Howard Dean, RJ Kirk, Tom Watkins, Representatives Charles Boustany
(R-La.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Among Others, Reveal Industry Insights

WASHINGTON, November 6, 2009 – The 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference drew more than 750 participants—including a record number of more than 300 bioscience companies in attendance—for its annual bioscience and investor conference. For its fifth year, the conference brought together industry luminaries, innovators, capital sources, academic and research organizations, and government agencies representing 30 states and the international community. 

During today’s Closing Plenary Luncheon, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean projected the affects of healthcare reform policy and regulatory changes on the bioscience and investment communities.  Dean covered a number of topics, including the need for protections of intellectual property that serves to inspire innovation. 

Billionaire investor RJ Kirk, who provided insights at a plenary session, said, “the next 20 years of bioscience is ten times more exciting than the last ten.”  He added, “game changing science will draw investments.”  He also provided bioscience companies with tips to better appeal to capital sources, which has been increasingly challenging as capital markets are becoming tighter. 

Other plenary session speakers included Thomas Morrison, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of NaviNet, and Tom Watkins, CEO of Human Genome Sciences. 

Yesterday, at the “Healthcare Policy Panel,” Representative Charles Boustany (R-La) and Thomas Morrison discussed how healthcare and healthcare IT policy and regulatory changes will impact the future of the bioscience industry, while Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, BioCentury Publications, Inc. provided an update to the progress of the healthcare debate. Additionally, Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) made remarks at the “CEO & Investor Reception.” 

The 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, November 4 through 6, is held in Washington, D.C., at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.  Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the region’s most influential life science and investor associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).

“Considering the challenging economy and current national trends, we are gratified to have drawn such an exceptionally high level of industry participation,” said Host Committee member Mark A. Herzog, executive director of Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).  “This conference continues to provide a forum for companies to collaborate and advance their business interests.” 

A key aspect of the conference program included twenty-four life science companies, who were competitively selected to present to an audience of venture capitalists, industry professionals, and potential strategic partners. This year’s conference featured two distinct tracks:  the “Showcase” track with nine later stage companies and the “Growth Watch” track with fifteen emerging companies. The companies, at various stages of development, range from seed and early stages to later stage growth, and represented a cross-section of industry sectors.

Innovation Corridor Science posters unveiled the latest research findings from the region’s top academic and corporate entrepreneurs, researchers, faculty members, and students.  A variety of scientific, business and investor workshops and panels rounded out a full programming agenda. 

Diamond sponsors for the 2009 conference included BioMaryland, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and Human Genome Sciences.  For a complete list of sponsors, visit www.midatlanticbio.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Bio Host Committee announced plans for the 2010 conference, which will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, October 25-27, 2010, in Bethesda, Md.

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ABOUT MID-ATLANTIC BIO

Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the region’s most influential life science and investor associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).  Mid-Atlantic Bio benefits from broad regional support from the investor and greater business communities, academic institutions, government agencies, and partnering regional associations.  For more information, or to register or sponsor, please visit www.midatlanticbio.org.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC 20001

For question, please call us at 866-482-7691.

On November 4-6, the Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference will be held at the Washington D.C. Convention Center. The event brings together people from all over the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond including national and international industry leaders, government representatives, executives, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and professional services firms—representing 30 states and 10 countries—in a unique forum to promote networking, business expansion, and technical-knowledge sharing.

The event plays host to the biotechnology community as well as a forum for broader issues that affect the world beyond biotech, including healthcare reform. Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, BioCentury Publications, Inc. will moderate the Healthcare Policy panel on Thursday November 5th from 9:00 – 10:30am. Usdin said that unfortunately recent biomedical innovation has not been factored enough into healthcare reform legislation despite the fact that “the future of many companies is dependent on healthcare reform that will pave the way for many biomedical innovations.” Usdin is excited to have “important people who shape public policy on the panel” including Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Representatives Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Anna Eshoo, (D-Calif.), and Tony Zook, CEO of AstraZeneca North America http://midatlanticbio.org/conference/program/. Usdin predicts the hot topics for the Healthcare Policy panel will be the pending legislation on biosimilars and the Biotech R&D tax credit for companies with fewer than 250 employees. Both measures “will have an impact on biotech companies’ abilities to get returns on their novel therapies” for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Aside from the Healthcare Policy panel there are many other sessions that cover biotechnology’s breadth across several areas. On Thursday November 5th, Brenda Gavin, Quaker BioVentures, will moderate the panel If Venture Capital Is Broken, Why Are So Many People Still Doing It? Friday November 6th the agenda will feature the Biomarkers and Personalized Medicine: Challenges and Opportunities panel with Amy Miller, Public Policy Director of the Personalized Medicine Coalition.

