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Empresas y finanzas

Biotech Leaders to Confront Industry Issues at Milan Conference March 5-7, 2007


    EBD Group today announced that on Monday, March 5, international
    biotechnology industry leaders will descend on Milan, Italy, for
    BIO-Europe Spring (March 5-7) to discuss and analyze the market, new
    business approaches, scientific developments and policy trends that
    will shape the biotechnology of the future.

    On Monday, March 5, at the Milano Conference Center, some of the
    most respected names in the industry will confront hot current issues.

    Highlights of the day will include:

    -- Rethinking the Biotech-Pharma Partnering Model: Will the whole
    ever be worth more than the sum of its parts? A plenary
    session exploring whether the current explosion of M&A deals
    is sustainable and how it will impact drug development. Will
    new drugs reach the marketplace sooner if smaller firms exit
    the process earlier and earlier? Moderated by Roger Longman,
    Managing Partner, Windhover Information, the plenary panel
    will feature Robert I. Blum, President & CEO, Cytokinetics,
    Inc.; Dr. Judith Hills, Corporate and Business Development,
    VP, Licensing, Europe, Japan & Asia Pacific, Bristol-Myers
    Squibb; Louis J. Scotti, VP, Marketing and Business
    Development, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Rob Wills, VP,
    Alliance Management, Johnson & Johnson.

    -- Financing Innovation - The View of Entrepreneurs and VCs. A
    panel considering whether traditional VC models will remain
    affordable and exploring new modes of financing biotechnology
    innovation. With moderator Ian Nicholson, CEO, Chroma
    Therapeutics and panelists Joel Besse, Partner, Atlas Venture;
    Dr. Francesco De Rubertis, Partner Life Sciences, Index
    Ventures Management; Dr. Claudio Semeraro, CEO, Z-Cube, and
    Dr. Francesco Sinigaglia, CEO, BioXell.

    -- The Globalizing of Biotech Dealmaking. A panel examining how
    biotech entrepreneurs are leveraging the cost and regulatory
    advantages that exist outside of Europe and the US, for
    example what are the new types of transactions and alliances
    that can enhance access to capital, technology, markets, and
    drug development expertise on a global basis With moderator
    Dr. Simba Gill, CEO, moksha8 and Venture Partner, Entrepreneur
    in Residence, TPG Growth and panelists Hans Peter Hasler,
    Senior VP, Head of International, Biogen Idec; Gardiner Smith,
    Advisor, SHI Link; Dr. Greg Wiederrecht, VP, External
    Scientific Affairs, Merck & Co., Inc.

    -- The Combination of White and Red Biotechnologies. A discussion
    of achievements and developments in the exciting new field of
    "white" - or industrial biotech - expected to be a major
    source of new products, and its convergence with "red" - or
    medical biotech. With Martin Austin, Managing
    Director,TransformRX; Francois Arcand, CEO, ERA Biotech; SA,
    Camille Burel, Industrial Biotech Project Administrator,
    EuropaBio; James C. Greenwood, President & CEO, Biotechnology
    Industry Organization (BIO); Jack Grushcow, President,
    Linnaeus Plant Sciences Inc.

    Other workshops and panels featured on Monday, March 5, are:

    -- Biocatalysis - Biology Catalysing Chemistry - Does It Work?

    -- Licensing and Strategic Alliances: How to Get Married and
    Avoid an Ugly Divorce

    -- A Different Perspective on Alliances: Partnerships with
    Research Tools and Service Companies as a Mechanism to Build
    Value in Early Stage Biotechs

    -- Biotech to Biotech Deals - How does Big Pharma look at these
    Collaborations?

    -- Size Isn't Everything - Can Mid-Size Pharma Compete For The
    Best In-Licensing Opportunities?

    -- Cancer Therapeutic Session

    -- What is Next in the Antibody Space?

    -- Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Session

    -- CNS Therapeutic Session

    -- Biotechnology in Italy 2007: A financial and strategic
    Analysis

    A complete list of workshops, panels and abstracts can be accessed
    at: http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/ws_panels.htm

    Notes to Editors:

    Entry to BIO-Europe Spring is free to the media, as is full access
    to the partnering system, sessions, press conferences, workshops, and
    pre-arranged partnering meetings. Visit the BIO-Europe Spring
    conference website at http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/registration.htm for
    detailed information on this year's conference and online
    registration. When you register online, please write into the comment
    field within the registration form 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 EBD Group

    EBD Group is the leading partnering firm for the global
    biotechnology industry. Since 1993, firms in the life sciences have
    leveraged EBD Group's partnering conferences, technology and services
    to identify business opportunities and develop strategic relationships
    that drive their business.

    EBD Group's conferences (run in collaboration with leading
    industry partners and international trade associations such as BIO and
    Eucomed) include BIO-Europe, the world's largest stand-alone life
    science partnering conference; BIO-Europe Spring; the investor
    conference, BioEquity Europe (co-organized with BioCentury
    Publications); and the convergent medical technology partnering
    conference, BioDevice Partnering. EBD's novel, web-based, partnering
    software system is also used at numerous third-party events around the
    world. Outside of the conference format, EBD Group's consultants can
    provide hands-on assistance for firms seeking to in- or out-license
    products and technologies.

    EBD Group has offices in San Diego, Munich and London. For more
    information visit www.ebdgroup.com