKee Realty Corp., was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.  

-American Rentals LLC leased 4,980 square feet at Southgate Center, 1902 E. 53rd St., Anderson. The landlord, Lor Corp., was represented by Stephen Daum and Jeff Merritt of Summit Realty Group. The tenant represented itself.

-rue21 Inc. leased 4,500 square feet of retail space at 4525 Lafayette Road. The tenant was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, Centre Properties, represented itself.

-Aveda Salon leased 3,945 square feet of retail space at 9893 N. Michigan Road, Carmel. The landlord, Casto, was represented by Jacque Haynes and John Byrne of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Athletico of Carmel LLC leased 3,313 square feet of retail space at Cornerstone Commons, 912 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel. The tenant was represented by Craig Ramsay of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The landlord, B&D Carmel Properties LLC, was represented by Paul Dick and Kevin Dick of Colliers International.

-Home Buy Consign LLC leased 3,200 square feet of retail space at 4000 106th Street W., Zionsville. The landlord, Sena Realty FC LLC, was represented by Jacque Haynes of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Professional Design Insurance Management renewed its lease for 3,025 square feet at Crosspoint VI, 9775 Crosspoint Blvd. The landlord, Young Realty Crosspoint Six, was represented by Tom English and John Baker of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The tenant represented itself.
 
-Texture Salon leased 3,000 square feet of retail space at 8150 Oaklandon Road. The tenant was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, Cassidy Turley acting as court-appointed receiver, was represented by Jacque Haynes of Cassidy Turley.

-YoYo Yogurt On Your Own Anson leased 2,878 square feet of retail space at 6705 S. State Road 334, Zionsville. The landlord, Duke Realty, was represented by Jacque Haynes and John Byrne of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Revol Wireless leased 2,500 square feet at 8920 E Washington St. The tenant was represented by Courtney Carper of Equity Inc. The landlord, Irvin N. Ferverda, was represented by Craig Ramsay of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate.

-El Taquero de la 46 leased 2,400 square feet at 3089-3091 N. High School Road. The landlord, 30th & High School Company LP, was represented by Jeff Merritt of Summit Realty Group. The tenant represented itself.

-Dickey’s Barbecue Pit leased 2,400 square feet at The Shops at Metropolis, 2575 E Main St., Plainfield. The landlord, OWMII Venture LLC, was represented by Larry Davis and John Baker of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate.  The tenant represented itself.

-Moore Dentistry Inc. renewed its lease for 2,261 square feet at Olio Pavilion. 11630 Olio Road, Fishers. The landlord, Olio Pavilion, was represented by Keith Fried of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The tenant represented itself.

-Trillium Driver Solutions leased 1,800 square feet at 1445 Brookville Way. The tenant was represented by Jeff Merritt of Summit Realty Group. The landlord, First Industrial Realty Trust Inc., represented itself.

-New Outlook Counseling Center LLC leased 1,200 square feet of office space in Library Park, 1701 Library Blvd., Greenwood. The tenant and landlord, Ennis Co. Inc., were represented by Cathy Richards of Lee & Associates.

The average rate for 30-year mortgages fell from 3.67 percent to 3.60 percent in the week ended Jan. 16, according to Bankrate.com. The rate for 15-year mortgages fell from 2.92 percent to 2.89 percent.

-Telamon Corp., dba Transition Resouces Corp., bought a 15,050-square-foot building at 812 W. 13th St., Anderson. The buyer was represented by Thomas Willey of Willey Commercial Real Estate. The seller, MainSource Bank, was represented by Thomas Seal of F.C. Tucker/OC Clark Realtors.

-Midwest Eye Institute bought two office buildings totaling 13,000 square feet at 5319 and 5329 S. Emerson Ave. The buyer was represented by Keith Dedrick of Corporate Commercial Group. The seller, Bloomfield Bank, was represented by Nick Kirkendall of Ohio Properties Realty.

-Kort Builders has completed a 3,482-square-foot retail build-out for Verizon Wireless at 10651 Rockville Road, Avon.

-Kort Builders has completed a 300-square-foot remodel of Research Kitchen space for Endangered Species Chocolate at 5846 W. 73rd St.

