Conference Roundup

Mid-January can only mean one thing in the world of life science-it's time for the annual industry pilgrimage to the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference to kick off another year. College Hill was again on the scene at the meeting in San Francisco's Union Square that draws most of the industry's major investors, biotech executives, and pharma dealmakers for a frenzy of networking. The mood was brighter this year than last, and cautious optimism filled the air sparked by explosive scientific developments in molecular biology, immunology, and genomics and has fueled views on how these will result in more targeted drugs and diagnostics.

Here are some broad themes and market trends apparent from conference presentations and announcement included the shift from small molecule drug development to biologics and vaccines, the emphasis on bolt-on acquisitions of smaller companies to bolster product portfolios and positions in emerging markets, an increasing synergy between diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, a migration of diagnostics out of the lab and into the home for chronic diseases, and so-called pure-play personalized medicine companies targeting cancer treatments. Details of next year's Conference have yet to be announced but stay in touch with College Hill for more details. For up and coming dates, please visit www.jpmorgan.com/pages/jpmorgan/investbk/global/na/usconferences

College Hill was again in attendance at the UK BioIndustry Association's annual gala dinner, now well established as a feature in the calendar and held in the auspicious central hall of London's Natural History Museum. This year's event was attended by Sue Charles, Managing Partner, who networked with over 550 of the senior executives, investors and key players from the biotech industry. The chosen charities for this year's dinner were Bowel Cancer UK and Marie Curie Cancer Care and over £20K was raised on the night.

It was also the first event for incoming Chief Executive, Nigel Gaymond who, commented on his vision for the future for the UK's bio science sector. The 2011 Gala Dinner will be held on 27 January 2011 at the Natural History Museum. For more information, please visit http://www.bioindustry.org/

For the third year, Sachs held its February life science event at the Swiss Exchange in Zurich, and was attended by an audience of over 300 investors, analysts and media, among whom was College Hill's Dr Douglas Pretsell. Around 60 biotech, specialty pharma and medical technology companies presented at the meeting and were available for one to one meetings with investors and other partnering prospects or service providers. Along with the September event (which will be in its 10th year this summer) this conference is still one of the leading venture funding meetings in Europe, with a growing number of listed companies and institutional attendees.

Douglas chaired one of the sessions on the Friday morning.

The September 2010 Biotech Investor forum is scheduled to take place on the 27-28 of September 2010. For more information, please visit www.sachsforum.com

Camden's MedTech Investing Europe is still the leading private finance conference for medical technology companies in Europe. The 10th meeting in the series, held more than twice each year in Lausanne and London. This first event of the year took place in Lausanne, Switzerland on the campus of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. College Hill Life Sciences Sector Head for Medical Technology, Dr Douglas Pretsell was one of 180 individuals who attended from the industry and from the investment community. More than 35 companies presented at the meeting and were available during the busy partnering sessions.

The 11th MedTech Investing Europe Conference is scheduled to take place on the 13 - 14 September in London. For more information, please visit www.campdenconferences.com

With 1,038 companies from 37 countries, analytica in Munich had even more exhibitors than when it was last held in 2008. Held every two years in Munich's enormous New Trade Fair Centre it is easily one of the largest life science trade fairs in the world. Nearly 33,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries came to Munich for the exhibition and Dr Douglas Pretsell and Dr Robert Mayer from our Munich office joined them.

Analytica is a biannual event and the next one will take place in the spring of 2012 at the same venue. Further details can be found at www.analytica.de

Katja Toon and Sue Charles attended the BioFinance and BioInnovate Europe Conference in London on 25 March 2010. The event consisted of a series of panel presentations debating contentious issues, such as how to foster innovation, the future of the IPO, and what can be learned from those companies which are making progress and raising money. There were also sessions on corporate venture funds, what to expect from Government-industry interaction in 2010, open innovation, and a workshop on the UK patent box. Speakers were present from big pharma, leading biotechnology companies, finance providers and the capital markets.

http://www.biofinancebioinnovate.org

Lorna Cuddon attended the conference, which was organised by Avakado Media, was highly successful and featured leading researchers and experts from the fields of peptide therapeutics development presenting the latest scientific and technological knowledge. The applications of peptide chemistry from synthesis through purification and analytics, to bioactivity testing in biotechnology, biomedical and other applications from analytical to industrial scales were presented.

http://www.avakado.eu/dev/node/264

Lorna Cuddon, Katja Stout and Melanie Toyne Sewell attended the conference, with over 625 delegates the conference had record attendance and partnering activity grew by 70% over 2009, with over 1300 one-to-one meetings taking place. The programme covered two full days and included company presentations from the UK's best biotech and medtech companies; pharma and investor panel discussions covering the choices for financing and exits for biotech companies, whether that be VC/equity financing, licensing deals or pharma acquisition; and, interactive workshops on the latest industry trends and advice.

http://www.biotrinity.com/silverstripe/

The mood was very positive at the 2010 International BIO Convention, which took place at the McCormick Center in Chicago, Illinois. BIO President Jim Greenwood perhaps put it best in his opening remarks: "Biotech stocks have outperformed virtually every other index in the first quarter of 2010 and the Nasdaq Biotech Index has climbed back to a point even higher than it was when the market peaked in 2007. The markets are coming back and biotech has come back faster and stronger. The economic storm isn't over, but the winds are easing and the sun is beginning to shine." Throughout the convention, it was clear from the activity that the sun was indeed coming out to shine on deals, alliances and partnerships. One piece of evidence to this effect came as an unprecedented number of One-on-One business development meetings (more than 70,000) were conducted through BIO's proprietary partnering system.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the 42nd and 43rd Presidents of the United States, took the stage together and expressed strong support for biotech and its benefits to heal and fuel the world. "Biotech can play a big role in how we produce and consume energy," said President Clinton. He also stated that 'there is no more urgent task' than addressing climate change. President Bush emphasized that we must have a vibrant economy to support biotech innovation. "We need to incent research and aggressively encourage investment [in biotech]," said President Bush. Both Presidents Clinton and Bush acknowledged each others' accomplishments while in office and kept a consistently collegial tone throughout the moderated discussion. When President Clinton was asked what he missed most about being Commander-in-Chief he said that he loved 'representing America around the world,' and added that it's the only job he'll ever have in which they 'play a song every time I walk into a room.'

The renewed emphasis on sense of purpose suggested by the former U.S. Commanders-in-Chief, were echoed by biotech sector luminary G. Steven Burrill as he released his 24th annual report on the state of the biotech industry in which he highlighted the critical developments in 2009 across all biotech sectors, both in the U.S. and globally, and noted that it's a "fabulous time to be alive in our industry." He pointed out that the biotechnology industry is working toward critical answers to many of the world's most pressing problems, including climate change, healthcare, food security and production.

College Hill's U.S. Life Sciences team was in Chicago and worked closely with eight presenting and/or exhibiting companies as well as a wide range of print, electronic and broadcast media. Additionally, College Hill co-hosted a very special, mid-convention evening reception along with Chempetitive Group aboard the Anita Dee II - a floating oasis that took 400 walk-weary convention go-ers aboard the high seas of Lake Michigan on an evening cruise for good food, drink, and conversation, as well as dramatic views of the Chicago skyline.

Those considering communications strategies for 2011 International BIO Convention taking place in Washington, D.C. should start planning now and contact College Hill Life Sciences U.S. team lead Erik Clausen at erik.clausen@collegehill.com

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