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Governor Beverly Perdue kicked off the opening of Biotech 2009, telling more than 1,000 people gathered for the event that she wants North Carolina to become the nation's biotechnology leader. Perdue stated that she wanted North Carolina to pass California and Massachusetts as America’s top biotechnology hub. The Governor emphasized the importance of advances in medicine, green energy and agricultural biotechnology as areas for the State to make significant advancements.
Sam Taylor and Governor Perdue
Senator Richard Burr opened the second day of the conference by discussing issues at the national level. Burr expressed concerns about the impact the national stimulus package. Burr also talked about the current costs of health care and the importance of health care reform at the national level. Burr said he expects to be heavily involved in discussions about the system.
Freshman North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan also spoke at the event. Hagan emphasized her interest the life sciences in and the importance of biotechnology to North Carolina. She outlined issues that she has been working on since becoming a member of the Senate in January.
Biogen Idec President and CEO James Mullen outlined issues facing the biotechnology industry in the United States, ranging from patent reform to the lack of trained scientists and engineers. Biotechnology Industry Organization CEO Jim Greenwood outlined steps that the national organization is taking to educate Congress on the importance of the life science industry to the national economy.
Dr. Victor Dzau, Duke University Health System President and CEO, talked with participants about the importance of education institutions and companies forming international partnerships. He outlined the steps that the Duke University Health System has taken in that area. UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp discussed the importance of getting university research into commercialization.
Conference attendees also got a history lesson about biotechnology from Dr. Oliver Smithies, 2007 Nobel Prize winner and Excellence Professor at UNC-CH. In addition, participants heard from a variety of panelists about biotechnology in the new administration, funding trends, and the North Carolina Research Campus. NCBIO Chairman, Eric Ward, who is also CEO of CropSolution, was a panelist in the session on Agriculture Biotechnology Can Grow Everywhere.
Biotech 2009 was hosted by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development and co-hosted by NCBIO and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Biotech 2010 will again be held at the Raleigh Civic Center and is scheduled for February 22-23.
 Patent reform, follow-on biologics, the FDA and health care reform are just a few of the issues before Congress in 2009. NCBIO members will have a chance to talk with North Carolina’s Congressional delegation as part of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s Congressional Fly-In in Washington, D.C.
The annual BIO Fly-in takes place every spring and hundreds of life science industry executives from across the country participate. BIO will host a briefing and a reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. March 31st at the Four Points Sheraton in Washington, D.C. On April 1st, participants will meet with members of the North Carolina congressional delegation.
Click here to register on line or get a printable version of the registration form. Also please let Jennifer Fong know if you plan to attend the event so NCBIO President Sam Taylor can contact you about specific North Carolina activities.
MedTech 2009 will be May 14th at the Duke Fuqua School of Business. Featured speakers include Dr. Gregg W. Stone, Director of Cardiovascular Research and Education, The Center for Interventional Vascular Therapies, Columbia University Medical Center and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation; William A. Hawkins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Medtronic, Inc.; Rick Anderson Managing Director, PTV Sciences; and Dan Lemaitre Chief Executive Officer, CoreValve Inc.
Get more information on the event and register before April 10th to save $100 or more.
NCBIO’s Medical Device Forum has completed work on the 2008 edition of its North Carolina Medical Device Directory. The Directory lists nearly 300 medical device companies, service providers, research institutions and other entities working in the North Carolina medical technologies community. Information in the Directory was derived from multiple sources including a self-reporting survey and the medical device registration listings from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Thanks to Forma Life Science Marketing for assistance in formatting and publishing the Directory.
 Wake Forest University Babcock School of Medicine has launched a PreClinical Surgical Services Group to provide preclinical surgical and study support for medical technology companies and academic researchers. The PSS brings over 45 years of combined staff experience to areas such as surgical modeling, neurology (specifically brain and spinal cord), orthopaedics, cardiovascular, ophthalmic, soft tissue and abdominal surgery in veterinary medicine. The PSS' main facility is located in the Piedmont Triad Research Park, downtown Winston Salem. For more information, contact PSS at surgicalservices@wfubmc.edu or by telephone at (336) 713-7399.
