BIO 2013: Additonal coverage of the show, BIO news and more photos

Another BRIC in thewall

CHICAGO—With one-third of all attendees coming from outsidethe United States, the 2013 BIO International Convention will host a wide rangeof programming focused on new opportunities within emerging markets andstrategies for growing the global biotech industry.

"Biotechnology innovation is an engine of economic growth.Many countries have thus made the development of a biotechnology sector aneconomic priority and have allocated significant resources into itsdevelopment," says BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. "We are pleased to seethis reflected in our international audience, whose participation is vital inpresenting a global meeting for the biotech community."

The emerging markets, particularly the four so-called BRICnations (Brazil, Russia, India and China), are becoming increasingly attractiveas their governments implement national strategies for biotechnology growth anddevelopment.

In recognition of this, BIO is presenting the Spotlights onthe BRICs program on Monday, April 22.

Spotlight on the BRICs: China

Welcome & Opening Presentation, 8:30 a.m.-9a.m.
Key Technical Issues and SFDA Drug ApprovalProcess, 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
Recent Developments in China's BiomedicineIndustry, 10 a.m.-10:55 a.m.
Building a World-Class Innovative TherapeuticBiologics Industry in China, 11 a.m.-noon

Spotlight on the BRICs: Russia

Welcome & Keynote Presentation, 8:30a.m.-9:15 a.m.
Pharma 20/20. Russia's Transformation FromEmerging to One of the Fastest-Growing Pharmaceutical Markets, 9:15 a.m.-10:30a.m.
The Role of the Biotech Clusters in theModernization and Technological Development of the Russian Economy, 10:45a.m.-noon

Spotlight on the BRICs: Brazil

Investing in Biotechnology in Brazil: Governmentand Financial Agencies, 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Investing in Biotechnology in Brazil: View fromthe Biopharmaceutical Industry, 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.I
ndustrial Biotechnology in a New Geography ofInnovation: Brazilian Perspectives in Biofuels and Bio-based Chemicals, 4:30p.m.-5:15 p.m

Spotlight on the BRICs: India

Opening & Keynote Presentation, 1:45p.m.-2:30 p.m.
India's Vision for Biotechnology, 2:45 p.m.-4:00p.m.
Biotechnology in India's States, 4:15 p.m.-5:30p.m.

However, the International Spotlights track at BIO 2013isn't just about BRICs, and other programming includes:

Global Biotechnology Forum, Tuesday, April 23,8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Increasing Access to Medicines: RegulatoryApproval Systems in Emerging Markets, Tuesday, April 23, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
How to Adapt: International Consortium LaysGroundwork for Adaptive Licensing, Tuesday, April 23, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Health is Wealth: International Cooperation isAdvancing Health, Growth and Business Opportunities, Tuesday, April 23, 3:45p.m.-5 p.m.
Role of Public-Private Partnerships inAddressing Non-Communicable Diseases in Low-and-Middle Income Countries,Wednesday, April 24, 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Global Regulation of Biosimilars: Issues ofImportance in Latin America, Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Biopharma Opportunities in Global Health,Wednesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Biologics and Regional Trade Agreements,Wednesday, April 24, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Adding to this content is the International Market Briefingstrack, which will explore the impact of biotechnology regulation and othergovernment policies on the growth and development of domestic biotechnologysectors and will showcase examples from around the world of specific regulatoryinitiatives that have had, or are expected to have, a real impact on biotechnologyinvestment, approvals and introduction to the marketplace.

These include:

Lithuanian Biotechs—Innovations in Health,Monday, April 22, 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Advances and Emerging Trends in the SwissBiotech Market, Monday, April 22, 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Dutch Biotech Companies: From Start-Up to Exit,Monday, April 22, 2:15 p.m.-3 p.m.
Turkey: An Investment Opportunity and Hub forGrowth in Biotechnology, Monday, April 22, 3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
Can Israel Become the Next Biotech Start-UpNation? Tuesday, April 23, 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Government Initiatives in New Drug Developmentin South Korea, Tuesday, April 23, 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Market Access in Europe—Pricing in Germany andits Impact on Other Countries, Tuesday, April 23, 2:15 p.m.-3 p.m.
Regulatory Review and Market Uptake ofBiosimilars: The European Experience, Tuesday, April 23, 3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
Biotechnology Regulations and Public Policies inArgentina: Impact on Biobusiness, Wednesday, April 24, 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Success Stories: How Emerging Belgian Biotechsare Going Public, Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Innovation & Solutions for AgriculturalBiotechnology in Taiwan, Wednesday, April 24, 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Biotechnology Markets Expanding in Mexico,Wednesday, April 24, 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
How Brazil is Promoting the Production ofBiologicals, Wednesday, April 24, 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m.
ACCINOV: A Unique Regulatory and TechnologicalEnvironment for Biomanufacturing in France, Wednesday, April 24, 4:15 p.m.-5p.m.

Food for thought

CHICAGO—It's not just about pharma and biotech at the 2103BIO International Convention; the three-day even will also feature food andagriculture topics, including the media's impact on consumer perception, newtechnologies and how to feed a growing world population.

"We are very excited to return to Chicago, centered inAmerica's heartland, where food commodities are exchanged and philosophiesabout agricultural production are debated," says Dr. Cathleen Enright,executive vice president for food and agriculture at BIO. "With so many issues being debated within theU.S. food and agriculture arena, let's talk."

