"BIO 2004: Story Ideas and Sources"

clara , 06.06.2004 22:50

In case you ever wondered how corporate journalists might write all their articles when they visit a big cenference: It's all down to a little help of the organizers...

Even before the conference has started, even before the journalist has even travelled to San Fransisco, there's a helpful mail in the mailbox, outlining story ideas and sources.

Check your local newspaper for co-incidences...

--- documentation ---- 1 June ----


BIO 2004: Story Ideas and Sources

As the world’s largest gathering of biotechnology executives, scientists and policymakers, the BIO 2004 Annual International Convention provides the year’s best opportunity to cover the trends and breakthroughs that are shaping the industry.

To help you prepare advance, on-site and even post-convention stories, BIO has joined forces with communications professionals at some of the Bay Area’s leading biotech companies to compile a list of story ideas, relevant convention sessions and expert sources.

Filling the Pharma Pipeline

As patents expire and competition heats up in blockbuster product categories, pharmaceutical companies and established biotechnology firms are looking to biotech to rejuvenate their pipelines with breakthrough products. Why? Because biotechs are developing the majority of products in clinical trials in key disease areas such as cancer, neurological disorders, orphan diseases and cardiovascular disorders.

In 2003, the number of new collaboration and marketing deals between pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms climbed 17 percent, according to BioWorld data. M&A activity is also heating up, with the number of deals climbing 85 percent in 2003, to a record 130. M&As jumped another 43 percent in the first four months of 2004 vs. the comparable 2003 period.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Hot Deals of the Last Year
June 7, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2022 West

Biotech-Pharma Alliance Paradigms
June 7, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2020 West

Beyond "Partner of Choice": Creating Value Through Partnership
June 9, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2020 West

Co-Development: A Critical Success Factor for the Biopharma Industry
June 9, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2020 West

Sources
Vince Anido, President and CEO, ISTA Pharmaceuticals (eye disease); contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com
Bob Bratzler, President and CEO, Coley Pharmaceuticals; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com
Eran Broshy, CEO, Ventiv Health; contact Felicia Vonella at 212 843 0210 or  fvonella@lazarpartners.com
Scott Deeter, President and CEO, Ventria Bioscience (bone healing); contact Brandy Rabe at 916-921-6148,  brabe@ventria.com
Steven Deitcher, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Nuvelo (hematology, vascular medicine, oncology); contact Nicole Estrin at 408-215-4572 or  nestrin@nuvelo.com
Dov Goldstein, Executive Vice President and CFO, Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc.; contact Jim Weiss at 415-362-5018 or  jim@weisscom.net
Michael Jackson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Drug Discovery, U.S., Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.; contact Lisa Vaga at 908-218-7316, 908-347-1006 or  lvaga@prdus.jnj.com
Seema Kumar, Vice President of Global Communications, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.; contact Lisa Vaga at 908-218-7316, 908-347-1006 or  lvaga@prdus.jnj.com
Ted Love, President and CEO, Nuvelo (cardiology/thrombosis); contact Nicole Estrin at 408-215-4572 or  nestrin@nuvelo.com
Jennie Mather, President and CEO, Raven Biotechnologies, Inc.; contact Steve Worsley at 415-814-5590 or  sworsley@ravenbio.com
John McLaughlin, President and CEO, Corgentech Inc.; contact Kristin Nash at 415 302-7951 or  kristin@weisscom.net
Morrie Ruffin, Vice President, Business Development, BIO; contact Debbie Strickland at 202-962-9200 or  dstrickland@bio.org
Joe Scodari, Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson; contact Carol Goodrich at 908-927-2014, 973-615-4057 or  Cgoodril@GPCUS.JNJ.COM
Michael Silber, VP Research and Technology Development, Alza; contact Ellen Rose 650-564-5051 or  erose3@alzus.jnj.com; or Kathy Kim at 650-564-2723
Dan Swisher, CEO, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com
Raymond Withy, President and CEO, Abgenix, Inc.; contact Ami Knoefler at 510-284-6350 or  ami.knoefler@abgenix.com


Personalized Medicine and Biomarkers to Improve Diagnostics & Therapy

No drug works perfectly for 100 percent of patients; even the best drugs are ineffective or produce side effects in some people. To match the right patients with the right drugs, scientists are searching for genetic markers that will predict drug response and adverse events. Already, tests can identify:

Breast cancer patients most likely to respond to Herceptin.
Kids with leukemia who cannot tolerate standard doses of a common class of chemotherapy called thiopurines.
Patients with variations in liver enzymes that are essential to metabolizing many drugs.