From venture capital, to healthcare reform, to the future of personalized medicine, Mid-Atlantic Bio will be the place to discuss the major bioscience, capital, and policy issues facing our society today.

WhatCanBiotechDoForYou.com will be at the Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, if you plan on attending and are interested in sharing with our readership a development in biotech, drop us an e-mail: info@whatcanbiotechdoforyou.com

J. Spector is a writer for WhatCanBiotechDoForYou.com.

http://www.whatcanbiotechdoforyou.com/2009/11/mid-atlantic-bio-preview/

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean will be one of the headliners at Mid-Atlantic Bio, the region’s annual biotech conference, next week.

The annual biotech gathering organized by the Virginia Biotechnology Organization, the MdBio division of the Tech Council of Maryland and Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, will close its program Nov. 6 with Dean’s remarks on how health care reform will affect the bioscience industry.

With health care regulations increasingly dominating headlines, the event will also feature more Capitol Hill voices than in the past. This year’s conference, which begins on Nov. 4 and be held at the Washington Convention Center, will also include a panel on health care policy, featuring House Reps. Charles Boustany, R-La., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., along with MedImmune President Tony Zook. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., will address biotech CEOs and investors at a separate private reception.

Dean is one of the more nationally known names to appear on the roster of the Mid-Atlantic Bio convention since it first debuted four years ago. In addition, attendees will also hear this year from Human Genome Sciences Inc. CEO Tom Watkins and billionaire investor and biotech executive R.J. Kirk.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/10/26/daily104.html

Mid-Atlantic Bio Announces Packed Conference Program and Latest Speaker Addition, Representative Charles Boustany (R-La.)

WASHINGTON, October 29, 2009 – Mid-Atlantic Bio today announced that former Vermont Governor Howard Dean will serve as the closing plenary speaker at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, November 4 through 6, held in Washington, D.C., at the Washington, DC Convention Center.   Dean will speak about how healthcare reform policy and regulatory changes will impact the bioscience and investment communities.

Additionally, Representative Charles Boustany (R-La.) will speak on the “Healthcare Policy Panel.”   Boustany, a member of the House Republican Health Care Reform Working Group and a former cardiothoracic surgeon, delivered the GOP response to President Obama’s speech on health care reform.  He will speak alongside Representative Anna Eshoo, (D-Calif.), and Tony Zook, CEO of AstraZeneca North America.  Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, BioCentury Publications, Inc., will moderate the panel.  Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) will make remarks at the “CEO & Investor Reception.” 

The Conference attracts hundreds of senior executives from the life sciences industry, as well as investors, capital sources, international delegations, entrepreneurs, researchers and professional service advisors.  Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the region’s most influential life science and investor associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).

“Mid-Atlantic Bio is excited to offer Dean at this year’s conference as an opportunity for attendees to gain insights on the coming impact of policy and regulatory changes,” said Host committee member Richard Zakour, Ph.D., executive director of MdBio.  “We look at this conference as a service to the industry because it offers an opportunity for the community to develop partnerships, share best practices, present research findings, and learn from provocative thought leaders.”

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKERS:

 R.J. Kirk
CEO, Third Security and Intrexon

Tony Zook
CEO, AstraZeneca North America
President, MedImmune

Tom Watkins
CEO, Human Genome Sciences

PANEL SESSIONS:

- Biofuels – Innovative Biotechnology Meets Commercial Needs
- If Venture Capital Is Broken, Why Are So Many People Still Doing It?
- Innovative Life Science Business Strategies in an Uncertain Environment
- Without a Net – CEOs Discuss How Their Companies Prosper, Even Today
- Accelerating and Enhancing Drug Development
- Biomarkers and Personalized Medicine: Challenges and Opportunities
- Go Where the Money Is: An Insider’s Briefing on Accessing Federal Grants
- The Crown Jewels of Biotech Value: New Developments and Strategies for Intellectual Property
- How to Expedite Moving Submissions through the FDA in 2009
- Vaccines:  Biotech’s Next “Big Thing”

COMPANY PRESENTERS

Each year at Mid-Atlantic Bio, a number of life science companies are chosen to present before an audience of capital sources, including venture capitalists, angel investors, and various other qualified financing sources along with important industry professionals and potential strategic partners. This year we will have two distinct tracks—a “Showcase” track for later stage companies and a “Growth Watch” track for emerging companies.