Indiana University Health hired Mary Beth Claus as its general counsel, replacing Norm Tabler, who retired from IU Health in December. However, Tabler has now agreed to return to the Indianapolis law firm Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, where he practiced before joining the hospital system in the 1990s. Claus, who is also a former partner at Faegre Baker Daniels, was most recently deputy chief legal officer and director of health care regulatory affairs for the Cleveland Clinic, where she oversaw all the medical center’s regulatory and legal compliance matters. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and a law degree from Indiana University. Tabler will rejoin Faegre Baker Daniels’ health care practice, which he once chaired. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, a master’s degree from Yale University, and a law degree from Columbia University.

Dr. Troy Payner, president and managing partner at Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, has been appointed clinical chief of neuroscience for St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. He will maintain his clinical practice. Payner also serves as vice chairman of neurological surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences announced Monday that former Indiana Director of Agriculture Joseph Kelsay is joining the company’s global regulatory and government affairs teams as senior manager of biotechnology affairs. Kelsay had served under former Gov. Mitch Daniels as director of Indiana’s State Department of Agriculture since 2009 before leaving the post this month under the change in administrations. Gov. Mike Pence last week appointed Gina Sheets to replace Kelsay. He holds a degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.

WellPoint Inc. named Patrick Blair its chief marketing officer. He most recently served as chief marketing and development officer for Amerigroup Corp., which WellPoint acquired in December for $4.9 billion. Blair received his bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in health administration from Indiana University. He also holds an MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading in England.

Two new health clinics opened on the west side of Indianapolis last week. HealthNet Inc. opened a community health center on West 10th Street, providing primary, pediatric and OB/GYN care, as well as optomemtry, podiatry, behavioral health and social work services. Also, Community Health Network opened a  medical office building in Speedway, which is part of its westward expansion after its acquisition of Westview Hospital on West 38th Street. The offices offer primary care, walk-in care, imaging, infusion therapy and occupational health services. Community also will work with the new Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine to conduct training for medical residents in Speedway.

WellPoint Inc. is still considering former Amerigroup Corp. CEO James Carlson among several finalists to become CEO, Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The Indianapolis-based health insurer has delayed defining a role for Carlson, who joined WellPoint through its $4.9 billion acquisition of Amerigroup in December, because he is a contender for the top position, said the person, who asked for anonymity because the information is private. Retired Aetna Inc. CEO Ronald Williams also has been a leading candidate, according to people with knowledge of the deliberations. Carlson, 60, would replace Angela Braly, who was forced out in August amid investor complaints about the company's performance. Carlson built Amerigroup into one of the biggest insurers focused on the growing Medicaid sector. In an e-mail, Kristin Binns, a WellPoint spokeswoman, said the company wouldn’t comment on the CEO search. Maureen McDonnell, an Amerigroup spokeswoman, also declined to discuss the process or Carlson’s role. Katherine Mentus, a spokesman for Williams, declined to comment when reached by telephone. Analysts expect WellPoint to make a decision by the end of February.

Eli Lilly and Co. will have to conduct more studies of its experimental Alzheimer’s drug,  but it is getting some outside help. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston chose Lilly’s drug solanezumab for a large federally funded study testing whether it's possible to prevent Alzheimer's disease in older people at high risk of developing it, according to the Associated Press. Lilly’s own studies of solanezumab found that it did not help people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's, but it showed some promise against milder disease. Researchers think it might work better if given before symptoms start. The new study will enroll 1,000 patients between age 70 and 85 who show a buildup of plaques in their brains but do not yet show signs of Alzheimer’s, including loss of memory and ability to do daily activities. Lilly’s solanezumab is also one of two drugs being studied in Alzheimer’s patients by researchers at Washington University. The other is made by the Genentech unit of Switzerland-based Roche Holding AG.

Indianapolis-based Defender Direct, a home security dealer, has opened an on-site health clinic, joining a number of other area employers that offer such services. Defender Direct’s 650 employees and their families now can receive primary care at the East 96th Street clinic, operated by Indianapolis-based OurHealth. Indianapolis-based MJ Insurance, which has helped such employers as Interactive Intelligence Inc. and others set up onsite clinics, brokered the deal.

Roche Diagnostics Corp. in Indianapolis ranks 89th on Fortune magazine’s latest annual list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” the magazine announced Thursday. In selecting Roche, the only Indiana company to appear on the list, Fortune cited its on-site medical clinic and fitness center, the company's $30,000 budget for intramural sports, and its health insurance plans tiered to income levels. The Indianapolis campus serves as the North American headquarters for the diagnostics business of Switzerland-based Roche Holding AG.