These are just the leading edge of what is likely to be a flood of pharmacogenomics-based testing and therapy — that is, the prescribing of medicine based on an individual’s genetic makeup. In addition, as the cost of genomic sequencing and analysis continues to drop, people will be able to plan diets, exercise and preventive care using information from their own genomes.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Targeting the Future of Biotech Drugs by Learning from the Past
June 7, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2018 West

Transforming Drug Discovery Using Clinical Genetics: No More Guesswork
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2018 West

Genetic Tests, Pharmacogenomics and Drug Development
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

What Is a Likely Successful Business Model for Personalized Medicine—Big Pharma, Big Biotech or a Specialty Company?
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2020 West

The Challenges of Translational Research Towards the Goal of Personalized Medicine
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2005 West

Making Personalized Medicine a Reality
June 8, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2005 West

Pharmacogenomics in Medicine—Where Are We Today?
June 9, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2000 West

Sources
Richard Scheller, Executive Vice President, Research, Genentech, Inc.; contact Mary Stutts at 650-225-5759 or  stutts.mary@gene.com
Charles Cantor, Chief Scientific Officer, Sequenom; contact Carmen Caricchio at 415-621-6626,  carmen@coactivepartners.com
Elaine Mansfield, Research Scientist, Stanford University; contact at 650-498-6762,  elainems@stanford.edu
Deborah J. Neff, President and CEO, Predicant Biosciences; contact Rick Roose at 415-362-5018 or  rick@weisscom.net
George Scangos, President and CEO, Exelixis; contact at 650-837-7000 or  scangos@exelixis.com
Randy Scott, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Genomic Health, Inc.; contact Kathleen Rinehart at 408-395-1978 or  kathleen@weisscom.net
Sharon Tetlow, CFO, diaDexus; contact at 650-246-6403 or  stetlow@diadexus.com
Craig Wheeler, President, BioPharmaceuticals, Chiron; contact at 510-923-3845 or  craig_wheeler@chiron.com
Bill Young, Chairman and CEO, ViroLogic, Inc.; contact Carolyn Bumgardner Wang at 415-362-5018 or  carolyn@weisscom.net

Private to Public: Biotech Makes the Move

An initial public offering is a critical milestone in a biotech company’s life, opening the door to the large amounts of capital it takes to complete development of commercial products. Since the biotech IPO window opened in 2003, at least 18 biotechnology companies have gone public in the United States, including seven California companies. In the Bay Area, freshman public companies include Renovis, Genitope, Tercica, Corgentech and Dynavax Technologies.

The Bay Area IPOs are typical of the current market, which encourages biotech companies to remain private until clinical programs reach late stages of development. Four are in Phase III clinical trials and one (Dynavax) is poised to enter Phase III this year.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Founding Funders: 25 Years of Biotech Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship
June 8, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2008 West

When Is the Time Right for an IPO?
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2008 West

Show Me the Money—Biotechnology Financing Update
June 9, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2008 West

Sources
Dick Brewer, Founding Partner, Crest Asset Management; contact at 650-346- 0127 or  rbb@crestpartners.com
G. Steven Burrill, Chairman, Burrill and Co.; contact at 415-591-5404 or  mandy@b-c.com
Samuel Colella, Venture Capitalist and Co-Founder, Versant Ventures; contact at  scolella@versantventures.com or contact Susan Bourne at 650-233-7877
Scott Morrison, National Leader for Life Sciences, Ernst & Young; contact at 650-496-1699 or  scott.morrison@ey.com
John McLaughlin, President and CEO, Corgentech Inc.; contact Kristin Nash at 415-302-7951 or  kristin@weisscom.net
Lori Rafield, Ph.D., General Partner, Apax Partners, Inc.; contact Laura Brightsen at 212-419-2461 or  laura.brightsen@apax.com
Morrie Ruffin, Vice President, Business Development, BIO; contact Debbie Strickland at 202-962-9200 or  dstrickland@bio.org
John Scarlett, President and CEO, Tercica, Inc.; contact Kim Kraemer at (650) 624-4949 or  kimberly.kraemer@tercica.com

Biotech’s Impact on the Economy & Job Growth

Biotechnology is one of the most rapidly expanding industries in the world, with growth of 82 percent over five years in the U.S. – and even faster growth abroad. Today, biotech is a $47 billion industry worldwide and poised to become profitable by 2008, according to Ernst & Young.

