TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The significant impact of digital technology on the global life science industries was a key theme at this year's IATI-BioMed Israel 2013 Conference in Tel Aviv.
"The industry is about to undergo a fundamental change," said Dr. Jeremy M. Levin, CEO of TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries, emphasizing the influence of online access to data and social information sharing. "It is a change that will affect all of you. It is a change that will affect every nation in the world."
Levin was emphatic about the role the Internet plays in empowering patients. "The day before a drug is released, the company knows more about that drug. The day after - patients know more. This fact is something that affects everything."
Dr. Eric Lander, Co-chair of U.S. President Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, also highlighted the enormous change technological development is bringing to the life science industries. "Big Data is driving biology today," he said.
A key leader of the Human Genome Project, Lander said that data analysis is helping scientists unlock the secrets of human genes. Lander also noted the particular impact Israel is having utilizing digital technologies to improve genetic research.
The three day BioMed Israel conference serves as a crucial platform for networking and collaboration between Israeli life science companies and entrepreneurs and multinational corporations and investors.
"This year's IATI-BioMed conference is another great demonstration of the advancements and achievements of the Israeli life science industry and its tremendous potential,” said Benny Zeevi, Co-Chairman of the IATI and BioMed conference.
Conference Co-Chair Ruti Alon echoed this sentiment: "The knowledge is here. The intellectual capacity is here. It speaks to the tremendous potential of the local industry that major international corporations and investors consider the conference a key annual event."
About the Israel Advanced Technologies Industries (IATI):
The Israel Advanced Technologies Industries (IATI) is the largest umbrella organization representing the high-tech and life sciences industries of Israel. IATI’s mission is to strengthen the Israeli high-tech and life science industries across the whole value chain while creating global, technological and innovational leadership.
