Biotech 2010 to Feature Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson as Dinner Keynote Speaker

TRENTON, N.J. & WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biotech 2010, the tenth annual joint symposium of BioNJ and Pennsylvania Bio, will feature former Health and Human Services Secretary and four-term Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson as the dinner keynote speaker on Wednesday, October 27.

Biotech 2010 will be held October 27-28, 2010, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. In addition to the dinner keynote address by Mr. Thompson, the symposium will also feature a luncheon keynote on October 28 by Alex Gorsky, worldwide chairman, Medical Devices and Diagnostics Group of Johnson & Johnson, Panel Discussions, two Plenary Sessions, Partnering sessions, Company Presentations, an Innovation Corridor, and an Exhibit Hall.

Secretary Thompson is a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and serves as chairman of AGA Medical Corporation as well as a director of CR Bard, Centene Corporation, and United Therapeutics. He also serves as a Special Advisor to the CEO at Tamir Biotechnology, Inc.

Secretary Thompson is building on his efforts as HHS Secretary and Governor to develop innovative solutions to the health care challenges facing American families, businesses, communities, states and the nation as a whole. These efforts focus on improving the use of information technology in hospitals, clinics and doctors offices; promoting healthier lifestyles; strengthening and modernizing Medicare and Medicaid; and expanding the use of medical diplomacy around the world.

Secretary Thompson served as HHS Secretary from 2001 to 2005 and is one of the nation's leading advocates for the health and welfare of all Americans. Secretary Thompson has dedicated his professional life to public service and served as Governor of Wisconsin from 1987 to 2001.

The symposium dinner is sponsored by Celgene Corporation (www.Celgene.com) of Summit, NJ and Novo Nordisk (http://www.novonordisk-us.com/documents/home_page/document/index.asp) of Princeton, NJ.

Celgene is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation.

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 87 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone therapy for women.

Each year the symposium attracts top executives from the region's global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostic companies; venture capitalists and other investors; university researchers; university-industry liaison officers; government officials; and support organizations.

About Biotech 2010

Biotech 2010: Imagine. Collaborate. Innovate is designed to advance the growth and development of the bioscience industry in the Mid-Atlantic region. In its tenth year, this event is a joint symposium of BioNJ and Pennsylvania Bio. For more information, please visit www.biotech2010.org.