All that growth is creating new jobs. A recent Commerce Department survey found U.S. businesses that use biotechnology increased their workforce by about 12 percent annually between 2000 and 2002. In the Bay Area alone, bioscience companies account for more than 52,000 jobs, with another 10,000 employed in life-science projects at area academic and research institutions.

Biotech companies are not just creating science and business jobs. Now that almost 200 biotechnology drugs are on the market and hundreds more are in clinical testing, demand for manufacturing facilities and workers is heating up as well. It’s no surprise that political leaders in the U.S. and abroad are treating biotech as a key engine of growth for the 21st century.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

BIO 2004 Career Expo
June 6, 11 AM – 4 PM
San Francisco Marriott, 55 Fourth Street

The Premier of Ernst & Young's 18th Annual Global Biotechnology Report
June 7, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2001 West

Biotechnology: Essays from Its Heartland
Press Conference, Bay Area Economic Forum
June 8, 10 AM – 10:30 AM
Room Number: 303 South

Sources
Dick Brewer, Founding Partner, Crest Asset Management; contact at 650-346- 0127 or  rbb@crestpartners.com
G. Steven Burrill, Chairman, Burrill & Co.; contact at 415-591-5404 or  mandy@b-c.com
Ronald Cape, Founder, Cetus (since acquired by Chiron); contact at 415-398-9876 or  cape75n@aol.com
Stephen Dahms, Executive Director, CSUPERB (University of California); contact at 619-594-2822 or  sdahms@sciences.sdsu.edu
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, President, Product Development, Genentech, Inc.; contact Mary Stutts at 650-225-5759 or  stutts.mary@gene.com
Patrick Kelly, Vice President, State Government Relations, BIO; contact Debbie Strickland at 202-962-9200 or  dstrickland@bio.org
John Martin, President and CEO, Gilead Sciences; contact Amy Flood at 650-522-5643 or  amy_flood@gilead.com
Jim Mitchell, President, Scios; contact Chris Ernst at 510-248-2819, 415-710-9445 or  ernst@sciosinc.com; or Karin Bauer Aranaz at 415-859-3414 or  karin@weisscom.net
Scott Morrison, National Leader for Life Sciences, Ernst & Young; contact at 650-496-1699 or  scott.morrison@ey.com
Ed Penhoet, Director, Alta Partners; contact at 415-561-7700 or  epenhoet@altapartners.com
Jeffrey Peterson, CEO, TargetDiscovery; contact at 650-812-8100 or  jeff_Peterson@targetdiscovery.com
Lori Rafield, General Partner, Apax Partners, Inc.; contact Laura Brightsen at 212-419-2461 or  laura.brightsen@apax.com
Channing Robertson, Director, Stanford Clark Institute; no contact information
Morrie Ruffin, Vice President, Business Development, BIO; contact Debbie Strickland at 202-962-9200 or  dstrickland@bio.org
George F. Schreiner, SVP R&D, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Scios; contact Chris Ernst at 510-248-2819, 415-710-9445 or  ernst@sciosinc.com; or Karin Bauer Aranaz at 415-859-3414 or  karin@weisscom.net
Raymond Withy, President and CEO, Abgenix, Inc.; contact Ami Knoefler at 510-284-6350 or  ami.knoefler@abgenix.com

Nanotechnology

The idea of combining biology and nanoscale tool technologies has made the leap from science fiction to real-life research and development in the life sciences. New tools are under development to permit imaging of structure, molecular motion and forces at the scale of nanometers (10-9 meters). These technologies are poised to transform the fields of drug delivery, biosensors, high-throughput screening and industrial biotechnology.

The federal government has elevated nanotechnology to a high research priority, with budget proposal of $1 billion to fund the National Nanotechnology Initiative in 2005. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health has identified nanomedicine as one of five initiatives included under the major NIH Roadmap theme of “New Pathways to Discovery.”

