New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to Provide Welcoming Remarks at 11th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces that New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will present the welcoming remarks prior to the business roundtable session, “The New Administration & Congress: Short or Loose Change?” at the Eleventh Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference running February 9-10, 2009 at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City. The session will take place Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:30am - 10:40am in the East Foyer.

“His vast knowledge and experience in the financial sector will provide valuable insight to our attendees and panel participants.”

“We are honored to have Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg participating in our conference,” said James Greenwood, president and CEO, BIO. “His vast knowledge and experience in the financial sector will provide valuable insight to our attendees and panel participants.”

The panel will include a lively discussion among former congressional and administration staff and experts in the policies that impact the biotech industry. The panel will discuss the impact of the Obama administration and new Congress on the industry and discuss how the incoming administration will likely come down on the policy matters most critical to the drug development process. The panel, moderated by Greenwood, will include the following experts:

• Michelle Easton, Partner, Tarplin, Downs & Young; (Former Chief Health and Welfare Counsel, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus)
• Scott Gottlieb, Resident Fellow at The American Enterprise Institute; (Former Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Steve Usdin, Washington Editor, BioCentury Publications Inc.

To learn more about the BIO CEO & Investor Conference, including registration and program information, please visit http://ceo.bio.org. Registration is complimentary for qualified investors and credentialed members of the media.

Media registration will be available onsite at the Waldorf=Astoria hotel starting Sunday, February 8, from 4pm – 7pm, and Monday, February 9, at 7:30am.

The BIO CEO & Investor Conference is the largest independent investor conference focused solely on publicly-traded biotechnology companies. The meeting attracts institutional investors, industry analysts, and senior biotechnology executives. In addition, the BIO CEO & Investor Conference draws business development executives from leading global pharmaceutical and mature biotechnology companies.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2009
February 9-10, 2009
New York, New York

BIO-Europe Spring
March 16-18, 2009
Milan, Italy

BIO IP Counsels' Committee Conference
March 25–27, 2009
Phoenix, Ariz.

BIO National Venture Conference
March 31–April 1, 2009
Boston, Mass.

BIO Windhover 2009
April 13-15, 2009
New York, New York

BIO-LES Business Development Basics Course
May 15–17, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.

BIO-LES Advanced Business Development Course
May 15–17, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.

BIO Executive Presentation Workshop
May 17, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.

2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.

BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada