2010 BIO International Convention to Focus on State of the Global Biotechnology Industry

WASHINGTON –(Business Wire)– Apr, 2010 The 2010 BIO International Convention will feature five super sessions focused on the state of the industry, global biotech advancements and policy trends. The sessions will feature high-level government speakers, including Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property David Kappos and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg as well as industry executives from Ernst and Young, the Campbell Alliance and Burrill & Company. The Convention will be held May 3-6, 2010 in Chicago, Ill. at McCormick Place.

“Like many industries, the biotechnology industry was significantly affected by global economic challenges in 2009 and, as the economy begins to recover, many are wondering where our industry stands today,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. “The super sessions at Convention will provide attendees with a strong understanding of the state of the industry, including financial performance and mergers and acquisitions, challenges the industry will face in the coming year, and steps the industry is taking to recover.”

Super Sessions include:

Leveraging IP to Spur Global Biotechnology Innovation, Investment and Jobs
The innovation landscape in key countries, the role that intellectual property systems play in attracting biotech investment and how some countries are successfully leveraging their patent policies to foster economic growth.

Date: Monday, May 3, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Speakers: David Kappos, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property; Robert Armitage, Senior VP and General Counsel for Eli Lilly & Company; and Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization

Biotech: The New Normal?
Ernst and Young’s 24^th annual biotech industry report, summarizing the sector’s performance using key metrics, including financial performance, financing, deals and pipeline productivity.

Date: Monday, May 3, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Burrill State-of-the-Industry Report
Burrill’s 24^th annual report on the state of the biotech industry, highlighting critical developments in 2009 and how the industry will need to adapt to a new challenging environment.

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Speaker: G. Steven Burrill, Chief Executive Officer of Burrill & Company

Advancing Regulatory Science: Bringing Progress to Patients
How the FDA and its stakeholders are providing substantial new funding and exploring a range of new partnerships to develop the science needed to maximize the returns from innovative biomedical research.

Date: Tuesday, May 4, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Speakers: Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Dr. Barry Gertz, Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs of Merck & Co; Dr. Alan Lewis, President and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association; and Daniel Perry, Chair, ACT-AD Coalition (Accelerate Cure/Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease)

Campbell Alliance 2010 Dealmakers’ Intentions Survey
Key findings from two unique forward-looking measures of deal-making in the biotech industry — the Campbell Alliance 2010 Dealmakers’ Intentions Survey and the BIO 2010 Business Forum Partnering Report.

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Speakers: Ben Bonifant, Vice President and Head of the Business Development Practice for the Campbell Alliance; and Dr. John Craighead, Managing Director of Investor Relations and Business Development for the Biotechnology Industry Organization; BJ Bormann, PhD, Senior Vice President & Global Head, Business Development, Boehringer Ingelheim; Shaun Grady, Vice President, Strategic Partnering & Business Development, AstraZeneca; Paul J. Hastings, President and Chief Executive Officer, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals

For detailed descriptions and a full program, please visit http://convention.bio.org.