Letter from the Editor A world of opportunity Having attended the past four annual Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) conferences, I look forward to once again walking the show floor and attending this year’s sessions to learn about the many new innovations that promise to define the global biotechnology industry going forward. An expected 20,000 biotechnology and life-sciences professionals and top leaders from organizations from around the world will come together to highlight the future of biotechnology in Philadelphia, June 19 to June 22. According to officials at BIO, attendees from 45 countries have already registered, and attendees from 15 more are expected. Twenty-five official foreign delegations, including Australia, India, Japan and many European countries, will attend and up to 100 public officials from 20 countries are expected. For the first time at a BIO annual meeting, the European Union will play a significant role in addition to sending a delegation. According to the organization, many countries are identifying biotechnology as a national priority, pouring resources into the growth and development of homegrown businesses, as well as creating incentives for foreign companies to locate there. Countries that have not traditionally relied on domestic research and development are now turning to biotechnology as a main driver for high-tech innovation. To reflect this trend, BIO 2005 will feature an expanded international program on the opening day, June 19th, from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. The Global Biotechnology Forum will address scenarios for the future of biosciences and the Global Health Symposium will focus on biotech product innovation for treatments of diseases prevalent in the developing world. For anybody who hasn’t attended the conference before it can be an overwhelming, but exciting experience. With BIO representing more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations, the vast amount of information that will be dissceminated about all types of services, products, and partnerships is sure to satisfy anyone who operates in this sector. The distinguished panel of experts in this issue’s Forum (starting on page 6) representing companies from the United States, Canada, and France, as well as the insights from thought leaders whose companies provide services to the biotechnology sector (starting on page 30) touch on many of the themes that will be presented at the BIO conference in June. As biotech companies continue to have success in moving new, first-in-class medicines through clinical trials and into the market, Ernst & Young predicts the industry should achieve net income for the first time in its 30-year history in 2008. And according to Wood Mackenzie, the growth of the biotech industry will continue to outpace that of pharmaceutical companies, with the seven largest biotechnology companies growing at rates faster than the pharmaceutical industry’s 9.1% average. This an exciting and pivotal time for the industry and one that will be celebrated in Philadelphia. Taren Grom Editor Taren Grom PharmaVOICE looks forward to exhibiting at the 2005 annual Biotechnology Industry Organization convention. Please stop by Booth 2811 to say hello. VIEW on Biotechnology May 2005
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Letter from the Editor
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