2007 BIO International Convention Attendees Join Voters, Biotech Execs In Optimism About Finding Cures to Diseases

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2007) -- Attendees at the 2007 BIO International Convention joined voters and high-level biotechnology executives in expressing a strong sense of optimism about the possibility that the biotechnology industry will be able to find a cure for serious diseases like Parkinson’s Disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer over the next 10 to 15 years.

More than 1,800 conference attendees participated in an online survey exploring a set of key biotechnology issues during the BIO International Convention held this week in Boston. The poll follows two similar parallel surveys comparing the views of nationwide voters and senior-level biotechnology executives on a number of issues, including health care, the environment, alternative fuels and stem cell research.

All three polls were conducted by nationally recognized Republican and Democratic strategy firms Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

“I’m excited to see that voters, convention attendees and industry leaders all share the same optimistic view of the future of biotechnology,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the producer of the International Convention. “We now need to work together to ensure that we have the right public policy and regulatory framework in place to make this optimism a reality.”

The survey also found that attendees, like voters, rate the importance of finding cures to diseases as a top national issue (71% and 78% respectively,) ahead of combating terrorism, addressing illegal immigration and protecting the environment.

Industry leaders, convention attendees and voters all have high levels of optimism about the potential for finding cures for serious diseases. Industry leaders expressed a strong sense of confidence that this problem could be solved, with 94 percent saying they were optimistic about the potential for finding cures to serious diseases, compared to 86 percent of voters and 86 percent of Convention attendees.

Meanwhile, Convention attendees and voters both have higher expectations than industry leaders on the likelihood of achieving energy independence, reducing pollution and eliminating hunger and malnutrition. Thirty-nine percent of voters rated attaining energy independence among the top one or two most likely biotechnology achievements, Convention attendees were right in the middle with 26 percent, while only 17 percent of the top-level executives interviewed rated achieving energy independence among the top one or two most likely goals the industry would achieve over the next 10 to 15 years.

This research project, consistent with the theme of this year's BIO International Convention, "New Ideas. Bold Ventures. Global Benefits," encompassed the results of three separate surveys. A national telephone survey of 800 registered voters was conducted April 17-19, 2007. A national Internet survey of 252 biotechnology industry leaders was conducted April 11-24, 2007. Finally, an Internet survey was completed by 1,859 BIO International Convention attendees. This survey was conducted May 6-9, 2007, during the Convention.

More information on the first two polls conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates, please go to http://www.bio2007.org/Media/pr2.asp?id=2007_0506_01. Summaries and data from of all three polls are available at http://bio2007.org/Attendees/Sun01.html

About BIO

Founded in 1993, 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 health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest annual gathering of the global biotechnology industry. www.bio.org

About Public Opinion Strategies

Public Opinion Strategies is a survey research company specializing in corporate, public policy and litigation research, with offices in Washington, Denver and Los Angeles. Since its founding in 1991, Public Opinion Strategies has completed more than 10,000 research projects and interviewed more than four million Americans across the United States. These projects have ranged in scope from neighborhood studies to national samples in all 50 states. Internationally, Public Opinion Strategies has completed research projects in Albania, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Guam, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Venezuela, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Since Public Opinion Strategies’ roots are in political campaign management, their research is focused on producing information that compels decisions - and then results.

About Peter D. Hart Research Associates

Founded in 1971, Peter D. Hart Research Associates is one of the leading survey research firms in the United States and has been at the cutting edge of change in the field of public opinion for more than three decades. In that time, we have conducted well over 5,000 public opinion surveys and have administered and analyzed interviews among more than three million individuals. We have also undertaken more than 5,000 focus group sessions.

Upcoming BIO Events

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

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