Author of First Gene Patent to Keynote BayBio Policy Forum.

A[micro]   WHAT: Dr. Ananda Chakrabarty, author of the first gene patent
issued in 1980, will keynote a BayBio forum on the Patenting of Life
Forms. The forum will also include a panel and public discussion on
the issues surrounding the patenting of life forms and the ethical,
legal and healthcare issues surrounding the current patent system.

A[micro]   WHEN:       Tuesday, June 7th, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A[micro]   WHERE:      Crowne Plaza Cabana, 4290 El Camino Real,
                Palo Alto, CA 94306

A[micro]   WHO:        Dr. Ananda Chakrabarty, University of Illinois at
                Chicago
                "Looking Back and Looking Forward: 25th Anniversary of
                the First Gene Patent"

                Elizabeth Howard, Orrick, Herrington
                "The U.S. Patent System and its Evolution Since 1980"

A[micro]   Mark E. Andrews of National Public Radio's "The BioTech Nation"
will lead a town hall discussion including Dr. Chakrabarty, Ms.
Howard, and Mr. Mark Bosse of Gilead Sciences, on patenting life
forms, the intellectual property system and American research and
innovation.

BACKGROUND:

Successful life science businesses depend on developing and leveraging partnerships both domestically and abroad. The foundations for these global partnerships include shared priorities placed on intellectual property. Most life science partnerships, deals and mergers pivot on U.S. intellectual property policy as well as the TRIPS Agreement. All of these foundational beliefs are not universally shared, and a variety of interest groups claim that the current U.S. system does not prioritize patient access. An understanding of IP increasingly shapes industry communications with investors, patients, policy makers and other stakeholders at home and abroad. BayBio and the American Association for the Advancement of Science will present these issues and implications for life science executives, dealmakers, communications and public affairs professionals, bioethicists, policymakers and legal professionals.