Emerging Biotechs, Established Pharmaceutical Companies, and Investors to Converge at BIO VentureForum East 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2006) -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that 76 biotech companies have been selected to present their business plans for pharmaceutical company representatives and investors at BIO VentureForum East 2006, scheduled from June 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency on the Hudson in Jersey City, NJ.   

BIO VentureForum East is the largest annual East Coast regional investor conference for venture stage biotechnology and healthcare firms.  It features plenary sessions and workshops on financing and partnering trends in the biotechnology industry, networking receptions, and presentations by biotech companies which have been selected by an advisory board of leading equity capital leaders. 

The 76 presenting companies are involved in research of a wide array of technologies, from medical devices, diagnostics and drug delivery to vaccines and gene therapy to oncology, neurology and infectious diseases.

This conference is a valuable opportunity for pharmaceutical companies interested in licensing and partnering to learn about emerging biotechnology companies with innovative research and novel therapeutic expertise.  Representatives of Biogen Idec, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Johnson & Johnson Development Corp., Merck & Co., Inc., and Pfizer, Inc. have registered to attend. 

Mervyn Turner, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Worldwide Licensing & External Research for Merck Research Laboratories, will deliver Tuesday’s keynote luncheon address entitled "Opportunities for Early Stage Companies to Partner with Big Pharma."

For more information about BIO VentureForum East, please visit http://bvf-east.bio.org/opencms/bvfeast/2006/index.jsp .

Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media.  Reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may also register onsite with valid media credentials.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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