Acting FDA Commissioner to Present Keynote Address at BIO Mid-America VentureForum 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 8, 2006) -- Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will present a keynote address at 12:30-2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Mid-America VentureForum in Cleveland, OH.

Dr. von Eschenbach was named as the acting commissioner of the FDA in September 2005.  BIO President Jim Greenwood commended President Bush for nominating Dr. von Eschenbach to be FDA commissioner and called for the Senate to move forward with his confirmation.

“Dr. von Eschenbach’s experience as a cancer surgeon and his leadership as director of the National Cancer Institute afford him unique insights into the critical need to advance new treatments for patients with life-threatening illnesses,” said Greenwood. “As a teacher and academician, he appreciates the importance of education and research in achieving scientific breakthroughs.  To provide safe and effective therapies for patients, and healthful foods for consumers, the country needs a confirmed FDA commissioner to ensure this agency is credible, predictable, and effective in protecting the public health.  We look forward to Dr. von Eschenbach’s comments before our VentureForum.”

The BIO Mid-America VentureForum is the Midwest’s largest annual gathering of biotechnology and medical device companies, venture capitalists, angel investors, and investment bankers from across the U.S. and Canada.  Now in its fourth year, the conference will be held on September 25-27 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cleveland.

The conference will feature presentations by companies selected by an advisory board consisting of representatives from the nation’s leading venture capital firms and workshops on timely issues such as state growth initiatives, investing in cutting-edge technology such as stem cell research and personalized medicine, and strategies for accelerating the regulatory review process.  In addition to Dr. von Eschenbach, speakers include Ohio Governor Bob Taft and BIO President Jim Greenwood.

To register as a general attendee, please visit http://bma.bio.org/opencms/bma/2006/registration/index.jsp .  Early registration rates end on Monday, September 11, 2006. 

Registration is complimentary for credentialed news media.  Advance media registration is available at http://www.bio.org/news/pressreg/index.asp?multiEvent=17 through September 15, 2006.  On-site registration is available only to reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations with valid media credentials.

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.  http://www.bio.org/

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