BIO Announces Keynote Speakers for the BIO-Asia Partnering Conference 2008.

Asian, U.S., European biotech and pharmaceutical companies to gather in Tokyo. Media registration open now.

WASHINGTON -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that Toshinari Tamura, Ph.D., representative director, executive vice president and chief science officer of Astellas Pharma Inc., and James C. Mullen, president and chief executive officer of Biogen Idec, Inc., will be keynote luncheon speakers for the fifth annual BIO-Asia Partnering Conference, January 28 - 29, 2008, at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Japan.

"The BIO-Asia Partnering Conference will feature two of the most well-known and respected leaders in the industry who can offer unique perspectives on the business of biotechnology in the Asian region," said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president of Emerging Companies and Business Development at BIO. "Dr. Tamura and Mr. Mullen will impart valuable insights on the growing industry while the conference will offer an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with Asia's leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and the most promising emerging drug development firms at one place and time."

Dr. Tamura of Astellas Pharma Inc. will deliver the luncheon keynote on Monday, January 28. Astellas Pharma Inc. was created by a merger between Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fujisawa Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Dr. Tamura began his career at Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. in 1972 after receiving his doctorate from the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Mr. Mullen will be delivering the luncheon keynote on Tuesday, January 29. In 2003, Mr. Mullen helped spearhead the merger of Biogen, Inc. and IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. Today, Biogen Idec, Inc. is a global biotechnology leader that creates new standards of care in therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs. Mr. Mullen served as chairman of the Board of Directors for BIO from 2005 through 2007.

BIO-Asia is an exclusive partnering forum that brings together Asian-Pacific, North American and European biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies interested in research collaborations and licensing agreements. The event features private, pre-arranged one-on-one meetings between senior-level executives and provides a number of ways to explore a range of exceptional international partnering and licensing opportunities. Over the course of two days, BIO-Asia is expected to host more than 1,500 private meetings and provide countless formal and informal networking opportunities. BIO-Asia 2007 attracted 500 professionals from more than 270 companies and 25 countries around the world.

BIO-Asia is co-hosted by Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Montgomery & Co., and BioCentury Publications with support from Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA), Bioindustry Association of Korea (BAK), Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), AusBiotech, and BIOTECanada.

For registration and information, please visit www.bio.org/bioasia. Media registration is complimentary to credentialed members of the media. Please contact [e-mail] for media registration details. If you have any questions, please contact [e-mail].

Upcoming BIO Events

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BIO-Asia Partnering Conference
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January 28-29, 2008
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Tokyo, Japan
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BIO CEO & Investor Conference
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February 11-13, 2008
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New York, NY
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Partnering for Global Health
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March 10-12, 2008
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Washington, DC
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BIO-Europe Spring
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April 7-9, 2008
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Madrid, Spain
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World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
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April 27-30, 2008
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Chicago, IL
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BIO International Convention
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June 17-20, 2008
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San Diego, CA

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry. Visit www.bio.org for more information on BIO and all upcoming events.