BIO-Europe Spring® 2009 Announces Program Highlights

EBD Group announced today that the third annual BIO-Europe Spring® partnering event, March 16–18, 2009 at the Milano Convention Centre (MIC), Milan, Italy, will host many of the biggest names in biotech. Featured on panels and workshops, the seasoned decision makers will tackle key issues affecting the industry’s future. With an anticipated 1,450 participants, BIO-Europe Spring 2009 is expected to be one of the most productive partnering conferences of the year.

To learn more about any of the sessions below, please visit the BIO-Europe Spring program (http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/ws_panels.htm)

Negotiations for Successful Dealmaking: Moderated by Diane Romza-Kutz, Chair, Neal Gerber & Eisenberg and speakers, Christian M. Pangratz, Nektar Therapeutics and Judy Robinett, Senta Performance Hearing will discuss negotiation strategies and provide insight into how to plan for successful negotiations.

Alternative Financing Sources: Moderator Dr. Regina Hodits, Atlas Venture will lead a discussion on alternative methods of financing biotech company operations. The panel will feature leaders in each specific area of alternative financing.

Deal or No Deal? Do Tech Transfer, Biotech, Pharma Need New Paradigms to Close the Deal?: Moderator, Sam Ogunsalu, Queen Mary Innovation with speakers, Prof. Dr. Conny Bogentoft, Karolinska Development, Leonardo Biondi, Biopolo, Dr. Stéphane Mottola, FIST, Dr. Klaus Plate, Technologiepark Heidelberg and Dr. Mike Shaw, King's College London Business will discuss the opportunities and paradigms for university licensing and spin-outs, and their interaction with other stakeholders in the biotech industry.

Personalized Medicine — The Next Big Thing in Biotech?: Led by Andrea Ponti, JP Morgan and featuring speakers, Dr. Thomas Metcalfe, Roche, Michael Nohaile, Novartis, Dr. Antonius Schuh, Sorrento Therapeutics and Jim Vaughn, Genomic Health, this session will confront the challenges of personalized medicine and consider potential solutions and strategies.

Biotechnology in Italy: Experts from pharma and biotech companies will explore the challenges for Italian biotech in the global financial perspective for 2009: “The Global Financial Perspective for 2009” by Steve Burrill, Burrill & Company, “The Blossom & Company/Assobiotec Report 2009” by Stefano Milani, Blossom & Company, and “The Challenge for Italian Biotech” by Roberto Gradnik, Assobiotec.

Midsize Pharma: Lean and Fit vs. Big and Desperate: Moderator, Dennis Purcell, Aisling Capital along with Dr. Joern-Peter Halle, Merck Serono, John Mohr, CV Therapeutics, and Pierre Véronneau, Almirall will focus on the dealmaking strategies of mid-tier firms and the deal structures they are considering to both weather the current financial storm and pave the way for robust performance in the future.

The Shakeout: Surviving the Complexities of a Changing Market: Moderator, Ben Bonifant, Campbell Alliance with speakers Pamela Demain, Merck & Co., Inc. Gwen Melincoff, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Rob Wills, Johnson & Johnson will hold an interactive discussion of the many things in-licensing companies are looking for in the current market environment.

Preoccupation with Exits — Is the Era of Company Building Over?: Moderator, Annette Grimaldi, Jefferies & Company with speakers Noah Beerman, Indevus and Dr. Corinne Savill, Novartis will focus on exit strategies in the context of current market conditions.

How to Succeed in Cancer: Tough Questions and Thoughtful Answers for Oncology Dealmaking: Moderator, Dr. Linda Pullan, Pullan Consulting and speakers, Dr. Elizabeth Bachert, Pfizer , Dr. James Bianco, Cell Therapeutics, Wendy Johnson, ProQuest Investments, and Prof. Dr. Olaf Wilhelm, Wilex will share what it takes to get a good deal in oncology.

CNS - Will We Ever Find a Cure for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's?: Moderator, Michael McCully, Deloitte Recap and speakers, Dr. Luca Benatti, Newron Pharmaceuticals, Sarah Holland, Roche, and Nick Woolf, Oxford Biomedica will discuss the risks and opportunities in this growing therapeutic market.

Vaccines — Today, Tomorrow and Beyond: Moderator Brandon D. Lewis, Trout Capital and speakers, Dr. Philippe Dro, GlycoVaxyn, Dr. Govert Schouten, Mucosis and Gerd Zettlmeissl, Intercell will highlight ongoing research, as well as provide an overview of recent deals and business development trends in this area.

Biotech CEO/CFO Roundtable — Developing a Solid Business Strategy in a Turbulent Economy: Moderator, Dr. David Chiswell, Albireo and speakers John Aston, Astex Therapeutics, Dr. Werner Lanthaler, Intercell, Dr. James S. Manuso, SuperGen and Dr. Vincent Mutel, Addex Pharmaceuticals will focus on how to develop a company business strategy that considers the pressures of a stressed economy and navigates a path toward continued growth.

Capturing Value from New Drug Discovery Platforms: Moderator, Albine Martin, Managing Director, Adjuvant Global Advisors will lead a discussion on financial and business models that will prevail as the industry continues to invest in this important area of drug discovery.

How Personalized Medicine will Change the Economics of Healthcare: Moderator, Mike Ward, Senior Editor, BioCentury Publications along with Dr. Phyllis Whiteley, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Peter Keeling, Diaceutics and Dr. David Parry, AstraZeneca will discuss pressing issues in personalized medicine: Will targeting therapy cost more or less R&D dollars? Will targeting therapy enhance NPVs on drugs by enhancing R&D productivity? Will targeting therapy lead to better lifecycle revenues?

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.