Wells Fargo & Company President and CEO John G. Stumpf will be one of the keynote speakers for CED’s Venture 2009 at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Other speakers include North Carolina State Treasurer Janet Cowell and The University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles.
Over the past 25 years, CED's Venture conference has created business opportunities for hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors across North Carolina and the Southeast. Reserve your seat before March 13th to save up to $200. Click for more information, or contact Jessica Hegele at (919)-549-7500 x103.
Business North Carolina is providing a special opportunity in March for NCBIO members who are not current subscribers. You can receive a FREE introductory one-year subscription to Business North Carolina at no obligation.
To subscribe click here and enter NCB9 in the "special offer" field. Complete the online registration. Allow 6-8 weeks for your subscription to begin. Members attending NCBIO events in March will receive copies of the March edition of Business North Carolina. Magazines are also available at the NCBIO office. Contact Jennifer Fong if you want a copy of the March edition.
NCBIO is again working with QuickSTAT to offer members training and certification on HAZMAT Transportation and Cold Chain Packaging. This event allows participants to learn about proper classification, handling, packaging and documentation and get the latest FAA regulations on transportation.
Due to popular demand, a Cold Chain Management segment has been added to this year’s program at which experts will discuss how you can improve your cold chain procedures and measure results.
The event will take place on April 21, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Hamner Conference Center at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Click to register by March 31 for $179 and save $50. Please circulate this information to employees in your company who would be interested in packaging and transportation issues.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the 2009 BIO International Convention at the Georgia World Congress Center, in Atlanta. May 18-21.
NCBIO members are eligible for an exclusive discount. Simply enter the following promotional codes for the various options to save! NCF450 -- (SAVE $450) for FULL CONVENTION; NCS550 -- (SAVE $550) for SESSION ACCESS; and NCE50 -- (SAVE $50) for EXHIBIT HALL VISITOR. Please let others in your company know about these savings.
Volunteers are still need to assist the BIO staff with the event. For each day you volunteer during the 2009 convention, you will receive a complimentary day to attend the conference. For each two days volunteered, you will receive two complimentary days to attend the convention (the complimentary passes are non-transferable). Please click to fill out the online application. Deadline for submission is March 16.
 NCBIO members have the opportunity to pre-purchase Biotech 2009-Life Sciences: Navigating The Sea Change. It is available in print or electronic format, with a bundle option available as well. A portion of each purchase will be earmarked to support NCBIO programs and initiatives. Don’t miss this opportunity to get must-read industry information by G. Steven Burrill and support North Carolina’s life science trade association. NCBIO is partnering with Burrill & Company to provide this offer for members. Click for Print Only, for Electronic, or for Print and Electronic Version.
Scientists and researchers are invited to attend a Scientific Vendor Fair, April 28, at the Marriott Hotel in Research Triangle Park. This is the second annual event hosted by NCBIO and VWR. More than 50 suppliers will be on hand to demonstrate the latest products. Participants can attend seminars and lunch will be provided. Contact Leigh Kridle for more information.
Please have your organization’s media/marketing coordinator send news about your company to Brenda Summers - bsummers@ncbioscience.org
BioLink Life Sciences, Inc. has announced an impressive series of achievements in 2008. “We closed 2008 with a 20% increase in revenues that pushed us over the $1 million milestone,” BioLink’s President Deanna Nelson noted. "The increase allowed us to add professional staff, capital equipment and upgraded systems that will better meet client needs in 2009.”
