Significant Growth of Biotech Investor Participation Expected for Seventh Annual BIO Investor Forum

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces a substantial increase in anticipated investor participation in the Seventh Annual BIO Investor Forum, taking place Oct. 29-31 in San Francisco, Calif. at the Palace Hotel. More than 240 venture capital and public market investors are expected to attend -- representing a 40 percent increase in participation compared to 2007.

The Seventh Annual BIO Investor Forum will feature more than 140 presentations by private and publicly traded companies, 28 distinguished clinicians and investigators, nine Therapeutic Workshops(TM) and six Business Roundtables, which have been reviewed by an Advisory Committee of industry leaders. Experts hand-selected to speak at this conference will focus on current biotechnology pipeline innovation, and the latest in clinical strategy, capital access and creative funding techniques. BIO launched independent investor meetings more than a decade ago to ensure access to qualified investors for entrepreneurial biotech companies -- even in times of economic duress. One of BIO's priorities is to stimulate and support investment in biotech innovation.

A list of the companies of registered investors can be found at http://investorforum.bio.org/bif/2008/Investors.html.

"The fact that investor attendance for BIF is up over last year's strong level shows that despite these difficult market conditions, investors continue to be interested in both innovative companies pursuing cutting edge scientific advances and high quality programming," said Jim Greenwood, BIO President and CEO. "As investor and corporate interest in the conference continues to grow, we anticipate three days of engaging discussions from leading biotech experts representing innovative private and public companies, investors and the entire financial community."

"I have found the BIO Investor Forum to be one of my favorite conferences for seeing new investment ideas, meeting individually with management teams and attending insightful panel discussions that speak to investors who closely follow this industry," said Ashley Dombkowski, PhD, Managing Director of MPM Capital. "Companies selected to present and featured experts represent some of the most innovative technologies, clinical development programs and industry infrastructure issues today, which is a refreshing reminder of what draws investors and partners to this conference."

This year's meeting will continue to explore current and competitive therapeutic development trends and investment opportunities in life sciences through therapeutic, business and plenary panels.

Development-stage companies presenting at the BIO Investor Forum were chosen through a competitive screening process taking into consideration company size, financing history, near-term clinical catalysts, innovation in a particular therapeutic field and level of unmet medical need.

The conference will also feature BIO's web-based partnering system to arrange one-on-one meetings between registered companies, investors, and industry business development, licensing and therapeutic franchise heads.

To register for the BIO Investor Forum, visit http://investorforum.bio.org. Registration is complimentary for qualified investors and credentialed members of the media.

Private and public biopharmaceutical companies interested in speaking at the conference in the limited number of presentation slots available can contact BIO Customer Service at biopartnering@bio.org or 866.356.5155 (US), 1.202.962.6666 (International).

The BIO Investor Forum is a national investor conference featuring leading private and emerging public companies. The meeting attracts healthcare venture and private equity investors, buy-side investors and research analysts. In addition, the BIO Investor Forum draws business development executives from leading global pharmaceutical and mature biotechnology companies.

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.

Upcoming BIO Events
Intellectual Property Council Committee Fall Conference and Meeting
October 20-22, 2008
Orlando, Fla.

BIO HR Conference 2008
October 26-28, 2008
San Diego, Calif.

BIO-LES Advanced Business Development Course
October 27-29, 2008
San Francisco, Calif.

Seventh Annual BIO Investor Forum
October 29-31, 2008
San Francisco, Calif.

Advanced Business Development Course
November 14-16, 2008
Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany

BIO-Europe 2008
November 17-19, 2008
Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany

2009
BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.

SOURCE: Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Press Contact: Erin Reese, 202-962-9235 or Investor Contact: John Craighead, 202-962-6632
www.bio.org