BIO-Europe Spring(R) 2009 Returns to Milan, Italy

Coming on the heels of BIO-Europe Spring 2008 in Madrid where
delegates engaged in an incredible 5800 one-to-one meetings, EBD Group
today announced that the third annual BIO-Europe Spring 2009
partnering conference will be returning to Milan, Italy, the site of
its highly successful inaugural event. BIO-Europe Spring 2009 will
open its doors at the Milano Convention Center (MIC), March 16-18,
2009.

BIO-Europe Spring in only its second year has become the second
largest dedicated partnering event in the biotechnology industry.
Biotechnology companies from around the world participate in
BIO-Europe Spring to identify and meet with companies across the life
science value-chain, from large biotech and pharma companies to
financiers and innovative start-ups.

Commenting on the return of BIO-Europe Spring to Milan, Professor
Rossi Bernardi, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Human
Capital, The City of Milan, stated: "The City of Milan, which has been
recently chosen by BIE as host of the world exhibition EXPO 2015, is
looking forward to host the 2009 edition of BIO-Europe Spring."

"We are excited that BIO-Europe Spring is returning to Italy. The
conference is a unique opportunity for leaders of the global biotech
and pharma community to meet in a setting conducive to doing
business," said Edoardo Richter, Director International Division,
Angelini Group. "As an Italian pharmaceutical company, the BIO-Europe
Spring event helps to shine more light on the rapid progress of our
industry, the exceptional quality of our scientific programs and the
great potential for partnering with Italian firms."

"We look forward to bringing BIO-Europe Spring back to the city of
Milan and another highly productive and dynamic conference," said
Carola Schropp, President of EBD Group. "Partnering has become the
life blood of our industry. This is a phenomenon readily apparent to
anyone attending the currently in-session BIO-Europe Spring 2008 in
Madrid, where 1400 delegates from 838 companies are engaging in over
5800 partnering meetings."

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 opportunities and to develop strategic relationships that
drive their business.

EBD Group´s conferences (run in collaboration with leading
industry partners and international trade associations) include
BIO-Europe, the world´s largest stand-alone life science partnering
conference (organized with the support of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization, BIO); BIO-Europe Spring(R); BioPharm America(TM) (EBD´s
new North American partnering event); and BioEquity Europe
(co-organized with BioCentury Publications and BIO).

EBD´s sophisticated web-based partnering service,
partneringONE(TM), is also used at numerous third-party events around
the world. Outside of the conference format, EBD´s consultants can
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 visit www.ebdgroup.com