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Abstract:
Renowned Parkinson's Disease Patient Advocate Michael J. Fox to Deliver Keynote Address at 2007 BIO International Convention

2007 BIO International Convention Spotlights Healthcare and Research Advances, Along with Accompanying Industry Policy Challenges

Washington, DC | Posted on March 20th, 2007

Global leaders in biotechnology drug development, biomedical research, healthcare policy, nanotechnology and debilitating diseases will gather in Boston, Massachusetts to discuss the recent advances and top challenges facing the industry at the 2007 BIO International Convention. The global event for biotechnology, sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), will take place May 6-9, 2007 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

"The 2007 BIO International Convention will shine the global spotlight on researchers and companies making astonishing advances in biotechnology-based healthcare through innovative research and development," stated Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. "From an incredible array of conference sessions covering critical topics to our top-notch keynoters to one-on-one presentations, the 2007 BIO International Convention will provide attendees with an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the latest developments in biomedicine along with the challenges that jeopardize continued innovation."

Since the industry's inception, the FDA has approved nearly 300 drugs derived from biotechnology. These approvals have provided treatment for unmet medical needs such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases, along with many other rare and hard to treat ailments for which there was once no available treatment option. With hundreds of drugs in the pipeline, and thousands more compounds in preclinical investigation, biotechnology continues to offer hope to those whose diseases were once thought to be untreatable.

"Innovation drives our industry, and the last decade has been a testament to the progress that has been achieved in healthcare," noted Greenwood. "The last time the Convention was held in Boston, 120 drugs derived from biotechnology research had been approved. As of the end of 2006, that number was 254. There have been more approvals in those seven years than in all of the industry's prior years combined."

The importance of continued research and innovation will be a key theme when Michael J. Fox, founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, delivers the keynote address on May 7. Titled "Driving the Development and Availability of Novel Therapies," Mr. Fox's keynote will address the need for creative approaches to speed translation of the significant investments in research and discovery into meaningful, patient-relevant advances in human health. The discussion will explore strategies and solutions to "de-risk" investment in novel therapeutics for the biotechnology industry and academia alike.

This year's Convention will hold numerous panels, plenary sessions, and keynote speeches focused on a range of healthcare issues. The panel discussions will cover key topics such as bioethics, clinical research and trials, devices and predictive diagnostics, drug discovery and development, manufacturing and regenerative medicine and focus on some of the industry's hot issues including:

* "Cancer Nanotechnology for Early Diagnosis and Therapy"
* "Global Product and Disease Registries: Why and How?"
* "Emerging Opportunities in Molecular Imaging: Sharper Images and Improving Outcomes"

In addition, a Super Session entitled "The Pandemic Flu Syndrome: Are We Ready For the Big One…Or Just Crossing Our Fingers?" will be held on Monday, May 7.

As part of the BIO International Convention's commitment to disease awareness and building relationships between corporations and medical advocacy groups, BIO will sponsor Patient and Health Advocacy displays, which will feature exhibitions by patient advocacy groups who strive to offer information and assistance to those dealing with a multitude of diseases and ailments. These exhibits will be on display the morning of May 7 through the afternoon of May 9.

This year's BIO International Convention, themed "New Ideas. Bold Ventures. Global Benefits," will feature a program packed with more than 200 sessions and speakers focusing on the global aspects of biotechnology, including business development, global health, clinical research/clinical trials, policy, bioethics, devices and diagnostics, biopreparedness, intellectual property/legal, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental issues. International seminars will spotlight national-level developments from more than 30 countries and regions worldwide. To view the full conference program, please visit http://www.bio2007.org/Attendees/educational_sessions/index.html.

General registration for the BIO International Convention is now available at http://www.bio2007.org/Registration/index.html. Early-bird discounted registrations of more than 30 percent are available until March 23, 2007. For more information about the global event for biotechnology, including housing and program updates, please visit the event homepage at http://www.bio2007.org .

Advance media registration for the BIO International Convention is also available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio2007.org/Media/index.html . Reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers, college and online publications are strongly encouraged to register in advance by Friday, April 20, 2007.

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About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology.

Upcoming BIO Events

-- 2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
March 21-24
Orlando, FL

-- BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007
Boston, MA

-- BIO VentureForum-East 2007
June 18-20, 2007
Montreal, Canada

-- BIO Mid-America VentureForum 2007
Sep. 24-26, 2007
Milwaukee, WI