BIO 2006 Program to Highlight All Aspects of Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 23, 2006) – BIO 2006 will draw 18,000 life science professionals from around the world to network and learn about the future of the industry through an expansive exhibit hall and a series of thought-provoking, educational programs. Sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the 14th annual international convention will take place April 9-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center.
The BIO 2006 sessions will feature luminaries from the spheres of science, finance, business, law, and government policy. The program includes popular general overviews on the state of the industry as well as expert panels focused on the Health, Food and Agriculture, and Industrial and Environmental sectors. BIO 2006 packs a year’s worth of professional development into four days.
Among the highlights:
· “Bioethanol: From Fueling Cars to Driving the Biorefining Revolution.” This session will provide an overview of state of the art grain-based and cellulosic biomass ethanol technologies. Other topics include a discussion on biobased material production in integrated biorefineries.
· “Who’s Going to Pay for It?” Who is going to pay for the revolutionary medical devices and diagnostics you’re working so hard to develop? Questions such as, how will payer reform (inpatient/outpatient) affect the financial success of your device or diagnostic? What will be the impact of personalized medicine on payer decisions? At what point do you need to start planning for insurance coverage for your device or diagnostic? And, who and how do you lobby for appropriate reimbursement? A panel of experts including payer, company and financial representatives will explore these and other questions.
· “Taking a Public Company Private: Going Private/Going Dark.” Since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was adopted in 2002, annual compliance costs for public companies in the U.S. have risen dramatically. This session will address the process of taking a public company private by comparing and contrasting the two most frequently applied methods, commonly called "going private" and "going dark."
· “The 2006 Finnegan Henderson Symposium on the Future of Biotechnology Patent Law.” Sweeping changes in the patent laws and rules appear imminent in Congress and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which could significantly alter the requirements for obtaining and enforcing biotech patents. The courts are increasingly tackling legal issues that will affect biotechnology patents. Industry experts will discuss the impact of pending legislation, pending patent office rule changes and the state of the law as expressed by the courts on the future of biotech intellectual property.
· “FDA Town Hall.” Senior FDA leaders will discuss current hot topics in each of the centers for review of drugs and biologics, CDER and CBER. Attendees will hear the latest on key organizational and policy initiatives, as well as FDA’s views on critical issues such as drug safety and progress on important initiatives including the “Critical Path,” and PDUFA performance goals.
· “What’s in Store for the Future: The Next Generation of Biotech Benefits.” Researchers from the University of Maryland will unveil the results of a new study analyzing the nutritional and health benefits that could come from enhanced nutrient profiles of certain foods. This session will also include experts on public health and healthcare economics.
For more information on the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention, visit BIO’s website at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/.
Advance media registration for BIO 2006 is now available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio.org/events/2006/reg/. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers and online publications must register in advance by Friday, March 31, 2006.
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.
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