Supervisor Nevin Partners with BayBio.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2004

The BayBio Board of Directors announced today that San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin will join their organization as a consultant in charge of public affairs. BayBio, Northern California's bioscience association, was founded in 1990 and serves the region's 820 life science companies, a dozen private research institutes, nine regional universities, and local governments.

BayBio has created this partnership with Nevin to strengthen the relationship between the bioscience industry and the regional community. The addition of Nevin to the BayBio team also comes in preparation for the BIO 2004 Annual International Convention, which will be held in June at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The convention will bring together over 15,000 biotechnology industry experts from all over the world. BayBio is proud to be a strategic partner of BIO 2004, and bring the biotechnology industry back to "where it all began."

"Mike Nevin's cooperation with our organization couldn't come at a better time," said Matt Gardner, President of BayBio. "Mike is committed to doing everything he can to bring the public and private sectors together to build a more cohesive region."

Nevin, who sits on numerous regional boards and commissions, says his role will help BayBio ensure the right agencies, organizations and officials are aware of and involved in the bioscience community. He also says his participation stems from an interest in seeing local biotech companies grow and contribute to the region's overall economy. "Living in the Bay Area, we are standing on the global doorstep of the biotechnology industry," said Nevin. "The future growth potential of these companies is limitless and we have a real chance to make sure that biotech remains an anchor tenant in this region. I see this industry as the lynchpin for the creation of jobs and as a way to spark the economic recovery that we desperately need."

Nevin's fellow Supervisors in San Mateo County praised his decision to cooperate with BayBio. "Even during these tough economic times, biotechnology has been a booming industry both in the Bay Area and worldwide," said Supervisor Jerry Hill. "It's crucial these companies partner with local government to create an environment where they feel welcome and can thrive. With Mike Nevin's counsel, BayBio will create this environment."

Nevin has served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for 11 years. Before that he served on the Daly City Council and was mayor of that city in 1984 and 1989. His regional appointments include the Caltrain Joint Powers Board, Chair of the Transbay Terminal Joint Powers Authority, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, where he chairs the Bay Area Bridge Toll Authority. Nevin is also a former president of the California State Association of Counties.

For more information on BayBio, contact Matt Gardner, President BayBio at 650-871-7101 or e-mail [e-mail]. For more information on Mike Nevin, contact Seamus Murphy at 415-531-2523.