BIO 2004 Session & Events

New Paradigms, New Tools, New Science: Reflections on Emerging Research Enterprises
June 8, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2004 West

Commercialization Opportunities for Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences
June 9, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2005 West

Sources
Michael Arbidge, Senior Vice President, Technology, Genencor; contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
Michael Natan Ph.D., CEO, Nanoplex Technologies; contact at 650-470-2388 or  mnatan@nanoplextech.com


Oncology Breakthroughs

We haven’t won the War on Cancer yet, but biotechnology has brought a new generation of highly targeted therapies to bear on this complicated disease. Many of them are monoclonal antibodies, including Avastin, Herceptin, Rituxan and Zevalin, all of which were developed by California companies.

Avastin, which the FDA cleared for marketing earlier this year, is the first drug approved as anti-angiogenic — a drug that suppresses blood vessel growth in tumors. Other targeted biotech cancer drugs approved in the past 18 months include Bexxar, Erbitux, Plenaxis and Velcade.

Biotechnology’s role in treating cancer will likely continue to grow. Seven hundred cancer drugs are in clinical testing, and about 70 percent of those are being developed by biotech companies. To help ensure that cancer drugs that work reach patients, the FDA has undertaken reforms to oncology drug reviews, with plans underway to develop new, clearer guidelines for approval.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Radioimmunotherapeutics: Expanding the Use of Antibodies Targeting Cancer
June 9, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2003 West

Progress with Targeted Small-Molecule Cancer Therapies
June 9, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

The Future of Cancer Treatment: Linking Genetics, Genomics and Clinical Endpoints as a Means of Improving Patient Selection and Efficacy Outcomes
June 9, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

New Wave of Antibodies for Cancer
June 9, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

Apoptosis—Realizing a New Approach to Cancer Treatment
June 9, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2000 West

Sources
Bob Bratzler, CEO and President, Coley Pharmaceuticals; contact Karen Bergman, 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com
Susan Desmond-Hellman, President, Product Development, Genentech, Inc.; contact Neil Cohen at 650-225-8681 or  cohen.neil@gene.com
John Fiddes, Vice President, Research and Clinical Development, Genencor; contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
Peter Hirth, CEO, Plexxikon; contact at 510-647-4003 or  kphirth@plexxikon.com
Richard Miller, President and CEO, Pharmacyclics, Inc.; contact Judy Dotson at 408-774-3335 or  jdotson@pcyc.com
David Nance, CEO, Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.; contact Felicia Vonella at 212-843-0210 or  fvonella@lazarpartners.com
Thomas Okarma, President and CEO, Geron; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com
Randy Scott, Chairman and CEO, Genomic Health, Inc.; contact Kathleen Rinehart at 408-395-1978 or  ggilmore@genomichealth.com
Steven Sherwin, President and CEO, Cell Genesys; contact Jennifer Williams at 650-266-2919 or  jenniferw@cellgenesys.com
Craig Smith, President and CEO, Guilford Pharmaceuticals; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com
Dan Swisher, CEO, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com
Craig Wheeler, President, BioPharmaceuticals, Chiron; contact at 510-923-3845 or  craig_wheeler@chiron.com
Mitchell Gold, President & CEO, Dendreon Corporation, contact Monique Greer at 206-829-1500 or  mgreer@dendreon.com
Raymond Withy, President and CEO, Abgenix, Inc.; contact Ami Knoefler at 510-284-6350 or  ami.knoefler@abgenix.com



Explosion of Antibodies

It took 22 years for monoclonal antibodies to make the journey from lab to marketed cancer drug, but since the 1997 debut of Rituxan — the first such drug to win FDA approval — six more have been approved for cancer. Like the antibodies our immune systems produce, monoclonal antibodies precisely target and disable disease-causing molecules and cells. Today they are also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, infection and Crohn’s disease; to prevent blood clots and organ rejection; and as imaging agents.

The future could bring an explosion of monoclonal antibody therapies since companies specializing in these products are able to produce human or humanized antibodies to virtually any molecular target.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Radioimmunotherapeutics: Expanding the Use of Antibodies Targeting Cancer
June 9, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM 2003 West
Room Number: 2003 West

New Wave of Antibodies for Cancer
June 9, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

Sources
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, President, Product Development, Genentech, Inc.; contact Mary Stutts at 650-225-7173  stutts.mary@gene.com
Jennie Mather, President and CEO, Raven Biotechnologies, Inc.; contact Steve Worsley at 415-814-5590 or  sworsley@ravenbio.com
Raymond Withy, President and CEO, Abgenix, Inc.; contact Ami Knoefler at 510-284-6350 or  ami.knoefler@abgenix.com

Beyond Health Care

Although the majority of biotechnology companies in the Bay Area and elsewhere are developing biomedical products, the technology also offers profound economic and environmental benefits through agricultural and industrial products.