INNOVATION CORRIDOR

The Mid-Atlantic Bio Innovation Corridor showcases the region’s outstanding academic translational research and development through science posters on display at the conference. Corporate and academic entrepreneurs, researchers, faculty members, and students from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and surrounding areas will present posters that highlight their latest research and findings.

# # #

ABOUT MID-ATLANTIC BIO

Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the region’s most influential life science and investor associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).  Mid-Atlantic Bio benefits from broad regional support from the investor and greater business communities, academic institutions, government agencies, and partnering regional associations.  For more information, or to register or sponsor, please visit www.midatlanticbio.org.

Bioscience leaders converge on Washington next week

To its organizers, it’s “The Epicenter of Bioscience, Capital, and Policy.” More formally, it’s known as the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, to be held Wednesday through next Friday at the Washington Convention Center.

Some two dozen bioscience companies from around the region are slated to make presentations to venture capitalists at the fifth annual conference, whose sponsors include the Tech Council of Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and the Virginia Biotechnology Association.

Among the presenting companies are Arginetix, Gliknik and Profectus BioSciences, all of Baltimore; Cylex of Columbia; OpGen, DioGenix and Immunomic Therapeutics, all of Gaithersburg; Celek Pharmaceuticals of Darnestown; and Principio of Rockville.

The companies were chosen through an industry review process, with input from more than 40 investment institutions and industry professionals, according to a statement from organizers.

The conference will also feature talks by H. Thomas Watkins, CEO of Human Genome Sciences of Rockville and chairman of the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board; Tony Zook, president of AstraZeneca’s MedImmune in Gaithersburg; Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) of Pikseville; Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D) of Calif., a leading proponent of a 12-year data exclusivity period for biosimilars; and Howard Dean, a physician and former governor of Vermont.

“This is a critical year for the bioscience industry in Maryland as the economy improves,” said Richard A. Zakour, executive director of Tech Council of Maryland’s MdBio division, in an e-mail. “It is important for the industry to be prepared.”

Information on the conference is available at www.midatlanticbio.org and 866-482-7691.

Five local biotechs are among 24 companies making investor presentations to the region’s most well-known gathering for biotech professionals.

This year’s Mid-Atlantic Bio, the fifth time that the MdBio division of the Tech Council of Maryland, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and Virginia Biotechnology Association have joined to organize a regional biotech conference, has recruited both early-stage and later-stage companies to pitch their business plans to attending investors.

The five local companies are based in Montgomery County: Celek Pharmaceuticals of Darnestown and Principio Inc. of Rockville, as well as OpGen Inc., DioGenix and Immunomic Therapeutics Inc., all of Gaithersburg.

Four companies are based in Columbia or Baltimore.

At this year’s convention, billionaire investor and biotech executive R.J. Kirk will be speaking regarding his recent comments that the country’s bioscience industry will take on a tighter, more successful approach to drug discovery, though he said that will likely come at a loss of as many as 600 unsuccessful companies. The chiefs of two of the largest local biotech players are also speakers this year — Tom Watkins, CEO of Human Genome Sciences Inc., and Tony Zook, president of MedImmune, a division of London-based AstraZeneca PLC.

Organizers said while registrations have risen this year compared to the past two years of the conference — they counted more than 800 attendees at last year’s event — the recession has made its mark in a lower amount of sponsorships so far.

“A lot of big service providers are reducing their marketing budgets, and we understand that,” said Mark Herzog, executive director of VaBio, adding that the groups still expect the conference to make money this year. “Luckily, that’s never been the driving force, the revenue at the end of the day. It’s important obviously, but the bioscience organizations had accepted wholeheartedly the fact that this is a service for the industry.”

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/10/19/daily90.html#

Charlottesville’s local biotechnology sector will make a big showing at a regional conference in the nation’s capital.

Biotechnology firms from the Charlottesville area will make up six of the 24 presenters at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference from Nov. 4-6 at Washington’s Convention Center.

Julia Spicer, executive director of conference co-host the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, said it is coincidental but not surprising that the region will be well represented at the conference.

“Charlottesville is growing and nurturing this sector,” Spicer said. “What this may mean is that there is a growing, strengthening community in the Charlottesville area helping to support and build these companies.”

