Combination and collaboration: PharmaMedDevice assembles industry leaders in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biologics to discuss the opportunities and challenges of combination products.

Combination products--or perhaps you know them better as convergent technology. Call them what you will, drug-device combinations are one of the fastest-growing sectors in medical technology. Products such as inhalation devices, transdermal delivery systems, steroid-eluting electrodes and a range of biologic devices hold tremendous promise not only for patient care, but also as new untapped markets for medical device companies and their suppliers. With the global market for drug-device combinations expected to increase at an average annual growth rate of 13.6% and reach $11.5 billion by the end of the decade, there's plenty of room for optimism. But with opportunity comes the risk of navigating new territory.

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The second annual PharmaMedDevice conference and exhibition is designed to help companies prepare to meet those challenges. The program, which is co-located with INTERPHEX, will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA, from March 26-28. Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers will converge to find answers to regulatory challenges, create new partnerships and source solutions for new product development. In addition to an expansive exhibit hall, a conference program will feature presentations from industry leaders in manufacturing, trade associations and federal agencies. Conference topics will range from regulatory issues and investment trends to nanobiotechnology and regenerative medicine. The event will cater to the needs of scientists, R&D and business development executives, product managers, manufacturing engineers, QA/QC personnel and regulatory specialists.

"PharmaMedDevice is the only event that truly addresses the comprehensive needs of the burgeoning combination products market," said Christina Lorelli, conference manager for the event. "In drawing a cross section of industry leaders from business, academia and the FDA, PharmaMedDevice provides a balanced perspective on the vast universe of issues facing combination product developers."

The conference program will offer four tracks that address the multi-dimensional nature of the combination product market: Regulatory Issues, Manufacturing Challenges, Innovative Technologies, and Research and Development.

Of particular interest will be the keynote on March 27, titled "Innovation to Commercialization: Executive Life Science Panel Discussion." Featuring CEOs from the medical device, pharmaceutical and bio-technology industries, the panel discussion will address current trends in innovation, global market challenges and collaborations across these converging markets.

For more program information, visit www.pharmameddevice.com. This year's exhibitors include:

AdvaMed AeroMed Inc. Akron Rubber Development Laboratory All Flex, Inc. Andersen Products, Inc. Aon--Wired For Growth Apple Rubber Products Applied Medical Coatings AppTec Atlas Vac Machine, Div of Planet Products ATP Engineered Rubber & Plastics Group B. Braun OEM Division | B. Braun Medical Berkheimer Outsourcing, Inc BSI Product Services, Healthcare CiDRA Precision Services, LLC Comdec, Inc. Complete Inspection Systems Inc. Control & Automation Covidien Da/Pro Rubber, Inc. Design Design, Inc. DeviceMed Magazine | c/o Access Communications Inc. DuPont Engineering Polymers EDGE Medica Epson Robots Ethox International | STS Life Sciences Div. Fiberoptic Technology, Inc. Future Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gallagher Fluid Seals, Inc. Getinge USA, Inc. Halkey-Roberts Corporation Hantel Technologies, Inc. Healthcare Packaging Hermetic Switch, Inc. Hi-Tech Group | HTG-Ventrex Hoffmann & Baron, LLP IncisionTech Ivek Corporation Makuta Technics Inc. Medical Design Technology | Advantage Business Media Medical Device Consultants Inc. Medical Product Outsourcing | MDeviceNow.com MedTech Development, LLC Metallix Refining, Inc. Metro Mold & Design, Inc. Micropen Technologies Corporation Microtest Laboratories, Inc. Mikron Assembly Technology | Mikron Corp Denver Minitab, Inc. Minnesota Rubber & Plastics National Qualpec NDH Medical, Inc. Objet Geometries Inc. Packworld USA | TOSS Machine Components PDE, A PharmaceuticalTrade Association Perfecseal Inc., A Bemis Company PharmaVOICE Phillips Plastics Corporation Pilgrim Software, Inc. Planisware USA, Inc. Precision Medical Products Inc. Product Design Labs LLC Putnam Plastics Corporation PVA TePla America, Inc QMC Technologies Inc. Qosina Corp Radius Product Development RAP-ID US Sealed Air Medical Packaging | Alga Plastics Smith Metal Products Smiths Medical OEM Sortimat Technology SOTAX Corporation Spectralytics Team New England | CT, ME, MA NH RLVT Tech-Etch Techmetals Telesis Technologies, Inc. The Integra Group The Journal of Life Sciences The Tech Group Ticona Engineering Polymers Tolas Healthcare Packaging Toxikon Corporation TransPerf ect Translations TT APSCO Inc. Vacco Industries Vertellus PC Biomaterials Windhover Information World Electronics Yamaha Robotics