BIO VentureForum 2001 to Feature Foremost Investment Experts as Keynote and Plenary Speakers

Washington, DC (August 27, 2001) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), in partnership with the National Venture Capital Association, NASDAQ, the Technology Council of Maryland, and the Washington Business Journal, will host the first annual BIO VentureForum on October 3-4, 2001 in Washington, D.C. The premier event will be held at the Hilton Washington & Towers and will feature keynote addresses from industry experts and a series of panel discussions with some of the most prominent leaders in the biotechnology and investment sectors.

Scott Morrison, Ernst & Young's national director of life sciences, will address BIO VentureForum 2001 regarding "Focus on Fundamentals: The Biotechnology Report, Ernst & Young's 15th Annual Review." Morrison will provide a broad overview of the industry including financial results, geographic hotbeds, capital markets, products and transaction activity.

Featured speakers also include:

• Alfred R. Berkeley, III, vice chairman, The Nasdaq Stock Market
• Robert J. More, general partner, Domain Associates, LLC
• Stelios Papadopoulos, managing director, SG Cowen Securities Corporation
• Dennis Purcell, senior managing director, Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund
• Bryan Roberts, general partner, Venrock Associates

BIO VentureForum 2001 will showcase the most promising health-care venture opportunities from across the United States. The 90 presenting companies were rigorously screened by the event's Advisory Board and represent early- and late-stage platform and therapeutic-focused companies.

"The BIO VentureForum plans to bring some of the most promising private biotech companies in the world together with sophisticated investors and industry representatives to discuss the tremendous opportunities that exist today," said Chris Ehrlich, senior associate, InterWest Partners. "InterWest Partners is proud to be associated with this inaugural event and this inspiring industry."

For more information on the BIO VentureForum 2001, please visit the Web site at www.bioventureforum.net.

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. For more information, please visit www.bio.org.

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