-Nirmal D. Singh bought an 8,600-square-foot industrial building at 3901 S. Madison Ave. Both the buyer and seller, Midwest Investment Properties LLC, were represented by Bart Book of Cassidy Turley.

-Marshall Holdings LLC bought a 31,164-square-foot industrial building at 5320 E. 25th St. The buyer was represented by George Dury of Dury Investment Group. The seller, Marsh Building Supply Inc., was represented by Michael Weishaar of Cassidy Turley.

-Freedom Mortgage Corp. leased 74,775 square feet of office space at 10500 Kincaid Drive, Fishers. The landlord, Kincaid Developers Inc., was represented by Darrin Boyd and Dave Moore of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Community Hospital leased 40,000 square feet at 11911 N. Meridian St. The landlord, Meridian Mile Associates, was represented by Mike Napariu of REI Real Estate Services. The tenant represented itself.

-Coast To Coast Imports leased 24,000 square feet at 5350 N. Keystone Ave. The landlord, Wolf Investments, was represented by John Schick of Schick Properties. The tenant represented itself.

-Planet Fitness expanded its lease to 17,095 square feet of retail space in Shoppes at County Line, 8811 Hardegan St. The tenant was represented by Bart Jackson and Scot Courtney of Lee & Associates. The landlord, Gateway Arthur Inc., represented itself.

-C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. leased 11,027 square feet of office space at 10500 Kincaid Drive, Fishers. The tenant was represented by David Rende of Mohr Partners. The landlord, Kincaid Developers Inc., was represented Darrin Boyd and Dave Moore of Cassidy Turley.

-Phoenix Resource Management leased 9,106 square feet of industrial space at 164 S. Park Blvd., Greenwood.  The tenant was represented by Rick Suja of Colliers International.  The landlord, South Park Group LLC, was represented by Brian Dell of Summit Realty Group.

-StonePro LLC leased 9,000 square feet of industrial space at 9325 Uptown Drive. The tenant was represented by Dannetta Hiatt of Colliers International. The landlord, Mann Properties, represented itself.

-First National Restoration leased 6,574 square feet at 343 W. McCarty St. The landlord, Stadium Partners LLC, was represented by Tyler Wilson of Summit Realty Group. The tenant represented itself.

-Vista Hospice Care Inc. and Gentiva Health Services Inc. leased 5,840 square feet of office space at Westridge Office Park II, 6845 E. U.S. 36, Avon. The tenant was represented by Jimmy Clark of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc.  The landlord, Westridge Office Park LLC, was represented by Nathan Smith of Colliers International.  

-Staples leased 4,568 square feet of office space at College Park Plaza, 8909 Purdue Road. The tenant was represented by Yumi Prater of Colliers International. The landlord, Wells REIT II, was represented by Mike Semler, Andy Martin and Bennett Williams of Cassidy Turley.

-Hays Cos. leased 4,118 square feet at 300 N. Meridian St. The tenant was represented by John Vandenbark of CBRE. The landlord, University Park Associates, was represented by Mike Napariu of REI Real Estate Services.

-R.O. Whitesell & Associates leased 3,425 square feet at 11711 N. Pennsylvania St. The landlord, North Pennsylvania Street Associates, was represented by Mike Napariu of REI Real Estate Services. The tenant represented itself.
 
-Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP leased 3,051 square feet of office space at 135 N. Pennsylvania St. The landlord, True North Management Group LLC, was represented by Jon Owens and Russ Van Til of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC leased 2,637 square feet of office space at 70 E. 91st St. The tenant was represented by Yumi Prater of Colliers International. The landlord, Sourwine Real Estate Services, was represented by Andrew Martin and Bennett Williams of Cassidy Turley.

-House Reynolds & Faust leased 2,475 square feet at 11711 N. Pennsylvania St.  The tenant was represented by Jeff Harris of NAI Meridian Real Estate. The landlord, North Pennsylvania Street Associates, was represented by Mike Napariu of REI Real Estate Services.  

