Life Science Industry Benefits from Collaborative Conservation Efforts with Zoological Society of San Diego.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2004

The Coming Together of Animal Conservation and Research to be

Highlighted at BIOCOM Monthly Breakfast Meeting

BIOCOM, the association representing the Greater San Diego life science community, welcomes Andy Phillips, Ph.D., Deputy Director of Conservation and Science at the Center of Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) for the Zoological Society of San Diego, as the featured speaker for its January Monthly Breakfast Series. The presentation will be held at 7 a.m. PST on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at the La Jolla Marriott.

Dr. Phillips will discuss the benefits of collaborations between conservation and industry research efforts in a presentation titled "Partnering to Understand Potential Benefits: The Interface Between Humans, Animals, and the Environment."

"The overwhelming diversity in wildlife and challenges they face show us that conservation begins with collaboration," said Dr. Phillips, who has authored more than 100 publications on a variety of pertinent topics in both scientific and popular publications. "CRES has long partnered with industry toward mutually advantageous goals."

CRES's broad collection of animals became a proving ground for Ivermectin, a treatment for non-disseminated intestinal threadworm developed by Merck & Co. The Center's groundbreaking work with non-invasive fluorescent pregnancy testing helped in the development of the well-known EPT Pregnancy Test. CRES is also collaborating with Diversa to understand the microflora associated with the endangered Douc langur from Vietnam.

"It is important that we recognize and work closely with those organizations that can enhance the research and development efforts of the life sciences industry as a whole," said Joe Panetta, president and CEO of BIOCOM.

The BIOCOM Breakfast Series is a long-standing event within San Diego's life sciences community. The breakfast is held the third Wednesday of every month at the La Jolla Marriott. Registration and networking starts at 7 a.m. and the program is from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

BIOCOM is a premiere life science industry association representing more than 465 member companies. The association focuses on initiatives that positively influence the growth of the life science industry, including capital formation, public policy, workforce development, and scientific discovery and development. For more information on BIOCOM or the San Diego regional life sciences community, please visit the organization's Web site at www.biocom.org or contact our offices at 858-455-0300.

The San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) is one of the largest zoo-based research centers in the world. For more information on CRES, visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/cres_home.html.