Global Health to be Highlighted at BIO 2006
CHICAGO (April 7, 2006) -- - With this year’s BIO Annual International Convention shaping up to have one of the strongest lineups yet BIO is proud that Global Health will play such a key role in this year’s conference. With help from BIO Ventures for Global Health and our many members committed to the global responsibility of biotech we have assembled a stellar line up of global health oriented features. This year we will offer two tracks related to global health – the Global Health track and the Emerging Markets track. Both will take place on Monday, April 10th from 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM.
Highlights include:
· “The Business of Global Health – Moving to Market-based Incentives”, a panel chaired by BVGH’s CEO Christopher D. Earl, PhD that will explore how the shift in recent years towards public support for market-oriented solutions to stimulate industry involvement in global health product development is changing the market dynamic for global neglected diseases. Panelists include:
o Henri Termeer, Chairman, President and CEO of Genzyme
o Michael Powell, Managing Director of Sofinnova Ventures
o Michel de Rosen, Chairman, President and CEO of ViroPharma
o Chris Earl, President and CEO, BIO Ventures for Global Health
· “Lessons Learned from Strategies Addressing HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa” will explore different models of care that companies have taken when addressing HIV/AIDS in the developing world. The discussion will focus on defining the industry’s responsibility to address the AIDS crisis and critical partners that companies can turn to for assistance.
· In “Uncovering Opportunities in Emerging Markets—Innovative Strategies to Address Global Health and Improve Shareholder Value,” the panel will discuss viable business models to pursue the development and distribution of products targeting diseases of the developing world. Each panelist will discuss their own approach to pursuing global health technologies. Speakers include:
o Debbie Myers, Director, External & Government Affairs and Public Partnerships, GSK Biologicals,
o Alexander von Gabain, CSO, Intercell
o Gilles Gagnon, President, CEO & Director, Aeterna Zentaris
o Wendy Taylor, Founder and Vice President of Strategy and Operations at BIO Ventures for Global Health
· “HPV Vaccines: Public Health Implications of a Medical Breakthrough” will examine the impact of new vaccines such as the two HPV candidates currently in phase II and III clinical trials. These new vaccines also raise questions regarding market access, societal attitudes and their impact on public education, vaccine distribution and reimbursement, vaccine availability in developing countries, and the need for public/private partnerships.
For more information on the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention, visit BIO’s website at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/.
BIO Ventures for Global Health is breaking down barriers that hinder development of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics to treat the urgent medical needs of the developing world. Working globally with partners in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, BVGH is building market-based solutions to catalyze industry investment in global health innovations. BVGH devotes its expertise in the business and science of biotechnology product development to improving the lives of people in the neediest regions of the world.
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.