Carlsbad, CA and Washington D.C., October 14, 2008 – Only a month remains before BIO-Europe 2008, the world’s largest stand-alone partnering conference, takes place in Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany, November 17-19. In response to the continuous growth and popularity of this well established biotechnology partnering event, EBD Group is announcing additional conference program highlights to offer even greater insight into a variety of important industry topics.

If you wish to learn more about any of the sessions below, please visit the BIO-Europe 2008 Program

Maximizing Your Deal - The Business Case for Translational Medicine in Oncology:
Led by John Freshley, Compendia Bioscience, and featuring Dr. Ganesh Iyer, MDS Pharma; Aron Knickerbocker, Genentech; and Dr. Linda Pullan, Pullan Consulting; this session will explore the current and future state of translational medicine in oncology and dealmaking.

Biotech-CMO Partnerships - Ways to Create Value:
Klaus Binder, Binder Associates and Marcel Lubben, DSM Biologics; will confront the challenges in finding the right technologies and partners to develop and manufacture biopharmaceuticals. In addition, the panel will shed light on how biotech/pharma companies can identify partners and technologies to optimize resources and accelerate timelines.

Critical Issues to Consider when Entering the U.S. Market and Partnering with U.S. Companies:
Moderator Ray Briscuso, AdvaMed 2009 and panelists Dr. Steve Bryant, Genmab; Joe Dillon, The Mattson Jack Group; Christopher Yochim, AstraZeneca; and Jorn Mueller, NovoNordisk. This workshop will examine how to get timely U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, position products for the best reimbursement and negotiate with governments, among other critical issues.

Dealmaking in China:
This session explores the rapidly growing life science and healthcare industry in China. Led by Dr. Ruediger Herrmann, Mayer Brown; this workshop will feature China experts Simon Bury, ChemPartner; Dr. Darren Ji, PharmaLegacy Laboratories; Dr. Sofie Qiao, LEAD Therapeutics; and Dr. Jimmy Wei, Hutchinson MediPharma; in a discussion on what Western companies entering the Chinese market need to take into account, specifically in relation to IP issues, business development, potential collaborations and market conditions.

Dealmaking with Japanese Companies:
Japan is in a critical situation with sales figures of several major products about to drop dramatically. Such circumstances have made it crucial for Japanese pharmaceutical companies to seek licensing and M&A opportunities outside of Japan. Dr. Richard Hammel, International Business Consultants, will lead an expert panel on what to expect when partnering with Japanese companies.

U.S. Patent Law in Flux - Can Dealmakers Adjust?:
Patents are key assets of biotech start-ups seeking partnering deals and their sustainable strength determines the value of a deal for both sides. Moderated by Sven Riethmueller, Foley & Lardner; and featuring Dr. Rouget Henschel, Foley & Lardner; and Stephen S. Yoder, MorphoSys; this panel will focus on potential strategies for navigating converging IP issues in the context of dealmaking in the global life science industry.

Re-invention of the Drug Industry - Case Studies and the Implications for Future Dealmaking:
Moderator Julie Teigland, Ernst & Young; is joined by Dr. Karsten Henco, Neurimmune; Dr. Edwin Moses, Ablynx; Dr. Holger Reithinger, Global Life Science Ventures; and Dr. Klaus Wilgenbus, Boehringer Ingelheim; to examine which deals and business models help successful biopharmaceutical companies evolve into successful future dealmakers.

The Early Stage Company - Preparing for Success:
This session will provide insight into developing a sound business and legal strategy to make a company attractive for future deals and investment. Moderator Diane Romza-Kutz, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg; and panelists Steve Damon, Altea Therapeutics; Tim Edwards, Cellzome; and Dr. Peter Johann, NGN Capital; will discuss how companies can design, implement and fund growth strategies.

Early Stage Dealmaking - How to Build Value Instead of Giving it Away:
In the current financial environment it is even more tempting for biotechs to strike deals early. Dr. Neill Moray Mackenzie, Roji; Guido Lanza, Numerate; and Dr. Sarah Holland, Roche; will participate in an expert panel confronting the pros and cons of the different strategic imperatives for biotech and pharma in striking a deal.

What Buyers Want - Understanding What Big Pharma Expects to See in Out-Licensing Documents:
Moderated by Ben Bonifant, Campbell Alliance; and featuring Lubor Gaal, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Gwen Melincoff, Shire Pharmaceuticals; and Dr. Corinne Savill, Novartis Pharma; this session provides a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of how to gather and deliver information that is essential to a compelling out-licensing document.

Biomarkers - Leading the Way for Personalized Medicine and Drug Development:
The commercialization of biomarkers still faces challenges on several fronts including regulatory framework, IP ownership, value sharing and business models. Moderated by Dr. Albine Martin, Compugen; this session will examine the growth and integration of biomarkers into the discovery and delivery of new medicines.

Transformative Trends in Oncology:
The complex pathogenesis of cancer and the limitations associated with and posed by current cancer management have led to the development of various novel approaches such as targeted immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, signal transduction inhibitors, novel cytotoxics, and gene therapy. Moderated by Gardiner Smith, SHI Link; and joined by Dr. William Levine, Izun Pharmaceuticals; and Dr. Melinda Shockley, Medarex; this session will discuss advances in supportive care therapy and novel therapeutic approaches to cancer, and will aim to generate a stronger support for innovative therapeutic approaches to cancer.

Notes to Editors:
Entry to BIO-Europe 2008 is free to the media, including full access to the partnering system, sessions, press conferences, workshops, and pre-arranged partnering meetings. Visit the
BIO-Europe conference Web site at http://www.ebdgroup.com/bioeurope 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
BIO-Europe is the preeminent stand-alone partnering event for the biotechnology industry. Delegates from all parts of the biotechnology value-chain come to BIO-Europe to efficiently identify, engage and enter into the strategic relationships that drive their business successfully forward. The annual BIO-Europe partnering event draws over 2,200 industry attendees from almost 50 countries, representing more than 1,250 companies, for three days of high-level networking. BIO-Europe is organized by EBD Group with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises.

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.

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 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.

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

Back to news