Aviation: United Airlines’ proposal doesn’t fly with workers

United Airlines’ largest union has rejected a 10 percent pay cut that was part of the carrier’s plan to right itself after losing $2 billion since the 9-11 attacks.

United had proposed the pay cuts among employee concessions it says are needed to help the company rebound financially.

But the machinists’ union on Tuesday said the wage-cut request won’t fly with its 35,000 members. The workers have agreed to defer $498 million in retroactive pay to help the company return to financial stability, said Frank Larkin, spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Pharmaceuticals: CyDex announces approval of Captisol-enabled drug

Overland Park-based CyDex Inc. announced Tuesday U.S. approval of a Captisol-enabled product Geodon for Injection, a schizophrenia drug from Pfizer Inc.

The FDA approval marks the second in less than a month for the company, which was created from research at Kansas University’s Higuchi Biosciences Center for Drug Delivery. In late May, another Pfizer drug using the Captisol-product also was approved for sale in the United States.

CyDex President and CEO Peter Higuchi said the approval is a “exciting milestone” for the company and further proves its commercial viability.

The Captisol technology basically allows drugs to be more easily absorbed by the body.

Leadership: Kansas chamber president resigns, accepts Okla. post

Dale Davis, chairman of the board for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has announced the resignation of John Fowler, president and CEO of KCCI, effective July 31. Fowler has accepted a position as president and chief executive of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce in Stillwater, Okla.

Davis also announced the formation of a search committee to fill the position. Until the search is completed, Davis said Jim Edwards, KCCI senior vice president, will serve as chief operating officer.

Retailer: Office supply giant enters health-care market with deal

Staples Inc. plans to jump more aggressively into the potentially lucrative health-care office supplies market with a $385 million all-cash purchase of Minneapolis-based Medical Arts Press, Staples said Tuesday.

The purchase signals a gamble by the Framingham, Mass.-based retailer and catalogue company that, despite advances in technology, doctors and dentists offices will remain heavily dependent on paper and traditional office supplies for the near future.