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BIO Announces Plenary Sessions for 10th Annual BIO Investor Forum

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<em>BIO Investor Forum will be held October 25 &ndash; 26 in San Francisco, CA&nbsp;</em></p>

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 6, 2011) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces plenary sessions forthe 10th Annual BIO Investor Forumto be held October 25-26 in San Francisco, CA.  Now in its 10th year, this international investor conference focused on private and emerging public biotech companies celebrates a “Decade of Excellence.”

“BIO Investor Forum attendees can expect to hear the latest on financial and strategic business issues directly affecting investment in biotech,” said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president for Emerging Companies and Business Development at BIO.  “Additionally, leading analysts and investors participating in our plenary sessions will give attendees insights on major trends in financing and deal making that will have a profound impact on the future of this industry.”

Plenary Sessions include:

Opening Plenary Session - The New Drug-Centric VC Universe-Return of the ROI
Tuesday, October 25, 12:00 pm – 1:25 pm

As fewer biotechs are able to navigate successful exits, demand for new business models to bring back ROI is high.  Investors are seeking faster paths to liquidity, and companies are eager to secure reliable streams of capital.  A few agile VCs and entrepreneurs have radically innovated the traditional funding model to again make private biotech companies attractive investments.  Whether constructing licensing deals where VCs receive cash dividends or rethinking corporate structure, these game-changing ventures focus on the drug, not on the company.  This panel will explore these emerging deal and company structures, as well as innovative approaches to reengineering the biotech drug development model.

Moderator:David Strupp, Managing Director of Life Sciences and Healthcare Investment Banking Group, Rodman & Renshaw, LLC
Panelists:David Collier, MD, Managing Director, CMEA Capital and Chief Executive Officer, Velocity Pharmaceutical Development; Sanjay Shukla, MD, MS, Chief Executive Officer, RxMD

Lunch Plenary Session - Corporate Venture Funds & Traditional VCs: Can They Coexist?
Wednesday, October 26, 10:30 am – 11:25 am

A panel of corporate and traditional venture capitalists will discuss their financing strategies and areas of focus as well as the opportunities and challenges associated with bringing the next series of innovative products to market.

 Moderator: Michael Fleming, Vice President, Campbell Alliance

Panelists: Brian G. Atwood, Managing Director, Versant Ventures;Janis Naeve, PhD, Director, Amgen Ventures;Brian McVeigh, VP of Worldwide Business Development Transactions, GSK;Asish K. Xavier, PhD, Vice President, J&J Development Corporation

 Closing Plenary Session- Opportunity or Apocalypse? Prophecies for 2012.
Wednesday, October 26, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Is 2012 the end of the world as we know it? Or is this prediction just bunk? How will the industry fare with the still volatile market conditions? Will world economies affect the ability for companies to acquire financing? This session will capture insights on what the future holds for the industry from leading analysts and experts.

Moderator: Luke Timmerman, National Biotech Editor, Xconomy

Panelists: Matthew Perry, Portfolio Manager, Biotech Value Fund; Bryan Roberts, PhD, Partner, Venrock; Ron Laufer, MD, Senior Managing Director, MedImmune Ventures
 
The 10th annual BIO Investor Forum, will assemble a select group of public and venture-stage growth companies, as well as top public and private equity investors, to explore investment trends and opportunities in life sciences. In addition to expert-led workshops and panel discussions focusing on industry trends, the conference features presentations by more than 100 biotech companies poised to join the growth “watch list” in 2011, as well as a number of nonprofit and venture philanthropy organizations.

To learn more about the BIO Investor Forum, registration and up-to-date program information, please visithere.  Advance media registration is available here. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media. 

BIO is pleased to recognize the leadership provided by the BIO Investor Forum Conference sponsors.  The sponsors include: Supporting Bank Sponsors, BMO Capital Market; Rodman & Renshaw, LLC and Roth Capital Partners.