-DT Power & Associates leased 2,421 square feet of office space at 3091 E. 98th St. The tenant was represented by John Crisp and Spud Dick of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, Brookfield Real Estate Opportunity Group, was represented by Dave Moore and Darrin Boyd of Cassidy Turley.

-MyCOI leased 2,280 square feet of office space at 9700 Lakeshore Drive East, Suite C.  The tenant was represented by Spud Dick of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, Veteran Construction, was represented by Rob Christman of Colliers International.  
 
-Public Safety Medical Services leased 2,158 square feet of office space at 324 E. New York St. The landlord, DH Realty LLC, was represented by Jon Owens and Russ Van Til of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Halderman Farm Management Service LLC leased 1,841 square feet of office space at 10333 N. Meridian St. The landlord was represented by Darrin Boyd and Dave Moore of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.  

-American Nursing Care leased 1,677 square feet of office space at 6515 E. 82nd St. The tenant was represented by Nancy Ryan of Equity. The landlord, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., was represented by Dave Moore and Darrin Boyd of Cassidy Turley.
 
-Bella Pizza leased 1,677 square feet at Keystone Shoppes, 3367 E. 86th St. The tenant was represented by Gary Perel of Newmark Knight Frank Halakar. The landlord, Simon Property Group, was represented by Tim Murray of Simon Property Group.

-Weight Watchers leased 1,600 square feet of retail space at 17219 17247 Mercantile Blvd., Noblesville. The landlord, Zumot Real Estate Management, was represented by Jacque Haynes of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.  

-DJ's Hot Dog Co. leased 1,200 square feet of space at Shiloh Crossing, 10240 E. U.S. 36, Avon. The tenant was represented by Steven Sengson of Prodigy US Real Estate. The landlord, MLMT 2005-LC1 Greensburg Crossing LLC, was represented by Gary Perel of Newmark Knight Frank Halakar.

-Davis Insurance & Financial LLC leased 1,100 square feet of office space at 9700 Lakeshore Drive East, Suite D. The landlord, Veteran Construction, was represented by Rob Christman of Colliers International. The tenant represented itself.

The average rate for 30-year mortgages rose from 3.58 percent to 3.67 percent in the week ended Jan. 9, according to Bankrate.com. The rate for 15-year mortgages rose from 2.88 percent to 2.92 percent.

Carol Averitt Robbins and Don Kuroiwa have joined Sycamore Group Associates as associates.

BioCrossroads Inc.’s newest seed fund has plowed $750,000 into two Indianapolis-area life sciences companies. Esanex Inc. received $500,000 to help it develop a therapy that inhibits the ability of cancer cells to grow and survive. The investment will be used to complete a Phase 1 study in patients with tumors and to conduct multiple Phase 2 trials. Esanex is part of the portfolio of Lilly Ventures, the venture capital firm spun out of Eli Lilly and Co. in 2009. Algaeon Inc., meanwhile, received $250,000 to develop a technology for making micro-algae-based products used in human supplements and in animal and fish-feed stocks. The company will use the investment to expand operations and produce additional products. Algaeon is located on the northwest side on West 82nd Street. BioCrossroads, the Indianapolis-based life sciences development group, launched Indiana Seed Fund II in April after raising $8.25 million to help fledgling life sciences companies grow. Its first seed fund raised $6 million that was invested in 11 companies.

WellPoint Inc.’s plan to raise rates that small employers in California pay for medical insurance was criticized as unreasonable by the state insurance commissioner, who said customers are being charged this year to cover U.S. health-law taxes that won’t begin until 2014. According to Bloomberg News, WellPoint’s Anthem Blue Cross unit in California is raising those rates an average of 10.6 percent. Indianapolis-based WellPoint sells small group policies that cover 284,000 California employees. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones accused WellPoint of overstating future medical use and cost trends, and improperly including next year’s taxes. The commissioner provided his findings last month to the insurer, which plans to proceed with the rate increase. Anthem Blue Cross said rates will go up an average of 6.5 percent and the increase is lower than not-for-profit competitors. Around the country, Aetna Inc., UnitedHealth Group, Centene Corp. and other health insurers have proposed large increases on small businesses and individual buyers in recent months, citing rising costs for medical care and greater requirements of the health-care law. The Obama administration has said provisions in the law have kept increases from being even higher.