In addition to its financial achievements, four U.S. patents were issued to the company. The patents cover reformulated valproate drugs that will be used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorders, and migraines. Current valproate drugs cause nausea, lethargy, weight gain, and other more serious side effects. In contrast, each of BioLink’s four new valproates is formulated to cause fewer side effects while providing the valproate drug that the patient needs. New uses of valproates as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer are being evaluated in clinical trials. BioLink also filed a half dozen U.S. and foreign patent applications for new reformulated drugs. The new patents will protect BioLink’s advances in reformulated anemia, diabetes, and osteoporosis drugs that will enhance patient tolerability of drugs that are known to improve quality of life.
Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has elected Alan F. Holmer to its Board of Directors, effective February 6, 2009. Holmer was elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. He will serve the remainder of a three-year term expiring at Inspire's 2009 annual meeting of stockholders and is expected to be nominated for re-election at the 2009 annual meeting. He previously served for two years on Inspire's Board, resigning in February 2007 to accept an appointment in the U.S. Treasury Department. He recently completed service as Special Envoy for China and the Strategic Economic Dialogue, a position to which he was appointed by Secretary of the Treasury, Henry M. Paulson, Jr. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), for nearly ten years.
Biofuels
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) applauded the Governors’ Biofuel Coalition’s call for a straight-forward message to the American people on the positive role of biofuels. Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, said, “We agree with the governors that biofuels are a valuable energy resource and that misinformation about biofuels from entrenched interests has done a great disservice to America. Strong federal leadership is a key to continued development and commercialization of advanced biofuels."
“The biofuels industry is working diligently to make production of cellulosic biofuels a reality in the near future. There are more than 30 existing and planned cellulosic biorefineries set to begin production of advanced biofuels. Federal commitment to the industry would send a strong signal to financial markets, which could provide the needed investment. Continued development of the advanced biofuels industry could produce thousands of new green jobs, contribute billions of dollars in economic growth, and increase energy security. The need for domestically produced advanced biofuels should remain a priority for U.S. policymakers and consumers,” Erickson concluded.
BIO Education Campaign
The Biotechnology Industry Organization is under taking an education campaign is increase public awareness and appreciation of the value of biotechnology across a wide range of issues that impact our daily lives. In addition to the main BIO website, which has connections to blogs on a variety of topics, you can also check out I Am Biotech. BIO is also working with NCBIO to energize the our area’s “base” of biotech employees and enthusiasts through on-line and in-person community events.
A primary activity of the campaign are biotechnology “Meetups.” A Meetup is a local gathering organized online through Meetup.com, a popular social networking site. Biotechnology Meetups will typically occur on a monthly basis. You’ll be hearing more about Meetups at upcoming life science events.
If you or your employees are interested in participating in a Meetup, contact Brenda Summers or Eva Barboni.
March 11 Deadline for NC Biotechology Center Undergraduate Biotechnology Research Fellowships Application.
March 16 CED's Biotech Forum: Emerging Opportunities, 5:30 pm, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, RTP, NC. Join biotech entrepreneurs, industry executives, research leaders, service providers and investors. For more information.
March 26 NCBIO Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 am, Legislative Cafeteria, General Assembly Building, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC. Contact Jennifer Fong for more information.
March 31-April 1 BIO Congressional Fly-in, Washington, DC. For more information.
April 3 NCBioImpact Career Education Fair, 1:30 pm -- 4:30 pm, BRITE, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC. Contact Brenda Summers for more information.
April 9 North Carolina Combination Products 2009, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, RTP, NC. For more information.
April 21 NCBIO and QuickSTAT HAZMAT and Cold Chain Packaging Training and Certification Seminar, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, RTP, NC. For more information.
April 22-23 CED's Venture 2009, Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst, NC. For more information.
April 28 Scientific Vendor Fair, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Marriott Hotel, 4700 Guardian Drive, Durham, NC. Sponsored by NCBIO and VWR. Contact Leigh Kridle for more information.
May 14, 2009. CED's Medtech 2009, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, NC. For more information.
May 18-21, 2009. BIO International Convention, Atlanta, GA. For more information.
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NCBIO This Month
