2011 BIO International Convention to Host New Forum on Diabetes

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an effort to raise awareness for one of the most costly chronic diseases facing adults and children, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), together with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), will feature a two-day diabetes forum for the first time at its 2011 BIO International Convention. The Convention will take place June 27-30, 2011, in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and is expected to attract an estimated 15,000 attendees from around the world.

“The BIO International Convention is an ideal venue for us to forge discussions with leading industry experts in the medical, pharmaceutical and technology industries focused on developing products and therapies that will ultimately benefit the lives of the millions of Americans living with diabetes today.”

The sessions within Diabetes Forum: Emerging Strategies, Challenges and Partnerships will showcase key opportunities and developments in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including the latest research in novel therapies, vaccines, and biomarkers. The Forum will also seek to address the global impact of the disease and its burden on healthcare systems, as well as showcase commercial, financing and medical trends to develop promising technologies and therapies to treat and cure diabetes.

“We are pleased to partner with JDRF on this two-day forum that will raise awareness for the disease and highlight the urgency for continued research for treatments and cures among industry leaders,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. “These sessions on diabetes will create a synergistic environment for our attendees and exhibitors by bringing together the advocacy and commercial sectors in an effort to keep the promising science of biotech moving forward to develop breakthrough treatments and, one day, cures for the most debilitating diseases.”

The disease, estimated to cost more than $200 billion in health care and lost productivity costs^[1] is the leading cause of kidney failure, nerve damage, non-traumatic lower-limb amputations and blindness, and is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, medical expenses incurred by the 25.8 million Americans with diabetes average more than two times higher than that of people without diabetes, and the number of patients with diabetes worldwide is estimated to grow to 435 million by 2030.

“The incidence of type 1 diabetes in people of all ages has grown dramatically in the past two decades, with a marked increase especially in children between the ages of one to five years. That’s why JDRF is focused on preventing the type 1 diabetes in all people who are at risk and supporting ongoing research that will lead to better treatments and cures for those living with the disease,” said Dr. Richard Insel, Chief Scientific Officer of JDRF. “The BIO International Convention is an ideal venue for us to forge discussions with leading industry experts in the medical, pharmaceutical and technology industries focused on developing products and therapies that will ultimately benefit the lives of the millions of Americans living with diabetes today.”

Sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company and Johnson & Johnson, the Diabetes Forum will be held Wednesday, June 29 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Thursday, June 30 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

The BIO International Convention is the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, offering networking and partnering opportunities with policymakers, scientists, CEOs and newsmakers, and hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2011 BIO International Convention.

Note to Editors: Members of the media can register at http://convention.bio.org/media.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 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. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.

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About JDRF

JDRF is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump - each day, every day of their lives. And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it pre-vent its potential complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including $107 million last year. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. For more information, visit the JDRF<http://www.jdrf.org/> website.

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