Johnson & Johnson won the backing of an FDA advisory panel for a diabetes pill the company is seeking to make the first in a new family of drugs for managing blood sugar, putting it ahead of Eli Lilly and Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca plc, which all are trying to develop similar drugs. According to Bloomberg News, New Jersey-based J&J received a 10-5 vote from the panel to support its drug canagliflozin, although the panel also said the drug raises concerns about heart risks. The once-a-day pill is part of a treatment group known as SGLT2 inhibitors that are intended to have fewer side effects, such as low blood sugar and weight gain, than current diabetes drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to decide on canagliflozin by the end of March; the agency usually follows recommendations of its advisory panels, but it does not have to. Lilly’s drug, which it is developing with Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh, is called empagliflozin. The two companies plan to file for FDA approval later this year.

Catheter Research Inc. has acquired assets from Illinois-based Marshall Medical Systems & Equipment Inc., one of the distributors of medical equipment for a subsidiary of Catheter Research called Thomas Medical Systems. Thomas Medical makes medical devices for reproductive and OB/GYN care. Catheter Research did not disclose the purchase price.

Jane Keller, CEO of the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital and interim CEO of OrthoIndy, a large Indianapolis-based practice of orthopedic surgeons, has been named CEO of both companies. Keller took over as interim CEO of OrthoIndy in June 2012. Keller holds a nursing degree from Ball State University and an MBA from Butler University. She became chief nursing officer of the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital in 2005 and was named CEO in 2006.

The Indianapolis-based Suburban Health Organization named Davis Lippincott as its new president, replacing Julie Carmichael, who recently left to become chief strategy officer at the St. Vincent Health hospital system. Lippincott previously was director of provider contracts and risk services for Suburban Health, a consortium of 10 hospital systems, including Indianapolis-based St. Vincent. Prior to joining Suburban Health, Lippincott worked as a financial analyst at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana and was an analyst and director of the care-management organization at St. Vincent Health. Lippincott holds a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and is a certified public accountant.

Precision Point Inc. leased 1,222 square feet of office space at 301 E. Carmel Drive, Carmel. The tenant name was incorrect in the Dec. 18 Real Estate Weekly.

-Kamrex Inc., aka Doom & Doom LLC, bought a 7,500-square-foot building on 0.57 acres at 7367 Business Center Drive, Avon. The buyer was represented by Alex Cantu of Summit Realty Group. The seller, TDWH Avon LLC, was represented by Stephen Daum and Jason Speckman of Summit Realty Group.

-Randy Faulkner & Associates Inc. bought the 2,900-square-foot building on 0.34 acres at 905 W. County Line Road, Greenwood. The buyer was represented by Mark Dietel and Bruce Richardson of Royal Cos. The seller, Whitelick Property Management LLC, was represented by Stephen Daum and Jeff Merritt of Summit Realty Group.

-Pro Fit Solutions LLC bought a 12,400-square-foot retail property at 1562-1580 W. Oak St., Zionsville. The seller, Kite Realty Group, was represented by Rebecca Wells and Bill French of Cassidy Turley. The buyer represented itself.

-County Line Emporium leased 85,000 square feet at West Washington Street Center, at West Washington Street and Interstate 465.  The tenant was represented by Tracey Holtzman of Midland Atlantic Properties. The landlord, West Washington Street Partners LLC, represented itself.

-Indiana Institute of Technology leased 19,806 square feet of office space at 3500 Depauw Blvd. The tenant was represented by Yumi Prater of Colliers International. The landlord, Sterling American Property Inc., was represented by Dave Moore, Darrin Boyd and Bennett Williams of Cassidy Turley.

-Oobatz leased 5,784 square feet at 3716 E. 82nd St.  The landlord, Clearwater I LLC, was represented by Liz Yoho of Providence Development. The tenant was represented by Michael Cranfill of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate.

-Anytime Fitness leased 5,000 square feet of retail space at 1901-1943 Melody Lane, Greenfield. The tenant was represented by Brent Godbout of Franchise Real Estate. The landlord, Lor Corp., was represented by Jacque Haynes of Cassidy Turley.

-Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. leased 4,511 square feet of office space at 6505 E. 82nd St. The landlord, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., was represented by Dave Moore and Darrin Boyd of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.  