CNN Money declared Charlottesville as one of the top small metropolitan areas to start a business in 2009.

Of the nine more established companies that will give presentations, two are from the area. HemoShear helps drug development companies find safe drug candidates, while openQ offers software related to the medical and scientific communities.

The other 15 emerging companies will have eight minutes to entice investors with a pitch. The local companies that will make presentations are substance abuse medication developer ADial Pharmaceuticals, male reproductive health product developer ContraVac, infectious disease diagnostic test creator Phthisis Diagnostics and heart-related medical device developer EpiEP.

Conference presenters are chosen from applications, Spicer said. The conference is a way for companies to network and potentially attract investors. More than 850 firms from 30 states and 10 countries will be present during this year’s event.

Crystal Icenhour, the president of Phthisis, said the company is attending the conference to raise capital.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to get our company in front of a large group of potential investors,” Icenhour said. “In addition to making a formal presentation, we also have the opportunity to have a booth so people can find us after presentations are completed.”

Ed Leary, president of ContraVac, said the conference seems like a good fit for companies with connections to the University of Virginia, such as ContraVac.

“We’re seeking investments, and Mid-Atlantic Bio is an excellent opportunity to get out to the right investors,” Leary said.

Twenty-Four Companies from across the Region Representing Biotech, Biopharmaceutical Drug Development and Discovery, Devices, and Vaccine Sectors

WASHINGTON, October 21, 2009 – Mid-Atlantic Bio today announced nine later-stage growth companies and 15 emerging companies, which will present before an audience of life science investors and industry professionals at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, November 4 through 6, held in Washington, D.C., at the Washington, DC Convention Center.  The Conference is hosted by the region’s most influential life science and investor associations, the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), the MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland, and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO), that are dedicated to promoting the biotechnology industry in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Each year, a limited number of life science companies are invited to present before an audience of capital sources, including venture capitalists, angel investors, and various other qualified financing sources, along with more than 850 conference attendees. For this year’s conference, two distinct tracks will be featured: Showcase (later-stage growth companies) and Growth Watch (emerging companies). 

“In building on last year’s success, we continue to offer a broad platform that encourages investor interest, innovation review, and industry collaboration,” said Host committee member Julia Spicer, executive director, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA).  “This year’s lineup includes some of the most outstanding company representatives in a growing, vibrant community in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

Presenting companies were chosen through an industry review process with input from more than 40 investment institutions and industry professionals.

Showcase Track: The later stage companies selected to present in Showcase Track include:

* Arginetix, Inc., Baltimore, Md.
* Cylex, Inc., Columbia, Md.
* Intrexon Corporation, Blacksburg, Va.
* OpGen Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.
* Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Raleigh, N.C.
* HemoShear, Charlottesville, Va.
* OcuCure Therapeutics, Roanoke, Va.
* openQ, Charlottesville, Va.
* Promedior, Melvern, Pa.

Emerging Growth: The emerging companies selected to present in the Growth Watch Track include:

* ADial Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.
* BC Genesis LLC, Blacksburg, Va.
* Celek Pharmaceuticals, Darnestown, Md.
* ContraVac, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.
* Dalos BioPharma, Virginia Beach, Va.
* DioGenix, Gaithersburg, Md.
* EpiEP, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.
* Extinction Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Williamsburg, Va.
* Gliknik Inc., Baltimore, Md.
* Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.
* Inhibikase Therapeutics, Smyrna, Ga.
* Phthisis Diagnostics, Charlottesville, Va.
* Principio Inc., Rockville, Md.
* Profectus BioSciences, Inc., Baltimore, Md.
* Synthonics, Blacksburg, Va.

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ABOUT MID-ATLANTIC BIO

Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO).  Mid-Atlantic Bio benefits from broad regional support from the investor and greater business communities, academic institutions, government agencies, and partnering regional associations.  For more information, or to register or sponsor, please visit www.midatlanticbio.org.

A nationwide survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association finds broad public respect and trust for family farmers and support for corn as food, feed and fuel.

Ninety-five percent of those polled agreed that farmers are trusted messengers on issues such as agriculture, corn products and ethanol – and ethanol itself was supported or strongly supported as a good fuel alternative by 65 percent.

Respondents also spoke out about what they saw as the top benefits of corn-based ethanol. Thirty-four percent mentioned reduced dependence on foreign oil, 19 percent mentioned the creation of new jobs and 16 percent liked it for its environmental benefits.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. voters nationwide was conducted in mid-September by David Binder Research and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.