Here's a sample of the sessions and events for the Food& Agriculture part of the convention:

The Food Dialogues:The Straight Story on Biotech in Agriculture—Media and its Impact on Consumers

Monday, April 22, 1:45 p.m.-4 p.m.

Let's Talk: IndustryAnswers Your Questions About Food and Agriculture Biotechnology

Tuesday, April 23, 8 a.m.-9 a.m.

Biotech Crops:Tackling Resistance and Myths

Monday, April 22, noon-1:30 p.m.

Collaborating forSolutions: Public-Private Partnerships in Agricultural Development for FoodSecurity

Tuesday, April 23, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Corporate VentureCapital in the AgTech Entrepeneurial Ecosystem

Tuesday, April 23, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Challenges andOpportunities for Small Companies in AgBiotech: Collaborating and Competingwith the Majors

Tuesday, April 23, 3:45 p.m.-5 p.m.

Going on the Offense:Proactive Strategies to Reduce Uncertainty

Wednesday, April 24, 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

Epigenetics: Morethan a Mere Expression

Wednesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Improving PreclinicalTranslation: Looking to GE Livestock Models of Human Disease

Wednesday, April 24, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Also, the Food & Agriculture Pavilion, located at themain entrance of the exhibition floor, will feature a series ofattention-grabbing programs such as "Agricultural Biotechnology: Feeding aHungry Planet and Saving Lives," which is a Tedx Talk by Neal Carter, presidentof Okanagan Specialty Fruit on Wednesday, April 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15a.m. The pavilion also features educational displays and interactivedemonstrations, provides a venue for one-on-one discussions and can serve as abackdrop for photo opportunities.

BIO News Briefs

Modernizing clinicaltrials

WASHINGTON, D.C.—One of the ongoing action items for theBiotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) since late last year is to develop aninitiative to modernize clinical trials. The key goals of this initiative areto: identify the key issues driving increases in the cost and duration of clinicaltrials and prioritize the specific issues that are most important and impactfulto BIO members; coordinate and enhance ongoing efforts by external initiativesand public-private partnerships that are working to address priority issues;and build support and advocate for specific, science-based policies tomodernize the conduct of clinical trials.

As the organization notes, leveraging modern advancements inmolecular biology and genomics, BIO's member companies have "pioneeredinnovative and lifesaving treatments for patients worldwide. These therapeuticand diagnostic products are leading to significant improvements in the care ofpatients with serious diseases—in many cases providing the first approvedtreatment for a condition. However, despite significant investments in thediscovery and development of modern therapies and treatments, recent reportshave noted that the overall efficiency of pharmaceutical research anddevelopment efforts has been declining steadily for more than 50 years."

While many factors have combined to cause this overalldecline, BIO notes, the organization points out that is widely recognized thatthe increasing timelines and costs associated with clinical trials are keycontributors to this trend.

BIO says it is committed to working with members and otherstakeholders to create a prioritized, actionable list of issues to address, andthen to reducing redundancies and inefficiencies by engaging and empoweringpartnership enterprises that are already making significant progress towardimproving the conduct of clinical trials.

"More efficient clinical trials translate to reducedbarriers to market for safe, innovative medicines," BIO notes, "which is theultimate goal of patients and manufacturers alike."

Protecting againstbio-terrorism

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Another action item for BIO, having begunaround the end of January, is to focus attention on Project BioShield, whichthe president and members of Congress still have to decide whether to continuefunding. The project seeks to expand the U.S. stockpile of medicalcountermeasures for potential chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear(CBRN) attacks.

Congress established Project BioShield in 2004 and providedit with 10 years of guaranteed funding. Two years later, it created theBiomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to oversee BioShield'sadvanced development and procurement efforts. To date, BioShield has developedand procured more than 50 million doses of vaccines and drugs against severalCBRN threats, and its investments have provided ancillary benefits as well.

Richard Neal namedLegislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In mid-March, BIO announced its selectionof U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) as Legislator of the Year for 2012-2013 duringthe 2013 BIO Legislative Day Fly-In.

"Congressman Neal's sponsorship, along with CongressmanGerlach, of the High Technology Small Business Research Incentives Act wouldhelp emerging companies find new sources of investment," said BIO President andCEO Jim Greenwood. "Furthermore, the congressman's joint work on legislation toaddress the Vaccine Excise Tax merits particular commendation."

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies,academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizationsacross the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members areinvolved in the research and development of innovative healthcare,agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO producesthe BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of thebiotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partneringmeetings held around the world; publishes BIOtechNOW, an online portal andmonthly newsletter chronicling innovations that are transforming the world; andparticipates in action and advocacy efforts of importance to the biotechindustry.

PHOTOS FROM THE HOST CITY OF CHICAGO:

A view from Oak Street Beach of the John Hancock

Center, oneof Chicago's most recognizable

buildings and a landmark at one end of the

city's famous "Magnificent Mile."

CREDIT: Choose Chicago

Chicago's Historic Water Tower, located on the strength of Michigan

Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile. Located nearby is 74-story Water

TowerPlace, the eighth-tallest building in Chicago, which not only contains

theRitz-Carlton hotel, luxury condominiums and office space but also

sits atop ablock-long base containing a several-story high atrium-style

retail mall thatfronts on the Magnificent Mile.

CREDIT: Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau

Featuring rides, dining, shopping and other attractions, NavyPier is one of many

Chicago attractions along the shore of Lake Michigan. CREDIT: Cesar Russ Photography

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