-Massage Envy leased 4,049 square feet at Northfield Commons, Northfield Drive and N. County Road 625 East, Brownsburg. The tenant was represented by Tracey Holtzman of Midland Atlantic. The landlord, Brownsburg Development LLC, was represented by Liz Yoho of Providence Development.   

-AthleticCo Physical Therapy leased 3,313 square feet at Cornerstone Commons, 912 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel.  The tenant was represented by Craig Ramsay of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The landlord, B&D Carmel Properties LLC, was represented by Paul Dick of Colliers International.

-Tax Management Associates Inc. leased 3,138 square feet of office space at 6081 E. 82nd St. The landlord, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., was represented by Dave Moore and Darrin Boyd of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Piada Italian Street Food leased 3,011 square feet at Rangeline Crossing, 116th Street and Rangeline Road, Carmel. The tenant was represented by Steve Delaney of Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The landlord, KRG Centre LLC, was represented by Blake Beaver of Kite Realty Group.  

-Golf Etc. Avon leased 2,500 square feet of retail space in Avon Commerce Crossing, 8179 E. U.S. 36, Avon.  The landlord, Commerce Crossing, LLC, was represented by Brett Burch of Valenti Real Estate Services Inc. The tenant represented itself.

-Tegry Bistro leased 2,495 square feet at Geist Pavilion, 11501 Geist Pavilion Drive, Fishers. The landlord, 116th & Olio LLC, was represented by Andrew Hasbrook of Kite Realty Group. The tenant represented itself.

-McNamara Florist leased 2,262 square feet of retail space at 10106 Brooks School Road, Fishers. The tenant was represented by Bill French of Cassidy Turley. The landlord, FCH Associates LLC, was represented by Cindy Hoskinson of Lee & Associates.
 
-Jude Momodu Holdings LLC leased 1,800 square feet of office space at 480 E. Northfield Drive, Brownsburg.  The landlord, Crouse Management LLC, was represented by Brett Burch of Valenti Real Estate Services Inc. The tenant represented itself.

-Marco’s Pizza leased 1,711 square feet at Bridgewater Marketplace , 14641 N. Gray Road, Westfield. The tenant was represented by Andrew Clifford of 7D Commercial Real Estate. The landlord, KRG Bridgewater LLC, was represented by Blake Beaver of Kite Realty Group.  
 
-Yats Cajun Creole Restaurant leased 1,600 square feet at Traders Point II, 5650 W. 86th St., Suite 132. The tenant was represented by Gary Perel of Halakar Properties. The landlord, Kite West 86th Street II LLC, was represented by Blake Beaver of Kite Realty Group.

-Lawrence Arany and Darrell Dolan leased 1,232 square feet of office space at 6525 E. 82nd St. The landlord, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp., was represented by Dave Moore and Darrin Boyd of Cassidy Turley. The tenant represented itself.

-Yats Cajun Creole Restaurant leased 1,001 square feet at The Avenue, 910 W. 10th St.  The tenant was represented by Gary Perel of Newmark Knight Frank Halakar. The landlord, Buckingham Cos., was represented by Natasha Evans of Buckinghan Real Estate.

Mortgage rates were steady in the week ended Jan. 2, according to Bankrate.com. The average rate for 30-year mortgages dropped from 3.59 percent to 3.58 percent. The rate for 15-year mortgages rose from 2.87 percent to 2.88 percent.

Capitol Construction has completed a 3,100-square-foot retail build-out for United Package Liquors at 1067 Broad Ripple Ave.

Dr. Larry Micon, a general surgeon, has joined St. Vincent Medical Center Northeast in Fishers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University in Bloomington and completed his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Prior to joining St. Vincent, Micon served as director of surgical education at IU Health Methodist Hospital.

Community Physician Network has hired Dr. Josephine Bongiovanni, an internal medicine physician. She earned her medical degree at the University of Bologna Medical School in Italy. Her office is in Noblesville.

Dr. Thomas Howard, a specialist in liver, pancreas and gallbladder diseases, has joined Community Physician Network in Indianapolis. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma. He has been a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a physician at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.

Community Physician Network has Dr. Carl Pafford, a family medicine physician, in Fishers. He received his bachelor’s degree at Purdue University and completed his medical education at Indiana University School of Medicine. Pafford previously practiced family and emergency medicine in Tipton.

