2011 BIO International Convention Sets Attendance Records

The 2011 BIO International Convention, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, set new records in partnering meetings, and increased international attendance and participation. The convention program included panel sessions on the latest scientific, policy and business opportunities and challenges facing the industry. The conference, hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO; Washington DC, USA) in Washington DC (USA), drew 15,626 industry leaders from the US and other 65 countries.

“The 2011 BIO International Convention was an enormous success, bringing together leaders from industry, government, and academia who are working to solve some of the sector’s biggest challenges,” said President and CEO of BIO Jim Greenwood. “Bringing the global biotech industry to Washington DC, [USA], gave us the critical opportunity to showcase to key policymakers our industry’s promise to offer real solutions to the most pressing global challenges such as curing disease, reducing health care costs, combating hunger, discovering alternative forms of energy and creating high-wage jobs. We continue to advocate for a policy and regulatory environment that will support innovation and inspire industry growth.”

Keynote sessions included the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Senator John Barrasso, former US Senator Tom Daschle, Vermont Governor Howard Dean, and Republican political strategist Karl Rove. The Convention program featured more than 125 sessions across 15 tracks, including Global Innovations and Markets, Health Policy and Reimbursement, Biosecurity, Business Development, Food and Agriculture, and Biofuels, and Biobased Chemicals.

The BIO Business Forum hosted a record-breaking 21,183 partnering meetings between 2,410 companies and featured 157 company presentations. According to the BIO Business Forum Partnering Report there is high demand for Phase I assets as well as Central Nervous System (CNS), immunology, and metabolic therapeutic areas compared to 2010. In addition, the 2010 top-three-highest interest therapeutic areas in including cardiovascular, oncology, and respiratory categories are now all in the bottom half of 2011's top 10 areas.

The 2012 BIO International Convention will take place during June 18-21, 2012, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston (MA, USA).

Related Links:
BIO International Convention
Biotechnology Industry Association