Carlsbad, USA, Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, February 6, 2009: The intensity of partnering activities among biotech executives continues to increase in the wake of the collapse of traditional sources for financing, according to EBD Group, producer of the annual BIO-Europe Spring® partnering event set for March 16–18, 2009 at the Milano Convention Centre (MIC), Milan, Italy.

EBD Group reports in the current issue of partneringNEWS™ (www.partneringnews.com) that registrations for the event already exceed 800 companies from 40 countries worldwide, and more than 1,400 attendees are expected at the event.

"Despite the difficult economic climate we are seeing a strong increase in biotech companies interested in presenting to potential pharma partners at BIO-Europe Spring. There has also been an upsurge in the number of partnering meeting requests," said Carola Schropp, President of EBD Group. "With debilitated financial markets the fortunes of many biotech companies rest with developing and nurturing partnerships."

"BIO-Europe Spring is taking place at a critical time in the lives of many biotech firms, and we are happy to help provide a way for companies and the industry as a whole to keep the engines of innovation moving," Schropp added.

The Milan event follows on the heels of BIO-Europe 2008 in Mannheim where the number of partnering meetings scheduled by each participant spiked by 20% over the previous year, for a total of 10,000 meetings. BIO-Europe Spring 2009 in Milan is poised to continue this highly productive pace of partnering.

But it is not all doom and gloom for those seeking venture investment, and one participant who told partneringNEWS he will be networking intensively in Milan is Olivier Litzka, who manages the BioDiscovery portfolios for Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (http://www.lcf-rothschild.fr/en/edrip/home.asp) (EdRIP) in Paris.

“It is well known that we have fresh money, so at BIO-Europe Spring in Milan my colleagues and I expect our agendas will be full,” said Litzka, adding he also looks forward to the accidental meetings that occur during the event’s evening receptions that can develop into opportunities.

EdRIP closed fundraising for the new BioDiscovery III in May 2008 for EUR 155 million just ahead of the tremblings in financial markets that led to the investor flight in September.

“There is no doubt that we had luck in the timing of this new fund,” Litzka told partneringNEWS. "I hope that the good funds that are out there interested in biotech resist the temptation to be harsh in this difficult moment and that they are prepared to support portfolio companies for perhaps longer than they had originally expected. That is what we intend to do, help our companies develop in a realistic way toward a future exit."

Notes to Editors:
Entry to BIO-Europe Spring 2009 is free to the media, including full access to the partnering system, sessions, press conferences and workshops. Visit the BIO-Europe Spring conference website at http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/press_reg.htm for detailed information on this year's conference and online registration. When you register online, please indicate in the comment field that you are requesting a complimentary press registration. Please fax a copy of your press pass to complete your complimentary media registration to fax number +49 89 23 88 756 55.

About BIO-Europe Spring 2009
The BIO-Europe Spring® event brings together international decision makers from all sectors of the biotechnology industry, and features the successful combination of one-to-one meetings, company presentations, panel discussions and a lively exhibition.

Positioned as the springtime counterpart to EBD Group’s flagship conference, BIO-Europe, the BIO-Europe Spring event continues the tradition of providing life science companies with high caliber partnering opportunities. The event enables delegates to identify, meet and network with companies across the life science value chain from large biotech and pharma companies to financiers and innovative start-ups.

About EBD Group
EBD Group is the leading partnering firm for the global life science industry. Since 1993, biotech, pharma and medical device companies have leveraged EBD Group’s partnering conferences, technology and services to identify business opportunities and develop strategic relationships essential to their success.

EBD Group’s conferences are run with the support of leading corporations and international trade associations and include:

• BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring®, the world's largest stand-alone life science partnering conferences, supported by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
• BioPharm America™, EBD Group’s North American partnering event
• EuroMedtech™, EBD Group’s new partnering event for the innovative medical technology industry
• BioEquity Europe, the investor conference co-organized with BioCentury Publications and BIO

EBD Group’s sophisticated web-based partnering service, partneringONE™, is used as the partnering engine at numerous third-party events around the world. Outside of the conference format, EBD Group’s consultants provide hands-on assistance for firms seeking to in- or out-license products and technologies. EBD Group has offices in the USA and Europe.

For more information please visit www.ebdgroup.com.

Contact:
Constantine Theodoropulos
EBD Group
+1 617 292 7319
ctheodoropulos@ebdgroup.com

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