Dr. Matthew Rendel, a neurosurgeon, has joined Community Physician Network. He holds a medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Rendel provides care at Community Hospital South and Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin.

Community Physician Network has added Dr. Xian-Feng Zhu, an internal medicine physician, in Indianapolis. He completed his medical degree at Zhejiang Medical University in China. Before coming to Community, he practiced for seven years as a general internist in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. and Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH got good news from their Phase 3 trial of a new drug for patients with Type 2 diabetes, and said they plan to file for its market approval later this year. The drug, called empagliflozin, lowered diabetics’ levels of hemoglobin—a measure of blood sugar—more than a placebo. How the new drug will compare against similar drugs, called sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, remains unclear. Lilly competitors Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca plc are racing to bring the new class of drugs to market. But Lilly and Boehringer officials said they are pleased enough with the results to file for a launch this year, according to a statement released Monday by Lilly. "We are pleased with the results for these Phase III clinical trials for empagliflozin," Enrique Conterno, president of Lilly's diabetes division, said in a prepared statement. "Diabetes is growing at a tremendous rate across the world. Patients and their physicians need more treatment options in order to help improve their blood sugar levels and reach their treatment goals." Also, Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim announced that Lilly will re-assume exclusive development rights to a once-a-day insulin it calls LY2605541. That drug, as well as empagliflozin, were part of a co-development agreement Lilly and Boehringer signed in January 2011. Lilly unveiled a better-than-expected 2013 earnings forecast Friday, which sent its stock up by nearly 4 percent that day. The drugmaker forecast 2013 adjusted earnings of between $3.75 and $3.90 per share. Wall Street analysts were expecting 2013 earnings of $3.73 per share, according to a survey by FactSet.

The physician arm of Indianapolis-based hospital system Community Health Network took over cardiovascular services at Community Westview Hospital, displacing The Care Group LLC, on Jan. 1. Community Physician Network will now provide all specialty heart care at the 67-bed hospital at West 38th Street and North Guion Road. Community Health Network absorbed Westview in June 2011, securing a presence on the west side of Indianapolis to accompany its existing hospitals on the southern, eastern and northern sides of the metro area. The Care Group, one of the city’s largest physician practices, was acquired by Indianapolis-based hospital system St. Vincent Health in 2010. Community and St. Vincent are now working together to sign contracts with employers and health insurers in what they call an affordable care consortium.

A building on the northwest side of Indianapolis is the target of a foreclosure claiming that owner Women’s Physician Group LLP has defaulted on a $9 million loan. The lawsuit, filed Dec. 13 by U.S. Bank, claims that the physicians' group received the loan in April 2007 and stopped payment in August 2012, owing $8.7 million in principal. Including penalties and fees, though, U.S. Bank is seeking nearly $10.5 million, according to the suit. The 33,617-square-foot building at 8081 Township Line Road is completely occupied, according to the website of Cornerstone Companies Inc., the building’s broker. A representative of the physician group could not be reached for comment.

Radio Radio hosts a Jan. 4 Elvis Birthday Bash with the Danny Thompson Trio, Kenny Dodson and, of course, Bigger Than Elvis. Details here.

“Spank,” a musical parody of “Fifty Shades of Gray,” comes to the Egyptian Room, Jan. 3-5. Details here.

“Stars of the Russian Ballet” perform Jan. 5 at the Palladium. Details here.

The Indiana Repertory Theatre opens “Jackie and Me,” about a boy traveling back in time to meet Jackie Robinson, Dec. 11. It runs through Feb. 16. Details here.

Jan. 3-20

Phoenix Theatre

As part of the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere series, the Phoenix offers one of the first productions of Caridad Svich’s play about a young woman’s efforts to enter big-league women’s soccer. Details here. 

Jan. 9-20

Murat Theatre

The boys are back in town as the hit musical about the rise and split of the Four Seasons gets a replay. Jukebox musicals don’t get much better than this one, which once again anchors the Broadway in Indianapolis season. Details here.

Through March 2

Indiana State Museum

Now that you’ve seen the movie “Lincoln,” why not see one of the original signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation? The document—which went into effect 150 years ago this month—will be on display at the state museum. It’s one of only 15 signed by President Lincoln. Want more about Abe? Come back after Feb. 9 when “The Lincolns: Five Generations of an American Family” opens, also featuring artifacts from the museum’s Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. Details here.