Biotech staple crops such as corn, soybeans and cotton allow farmers to increase yields while reducing pesticide use, which benefits health and the environment. In 2003, biotech crop acreage rose 15 percent to 167 million acres in 18 countries.

The next generation of biotech crops will deliver more tangible benefits to consumers. Under development are more nutritious crops with higher levels of antioxidants and reduced trans-fatty acids. In California, companies such as Ceres and Ventria Bioscience are in the vanguard of developing better crops for a growing population.

Biotechnology is also changing the way we manufacture a long list of industrial and consumer products, including energy, paper, plastics and chemicals. With biotechnology enzymes and whole-cell systems, these economic essentials can often be produced with less energy, cost and environmental impact. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states, “Biotechnology should be on every industrial agenda.”

The first shipment of biofuel—ethanol made from agricultural waste instead of grain—was shipped in April 2004, marking a major milestone for industrial biotechnology. Using this technology, raw materials such as wood-product manufacturing residues, municipal solid waste and garden waste could supply more than 500 million dry tons of biomass—enough to make more than 50 billion gallons of ethanol, equivalent to approximately a quarter of current U.S. gasoline consumption. Another 10 to 15 billion gallons could be produced from corn stalks and husks and wheat straw, according to the Biotech 2003 report from Burrill & Co.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Industrial Biotechnology Opportunities in Chemical Production
June 7, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2009 West

Food Production Challenges—Nutrition and Sustainability: Can Biotechnology Help?
June 7, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2006 West

Using Biotech to Improve Food and Crops—Pacific Rim Challenges in International Trade
June 8, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2006 West

Technical Improvements in Cellulosic Biomass Conversion
June 8, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2009 West

New Routes to Active Ingredients for the Personal Care Market
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2009 West

The Future of Meat Production: Designing Foods
June 8, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2006 West

Agricultural Biotechnology—A Future to Harvest?
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room Number: 2006 West

Sources
Michael Arbidge, Senior Vice President, Technology, Genencor (Industrial); contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
J.J. Bienaime, CEO, Genencor (Industrial); contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
Scott Deeter, President and CEO, Ventria Bioscience (Agriculture); contact Brandy Rabe at 916-921-6148,  brabe@ventria.com
Lisa Dry, Director of Communications, BIO (Agriculture); contact at 202-962-9200 or  ldry@bio.org
Brent Erickson, Vice President, Industrial & Environmental Biotechnology, BIO; contact at 202-962-9200 or  berickson@bio.org
Jack Huttner, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Genencor (Industrial); contact at 585-256-5272 or contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
Glenn Nedwin, President, U.S., Novozymes (Industrial); contact Juelie Roggli at 530-757-5769
Thomas Pekich, Senior Vice President, Bioproducts, Genencor (Industrial); contact Angela Blackwell at 585-256-6973
Scott Power, Vice President, Genencor (Industrial – Personal Care and Food Safety); contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com

Converging Technologies

The Bay Area may still be recovering from the loss of IT and telecom jobs after the dot-com bust, but the convergence of biotechnology and nanotechnology, informatics and materials sciences offers a more sustainable future, one based on tangible products, not hype.

The convergence of biotech and infotech is evident in such products as genes and proteins on chips and in silico models of molecular biology. But not only does computer science inform biology, biology is also increasingly shaping computer science, through experimental DNA-based computers and computer systems designed to learn.

