17th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference to Highlight Industry Financing, Current Policy Trends and the 2015 Market Outlook

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December  8, 2014) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces preliminary programming for the 17^th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference to be held February 9-10, 2015 in New York City. The program will include timely Fireside Chats with biotech luminaries, Business Roundtables, in-depth Therapeutic Workshops and forward-looking Plenary Sessions.

“With more than 1,800 partnering meetings expected and 150 companies planning to present, the BIO CEO & Investor Conference serves a vital role in bringing industry leaders together to form new partnerships and collaborations which advance medical progress and innovation,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “Investors are increasingly interested in the biotech sector due to scientific breakthroughs, an improved regulatory environment and strong earnings growth from large-cap companies. The BIO CEO & Investor Conference offers them an ideal venue to hear first-hand from leading biotech executives, fellow investors and policymakers who will help drive the future of the industry.”

Fireside Chats include:

·        Ron Cohen, M.D., President & CEO, Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.

·        U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative for the First District of Colorado

·        Peter Greenleaf, Chief Executive Officer, Sucampo

·        John Maraganore, Ph.D., CEO, Alynylam Pharmaceuticals

·        Ian C. Read, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Pfizer

·        U.S. Rep. Fred Upton*, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Representative for the Sixth District of Michigan

*Invited

Business Roundtables include:

·        How Industry Rates Interactions with the FDA: What is working well and what needs to improve?

Presentation of new BIO survey data results on patterns in FDA reviews and approvals by product division with a diverse panel to identify investment implications and regulatory policy improvement opportunities.

·        Digital Health—Early Successes for Investors and Biotech R&D Productivity

Perspectives from VCs and CVCs that have broad exposure to digital health investments on which sub-segments they see are getting market traction, especially where digital health companies are improving R&D productivity for biotechs.

·        Emerging Trends in Deal Structures Post-IPO

Exploration of innovative approaches to designing performance milestones and structuring earnouts in M&A, plus the rising trend of swaps of therapeutic assets to realign product portfolios.

Therapeutic Workshops include:

·        Getting Ahead of Ebola and Other Infectious Threats—Overturning Assumptions

With rising support from governments and philanthropies, hear how companies are advancing new platform technologies, clinical trial designs, and partnership approaches that can provide lessons on bringing new vaccines and therapies to market faster, with implications likely for a wide array of diseases.

·        Personalizing Oncology Treatments with Molecular Diagnostics (ASCO Preview)

As genetic analysis costs shrink significantly, experts discuss enabling broader matching of patient-cancer-therapy, lessons from the Cancer Genome Atlas, and the potential for reevaluation of oncology clinical trial designs.

·      “Trust Your Gut”—Therapeutic Opportunities from the Microbiome

Review of emerging data that the bacterial colonies of the digestive system influence far more non-digestive systems than previously believed, while creating natural antibiotics and other compounds that may be an underleveraged source for efficient drug discovery.

Plenary Sessions include:

·        Following Venture Flow by Disease Indication – Past, Present and Future Focus of VC Investment in Biotech

Summary of exclusive, BIO analysis of 10 years of VC investments by therapeutic area and degree of innovation; panel discussion of reasons behind the trends and implications for investors.

·        Producing “21^st Century Cures”—2015 U.S. Legislative Outlook

In-depth look at emerging legislative consensus from House Energy and Commerce committee with implications for drug development and dramatically shortening time-to-market.

·      “What’s Liquidity Got to Do With It?”—2015 Market Outlook

Closing panel discussion of the market momentum remaining after setting new IPO records, while expectations of higher interest rates, pressure from payers, tick-size debates, and other uncertainties suggest drags on investors’ enthusiasm for biopharma stocks.

BIO is pleased to recognize the leadership provided by the BIO CEO & Investor Conference sponsors including supporting banks BMO Capital Markets, HC Wainwright & Co., JMP Securities, Lazard and ROTH Capital Partners, LLC.

Media registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media. All registrations are subject to verification of credentials. To complete your registration, visit here.

###