International Biotech Exceeds Exhibitor Target; Vendor Presentations Complemented by Leading Edge Technology Conference Tracks.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE 2K

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2002

With 2 months to go, International Biotech 2002, the year's biggest event in the European biotech calendar has announced it has already exceeded its original exhibitor target.

Over 100 leading suppliers will use the event to showcase their latest equipment and systems - including Amersham, Genetix, MWG Biotech, GRI, Hamilton and Pyrosequencing. In addition to stands, there will be a special dedicated area in the exhibition hall with a running programme of vendor presentations and product launches.

The exhibition is complemented by a high level conference programme dealing with all aspects of biotech. On the science and technology side this includes one-day leading-edge conference tracks on Microarray Technologies and Bioinformatics.

Chaired by Dr Roland Kozlowski of Sense Proteomic, the Microarray Technologies conference track will deal with topics ranging from the role of functional protein microarrays for drug discovery to the potential of microarrays in blood screening and diagnostics. Speakers from Perkin Elmer, XanTac, the Max Planck Institute, Exiqon and the University of Edinburgh make the conference track a must for anyone interested in this key area.

Bioinformatics is an equally challenging area for biotechs. This conference track will again give an overview of the latest developments and solutions available with presentations from leaders such as Oxford GlycoSciences, GENEDATA, ChiBio and Viaken and exciting newcomers Smartbead Technologies and Jurilab.

According to event organiser Moira Edwards, the quality of exhibitors and conference speakers indicates that IIR have come up with the right formula for International Biotech: "We consulted closely with the sector in advance and combined their input with our own extensive experience as a leading life sciences event organiser. On the technologies side in particular we found that delegates wanted more than a traditional trade show. By adding for example vendor presentations and technology conference tracks visitors to International Biotech will be able to get a far better impression of how products and technologies are applicable to their particular work. With the conference and exhibition programme and format in place, our delegate marketing is now moving into full gear and we are confident International Biotech will be a major success."

International Biotech is organised by International Business Events, a division of IIR Limited, one of the world's largest exhibition and conference organisers. In 2002, IIR will deliver over 65 events in the fields of Life Science Business Strategy, Biotechnology, Drug Discovery, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Trials and Manufacturing. IIR is a UK company, established in 1974, and now has operations in 34 countries. The main business units are located in London, New York, Dubai and Singapore. Globally IIR employs around 7,000 staff and produces approximately 4,000 conferences annually.

Notes to editors

- International Biotech takes place on November 19 and 20, 2002

at ExCeL, London's new state-of-the-art exhibition and

conference centre.