For IT powerhouses such as IBM, Sun and Oracle, bioinformatics was one of the few bright spots in their business during the downturn of 2001-02. Powerful computers and software are essential to storing, manipulating and analyzing the flood of data generated by the genomics, proteomics, pathway and drug discovery research. Today, biotech companies own some of the largest commercial computers in the world.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Systems Biology: The Need, the Challenge, the Promise
June 7, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2016 West

New Paradigms, New Tools, New Science: Reflections on Emerging Research Enterprises
June 8, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2004 West

Industry Visionaries
June 9, 7:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Room Number: Grand Ballroom, Moscone North

Making BioSystems Talk to Microelectronics
June 9, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Room Number: 2005 West

Sources
G. Steven Burill, Chairman, Burrill and Co.; contact at 415-591-5404 or  mandy@b-c.com
Stephen Fodor, Ph.D., Chairman & CEO, Affymetrix, Inc.; contact Wes Conard at 408-731-5791
Gary Hooper, Vice President, Business Development, Genencor; contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com
Deborah J. Neff, President and CEO, Predicant Biosciences; contact Rick Roose at 415-362-5018 or  rick@weisscom.net

Accelerating Drug Discovery and Development

Drug development is not your average business. It takes work with thousands of compounds in the lab to find a drug candidate, and many years of clinical trials and regulatory review to put that drug on the pharmacist’s shelf. Many products fail at some point in the long journey from bench to bedside, helping raise the average cost per approved drug to an estimated $800 million.

New technologies could potentially help lower cost, shorten development time and bring more drugs to patients. Both the FDA and NIH, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, are working to make that happen.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Emerging Technologies Enabling Faster Development of Effective Protein Pharmaceuticals
June 7, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Room Number: 2018 West

The Impact of Structural Genomics on Drug Discovery
June 7, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2018 West

Targeting the Future of Biotech Drugs by Learning from the Past
June 8, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2018 West

Speeding Development of New Therapies that Address Significant Medical Need
June 8, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Room Number: 2003 West

Sources
Dick Brewer, Founding Partner, Crest Asset Management; contact at  rbb@crestpartners.com
G. Steven Burill, Chairman, Burrill and Co.; contact at 415-591-5404 or  mandy@b-c.com
Stephen Fodor, Ph.D., Chairman & CEO, Affymetrix, Inc.; contact Wes Conard, Associate Director at 408-731-5791
Svetlana Gorina, Aerovance; contact at 510-282-9270 or  sgorina@tmo.blackberry.net
Deborah J. Neff, President and CEO, Predicant Biosciences; contact Rick Roose at 415-362-5018 or  rick@weisscom.net
Jeffrey Peterson, CEO, TargetDiscovery; contact at 650-812-8100
Katherine Tynan, PhD, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Vitra Biosciences; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com
Gunther Winkler, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Biogen Idec; contact at 617-679-2000 or  gunther.winkler@biogenidec.com
Bill Young, Chairman and CEO, ViroLogic, Inc.; contact Karen Wilson at 650-624-4164 or  kwilson@virologic.com

Drug Importation & Other Prescription Drug Issues

Can the healthcare system afford the innovations discussed at BIO 2004? Some of the hottest domestic political debates over the last two years have centered on prescription drug spending and access. Proposals now under consideration in Congress would open the U.S. borders to wide-scale importation, threatening the safety of the U.S. drug supply, probably without delivering significant cost savings. According to a new Congressional Budget Office report, importation from a broad set of industrialized countries would reduce total drug spending by only about 1 percent over 10 years. Canada-only importation would have even less effect.

BIO 2004 Sessions & Events

Providing Cures for Today and Tomorrow: The Impact of Cross Border Trade in Patented Medicines
Track: Policy
June 7, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
2005 West

Cost-Effectiveness and Therapeutic Products: What Role in Governmental Policy and Decision Making?
Track: Policy
June 7, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
2005 West

Sources
Svetlana Gorina, Aerovance; contact at 510-282-9270 or  sgorina@tmo.blackberry.net
Jim Mitchell, President, Scios; contact Chris Ernst at 510-248-2819, 415-710-9445 or  ernst@sciosinc.com; or Karin Bauer Aranaz at 415-859-3414,  karin@weisscom.net
Craig Wheeler, President, BioPharmaceuticals, Chiron; contact at 510-923-3845 or  craig_wheeler@chiron.com

Other Topics/Sources

Antibiotics:
Thomas Bigger, President and CEO, Paratek Pharmaceuticals; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com
Henry Fuchs, M.D., President and CEO, Intrabiotics; contact Carolyn Bumgardner Wang at 415-362-5018 or  carolyn@weisscom.net
Dov Goldstein, M.D., Executive Vice President and CFO, Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc.; contact Jim Weiss at 415-362-5018 or  jim@weisscom.net

