BIO Business Forum to Be a Highlight of the BIO International Convention.

Forum Expected to Attract More Than 4,300 Attendees Representing 1,500 Global Companies

WASHINGTON -- The 2007 BIO Business Forum will bring together biotechnology, pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors in one place at one time during a record-setting number of anticipated meetings to learn about each other, meet one-on-one, and discuss business opportunities of mutual interest. The BIO Business Forum, which will be held May 7-9, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts in conjunction with the 2007 BIO International Convention, is the largest partnering event in the biotech world. Participants vary from large pharmaceutical companies to young biotech companies with newly discovered innovations.

This year's BIO Business Forum is expected to host an excess of 11,000 partnering meetings involving more than 4,000 companies, marking the largest number of anticipated meetings in the Convention's history.

"This year's BIO Business Forum is shaping up to be our largest ever. This stands as a strong testament to the importance of these meetings for all attendees -- from pharmaceutical giants to early stage companies looking for partnership opportunities," stated Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the sponsor the BIO International Convention. "The BIO Business Forum has repeatedly been a key attraction for companies across the industry. Since we first started holding the forum in 2000, it has grown to be one of the biggest draws for conference attendees. By bringing together the industry's innovators and developers, the Forum offers the chance for those parties to bring their technologies a step closer to market."

In addition to the 30-minute private meetings, the BIO Business Forum hosts nearly 300 15-minute presentations from companies looking to share in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities and to initiate partnerships for growth. The presentation schedule will be available in mid-April.

Past BIO Business Forum attendees have touted the event as a highlight of the Convention. Through anonymous feedback from last year's event, participants said:

* "We were able to contact over 20 firms in one trip, as opposed to having to make 20 trips all over the world."

* "It was extremely valuable for our company. I arranged 47 one-on-one meetings during the conference."

* "The scale of the event means that you can meet all your important contacts in one place."

* "...Provided high-level visibility with prospective collaborators... Particularly useful for reaching non-U.S. companies."

* "Outstanding for making introductions and screening potential business partners."

* "Invaluable for picking up licensing leads."

The partnering component of The BIO Business Forum is open to attendees with Unlimited Full Conference Value Pass, Limited Session Full Conference Pass and Unlimited 1-Day Value Pass registrants only. Those who wish to register to participate in partnering meetings register online at www.bio2007.org and select the Partnering event option. There is only one partnering registration fee is required per company.

The 2007 BIO International Convention, sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), will take place May 6-9, 2007 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This year's Convention, the global event for biotechnology, is expected to draw more than 20,000 international attendees, as well as 300 public officials from more than 30 countries. The event is expected to host more than 1,800 exhibiting companies for four days. The 2007 BIO International Convention will showcase the biotechnology industry and its global impact.

This year's International Convention, themed "New Ideas. Bold Ventures. Global Benefits," will feature a program packed with more than 200 sessions and speakers focusing on the global aspects of biotechnology, including business development, global health, clinical research/clinical trials, policy, bioethics, devices and diagnostics, biopreparedness, intellectual property/legal, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental issues. International seminars will spotlight national-level developments from more than 30 countries and regions worldwide. To view the full conference program, please visit http://www.bio2007.org/Attendees/educational_sessions/index.html.

General registration for the BIO International Convention is available at http://www.bio2007.org/Registration/index.html. Early-bird discounted registrations of more than 30 percent are available until Friday, March 23, 2007. For more information about the global event for biotechnology, including housing and program updates, please visit www.bio2007.org.

Advance media registration for the BIO International Convention is available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio2007.org/Media/index.html. Reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers, college and online publications are strongly encouraged to register in advance by Friday, April 20, 2007.

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 global event for biotechnology.

Upcoming BIO Events
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-- 2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
   March 21-24
   Orlando, FL

-- 2007 BIO International Convention
   May 6-9, 2007
   Boston, MA

-- BIO VentureForum-East 2007
   June 18-20, 2007
   Montreal, Canada

-- BIO Mid-America VentureForum 2007
   Sep. 24-26, 2007
   Milwaukee, WI