2011 BIO International Convention Kicks Off Today in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2011 BIO International Convention, the world’s largest biotechnology event, kicks off today at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the event is expected to attract more than 15,000 attendees from 48 states and 65 countries. More than 70 percent of those attendees are senior-level leaders from industry, academia and government.

The Convention program features more than 125 breakout sessions across 15 tracks, addressing the latest scientific, policy and business opportunities and challenges facing the biotechnology industry today.

Highlights from Today’s Program Include:

Emerging Leaders Workshop: Hitting the Mark in New Product Commercialization
An all-day workshop that will explore strategies for each stage of commercial planning; outline the best practices for managing in today’s challenging commercial environment; and examine how to optimize products’ commercial viability and launch. (8:30 am – 5:00 pm)
Clinical Trial Diversity: The Key to Innovative Medical Treatments
Panel session to discuss integrating diverse and underserved populations with the medical, agricultural and energy research industry by supporting science education at an early age; increasing employment opportunities; encouraging participation in clinical trials; and, providing access to innovative technologies. (12:00 pm – 2:00 pm)

Translational Medicine – A Global Endeavor
Featured Speaker: Dr. Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health (1:00 pm – 6:00 pm)

Leadership Summit: Deploying Agricultural and Industrial Biotechnologies to Meet Development Challenges
The summit will examine how the right government policies and current business trends combined with the latest technology advances support rural economies in the United States and around the world. (1:00 pm – 4:30 pm)

Breakout Session: Achieving Regulatory Approval and Compliance – Getting Approval for Drugs in an Ever-Increasing Risk-Averse World
This session will showcase the approval process of the first advanced cell therapy (a TiGenix product approved in the European Union, but not yet in the United States) and the new drug Resolor, a Movetis (now Shire) product that received a positive opinion of the EMA on the marketing authorization, 14 months after its MAA submission. (2:00 pm – 3:15 pm)

Drug Discovery and Development: What Is the Future for Innovative Medicines in Our Industry’s Pipeline?
This session will outline current investment priorities from pharmaceutical biotech companies; review postgenomic approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets and identify the pros and cons of “fast follower” development strategies commonly utilized with MAb portfolios.
(3:45 pm – 5:00 pm)

Media registration is open on site today from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

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 conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2011 BIO International Convention.

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 BIOtech Now, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtech Now.

Be included in official convention coverage: Tag your convention related content, blog posts, photos and videos with #bio2011
BIO Business Forum: #bio1x1
BIO Exhibitors: #bioex
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