Biodefense:
Lance Gordon, President and CEO, Vaxgen; contact Kesinee Yip at 650-624-2304 or  kyip@vaxgen.com

Biologics:
James Panek, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, Vaxgen; contact Kesinee Yip at 650-624-2304 or  kyip@vaxgen.com
Raymond Withy, Ph.D., President and CEO, Abgenix, Inc.; contact Ami Knoefler at 510-284-6350 or  ami.knoefler@abgenix.com

Cardiovascular:
George F. Schreiner, SVP R&D, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Scios; contact Chris Ernst at 510-248-2819, 415-710-9445 or  ernst@sciosinc.com; or Karin Bauer Aranaz at 415-859-3414 or  karin@weisscom.net
Peter Hirth, CEO, Plexxikon; contact at 510-647-4003 or  kphirth@plexxikon.com

Chemokines and cytokines:
Dr. Tom Schall, CEO, ChemoCentryx; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com

Children’s health:
Anne-Marie Duliege, Pediatrician, Stanford; contact at  am@duliege.com

CNS:
Axel Unterbeck, President and CSO of Memory Pharmaceuticals; contact  Flazar@lazarpartners.com.

Discovering small-molecule drugs in pieces:
Dan Swisher, CEO, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com

Food safety:
Scott Power, Vice President, Technology, Genencor; contact Valerie Tucker at 650-846-7571 or  vtucker@genencor.com

Gene regulation:
Edward Lanphier, President and CEO, Sangamo Biosciences; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@bio.org

Gene therapy:
Kenneth Chahine, President and CEO, Avigen; contact Jessica Swann at 510-748-7195 or  jswann@avigen.com
David Nance, CEO, Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.; contact Felicia Vonella at 212 843 0210 or  fvonella@lazarpartners.com

HIV/HCV:
James M. Gower, Chairman and CEO, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; contact Daryl Messinger at (650) 328-3913 or  daryl@messingerinc.com
John Martin, PhD, President and CEO, Gilead Sciences; contact Amy Flood at 650-522-5643 or  amy_flood@gilead.com
Daniel Welch, President and CEO, InterMune, Inc.; contact Griffin Murray at 415-466-2503 or  gmurray@intermune.com
Bill Young, Chairman and CEO, ViroLogic, Inc.; contact Karen Wilson at 650-624-4164 or  kwilson@virologic.com

Infant/child nutrition:
Scott Deeter, President and CEO, Ventria Bioscience; contact Brandy Rabe at 916-921-6148 or  brabe@ventria.com

Inflammatory disease:
George F. Schreiner, SVP R&D, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Scios; contact Chris Ernst at 510-248-2819 or 415-710-9445,  ernst@sciosinc.com; or Karin Bauer Aranaz at 415-859-3414 or  karin@weisscom.net
Peter Hirth, CEO, Plexxikon; contact at 510-647-4003 or  kphirth@plexxicon.com

Innovation off the shelf – recombinant proteins and other molecules gaining new life and value:
John Scarlett, President and CEO; contact Karen Bergman at 650-575-1509 or  kbergman@bccpartners.com

Metabolic diseases:
Peter Hirth, CEO, Plexxikon; contact at 510-647-4003 or  kphirth@plexxikon.com

Obesity:
Scott Deeter, President and CEO, Ventria Bioscience; contact Brandy Rabe at 916-921-6148 or  brabe@ventria.com

Painkillers:
Remi Barbier, President and CEO, Pain Therapeutics; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com

Pharmaceutical Lifecycle Management:
Tassos Gianakakos, Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development, Codexis; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com

RNA interference:
Howard Robin, President and CEO, Sirna Therapeutics; contact Elisabeth Brinks at 415-352-6262 or  ebrinks@burnsmc.com

Safety:
Allan Ader, Partner, SafeBridge Consultants; contact at 650-961-4820 or  allan.ader@safebridge.com

Stem cell research:
Frank Rice, President and CEO, VistaGen; contact at 650-346-3380 or  frice@vistagen-inc.com

Vaccines:
Piers Whitehead, Vice President, Corporate and Business Development, Vaxgen; contact Kesinee Yip at 650-624-2304 or  kyip@vaxgen.com

World health issues:
Scott Deeter, President and CEO, Ventria Bioscience; contact Brandy Rabe at 916-921-6148 or  brabe@ventria.com

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