BIO 2005 Update: Seeking Understanding From Washington Lawmakers and the World

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Reported by Annette Kreuger, Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). The annual Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) meeting in Philly is proving to be much more than the sum of its many colorful parts. Amid the over 1,500 booths with interactive displays and hundreds of breakout business sessions and forums, the industry as a whole is determined to define itself and the vital importance of what it offers. The title of Monday's opening plenary lunch session was a bold indication of just how serious they are in that mission - "Saving the World: The Future of Global Drug Development"

Newly installed BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood, a former social worker and ten-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives, who also served another three years as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, used Monday's luncheon to launch a new industry video -- "Great New Frontier". The short film explores the impact biotechnology has on our lives and its potential to do even more. Greenwood discussed the general lack of understanding in regard to the biotech industry as a whole and the befuddlement of his former colleagues in Washington as to what it means.

"Oh, stem cell research..." was the typical response received from his fellow lawmakers when Greenwood explained he was leaving to take the helm of BIO. Frustrated that few understood the potential for saving scores of lives across the globe and for delivering future generations from suffering today's diseases, the industry made the video to generally illustrate the industry's impact. Available for viewing at www.bio.org, the film features people whose lives have been saved by biotech drugs. It touches on the far-reaching effects of research beyond medicine, encompassing world hunger and energy solutions.

Beyond the medical hope offered by biotech, every state in the union and virtually every country in the world seek to be chosen for the construction of the industry's research and manufacturing facilities. As discussed in Industrialinfo.com's 2005 North American Pharmaceutical-Biotech Forecast, these projects bring the promise of high-paying jobs, offering an average annual salary topping $65,000. With the manufacturing process clean by nature, the red carpet is being rolled out to every company that is even considering building a new lab or plant. From Russia, with its first booth ever at BIO, to the heartland of America, everyone is not so subtly shouting, "Choose us"!

Big Pharma's presence, underscored by industry giant Pfizer's serving as sponsor of the luncheon sessions, made evident that the line between the pharmaceutical and biotech industries continues to fade. Moderated by Fox News host, Morton Kondracke, leaders from Celgene, AstraZeneca, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals joined Pfizer's Dr. Peter Corr, Senior Vice President of Science and Technology, to discuss trends in drug development. Particular focus was placed on filling unmet medical needs on a global basis. As Day 2 of BIO 2005, Tuesday, June 21, 2005, dawns, the conference is bracing itself for a more organized protest crowd. Vowing to shut down Philadelphia streets surrounding the convention center with a life-sized puppet parade, everybody from People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) to BioDemocracy 2005, will be out in full force. It is undeniable that this emerging industry brings out the passion in a multitude of interest groups. Yet, few have the impact of the Lamoree family, Dave, Kelly, and their daughter Hillary, who took the stage at Monday's luncheon to thank the industry for freeing Hillary from the devastation of cystic fibrosis. Saving a life is hard to trump, by anybody's standards.

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