Inaugural BIO National Venture Conference Workshops to Focus on New Trends in the Biotech Industry

                WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, April 16, 2008) -  Start-up funding strategies, regenerative medicine, RNA-based therapies and other therapeutic development opportunities are just a few of the workshop topics to be discussed during the inaugural 2008 BIO National Venture Conference, being held April 22-23 at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), this new conference will bring together an elite group of venture capital investors with fledgling and large biotechnology companies to participate in company presentations, one-on-one meetings and panel discussions featuring leading clinical and therapeutic experts. 

               “Our new BIO National Venture Conference brings together the best and brightest to explore leading trends and topics in biotechnology today.  The workshops selected for the conference were identified in a thorough vetting process by BIO in collaboration with the venture capital community,” said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president, Emerging Companies & Business Development at BIO.  “Internationally recognized experts will discuss some of the most compelling topics for biotechnology venture start-ups today, including innovative therapeutic technologies and strategies for capitalization."

                The one and a half day program will offer a number of workshops on pertinent topics for investors and CEOs.  Session topics include: 

·         "Innovative Start-up Funding Strategies in Today's Market"- Learn about the latest investment models, company formation principles and the quest for capital to launch companies with a platform that is sustainable in the marketplace. 

·         "RegenMed 2.0: Prospects for a Second Generation of Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics"-Join the discussion on the prospects for RegenMed 2.0 with a leading stem cell venture capital investor, translational scientist, physician, and regulatory expert.

·         "Antibiotics: Bad Bugs - Few Drugs" - This panel will discuss what the future needs for antibiotics will be with the rise of drug-resistant bugs and how biotech can address those needs. 

·         "Funding and Valuation Models for Start-Up Biotech Companies" - Learn about the macro, micro and minute variables that influence the valuation of young companies in a constantly changing investment environment. 

·         "RNAi, microRNA, siRNA - Fad or Future" - A whole new support industry is being spawned around this new class of drugs, providing a novel approaches to IP, delivery systems and manufacturing techniques.  This panel will debate both the short-term and long-term opportunities for RNA-based therapeutics. 

Leading investigators, investors, and industry executives speaking at the conference include:

• David Scadden, MD, Co-Chair, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University; Co-Director, Harvard Stem Cell Institute; and Director, MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine
• Lowell Young, MD, Diretor, Kuzell Institute for Arthritis & Infectious Diseases, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
• Peter Barrett, Partner, Life Sciences Group, Atlas Venture
• Maggie Flanagan LeFlore, PhD, Managing Director, MedImmune Ventures
• Glen Giovannetti, Partner and Global Biotechnology Leader, Ernst & Young

                 More than 80 venture capital (VC) firms have registered for the event, and over half of the more than 125 VC attendees are partners, managing directors, or vice presidents.

                   The first annual BIO National Venture Conference, co-hosted by the National Venture Capital Association, features the BIOPro Partnering System for coordinating one-on-one meetings between investors and company executives.

                   For more information on the BIO National Venture Conference, including a complete list of attending venture capital firms please visit http://www.bnvc.bio.org.  Media registration will be available onsite.   

 

Upcoming BIO Events

 ·   BIO National Venture Conference 
    April 22-23, 2008
    Boston, Mass.

 ·   World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing  
    April 27-30, 2008
    Chicago, Ill.

 ·   2008 BIO International Convention 
    June 17-20, 2008
    San Diego, Calif.

 ·  Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
    Sept. 10-12, 2008
    Vancouver, B.C., Canada

 

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

 

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