Press Release
Contact: Cassandra Cranston |
Phone: (919) 549-7500 |
17th Annual Conference Hosts Successful Biotech Entrepreneurs, Big Pharma Leaders, Policy Makers and Investors as Featured Speakers and on Panels
Research Triangle Park, N.C., April 24, 2008 – Four well-respected leaders will provide the featured presentations at Biotech 2008, the 17th annual regional biotech conference sponsored by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. The event, held on Monday and Tuesday, May 19 and 20, will be host to Frederick Frank, vice chairman and director of Lehman Brothers Inc.; James Hunt, former North Carolina governor; John Maraganore, president and CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Edward Saltzman, founder and president of Defined Health.
Former Governor Hunt will speak from 4-5 p.m. on opening day. During his time in office, Hunt transitioned the state’s economy from an agriculture and manufacturing base to include knowledge-driven industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and information technology. While in office, Governor Hunt focused on developing a new economy by establishing the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center which helped establish the state’s reputation for innovation.
“Jim Hunt is the ‘father’ of biotechnology in North Carolina,” said conference co-chair, Sue Cole of Granville Capital, a Greensboro-based investment firm. “Anytime Governor Hunt speaks, you can expect to learn that anything is doable if you work hard enough at it. He is passionate about our state and is inspirational in his thoughts and vision.”
Frederick is the keynote speaker at the opening night gala, speaking at approximately 7 p.m . He has provided investment banking services to many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, healthcare service providers and to the medical technologies and nutraceutical industries. In addition to his work at Lehman, he chairs both The Irvington Institute for Immunological Research and the National Genetics Foundation.
“He is unbelievably connected in the biotech world and is highly respected for his involvement in immunology, having received many national honors,” Cole said. “Attendees will enjoy his practical experiences in structuring capital and have a better appreciation for where our industry is headed.”
Saltzman is Tuesday’s first speaker from 8:30–9:00 a.m. As founder of Florham Park, N.J.-based Defined Health, a leading consultancy in business development and disease-area strategy for the pharmaceutical industry, he has completed many opportunity assessments and commercial forecasts of development stage projects for corporate clients across the big and specialty pharma and biotechnology industries.
“Partnering in Biotech is a critical success factor and touches upon companies from start-ups to big pharma” said Terry Conrad, president/CEO of Greensboro-based Merz Pharmaceuticals LLC. “As a well-recognized partnering expert, Ed is able to grab the attention of audiences with his depth of market knowledge and deliver his message with a sense of humility and dry wit the audience will be sure to enjoy.”
Maraganore is the final featured speaker, presenting from 1–2:30 p.m. Cambridge, Mass.-based Alnylam is on the forefront of innovative RNAi technology that has the potential to revolutionize gene silencing and the treatment of many diseases. Alnylam has partnerships with Roche and Novartis, and co-development programs with Regulus and Medtronic.
“The old business model of relying on blockbuster molecules is not sustainable anymore. You’ve got to build business around these smaller drugs,” said conference co-chair Vipin Garg, President and CEO of Tranzyme Pharma in Durham. That made Maraganore a natural choice. “He’s built a successful company and successful partnerships with big pharma. We designed the conference to focus on this biotech-pharma interface. It’s a very interesting juncture.”
Through May 12, 2008, registration is $275 for CED, NCBIO and BIO members; $375 for non-members; $175 for university faculty and government employees; and $75 for students. To register, visit www.cednc.org/conferences/biotech/2008/registration/. For a complimentary press pass, please contact Cassandra Cranston (ccranston@cednc.org).
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