DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is launching its 2011 Symposium Series Thursday, February 17, with the session, "Biotech & Pharma," 1-7 p.m., at the Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton Street. The announcement is made by Holli Baumunk, CBSA President & CEO, who says the CBSA's new Symposium Series is being held quarterly this year, with each program focusing intently for a half day on matters of key interest to the state's Bioscience Industry. Upcoming symposiums are planned for June 9 covering Science Investment Opportunities & Options; August 11, Regulatory & Reimbursement Issues; and November 10, Medical Device & Diagnostic Development.
Further, regarding Thursday's series launch, Baumunk explains: "We're extremely fortunate to welcome four Colorado company CEOs as presenters at our first quarter Biotech & Pharma Symposium." Participating CEOs include: Robert M. Di Scipio, President and CEO, Aegis Analytical Corp. (http://www.aegiscorp.com); Bob Conway, President and CEO, Array BioPharma (http://www.arraybiopharma.com); Tim Rodell, President and CEO, GlobeImmune (http://www.globeimmune.com); and Steve Orndorff, President and CEO, Ariel Pharmaceuticals (http://arielpharma.com). Other companies and organizations on the agenda include: the Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology (http://cimb.colorado.edu), Pfizer (http://www.pfizer.com), Amgen (http://www.amgen.com), and Genentech (http://www.gene.com).
"Information covered in Thursday's session will include: how health care reform will impact Colorado companies; how companies can prepare for health care reform, including biosimilars, Independent Payment Advisory Board, comparative effectiveness and tax increases; controlling costs and minimizing risks in the manufacturing and drug development process; and lessons Colorado companies have learned in the drug development process," Baumunk says.
Symposium Keynote: "The Future of Biotechnology Innovation in the University System"
The Keynote, 1-2 p.m., on biotech innovation in the university sector will be provided by Fintan Steele, Ph.D., Associate Director, Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology (CIMB). Dr. Steele joined the CIMB in 2010 as Associate Director, and Director of Scientific Communications. His background includes 20 years of experience in communicating the science and implications of the "omics" bioscience revolution to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. Prior to CIMB, Fintan was the Director of Communications for the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the collaborative organization founded by MIT, Harvard and its affiliated hospitals and the Whitehead Institute to transform medicine with new biological knowledge. He previously served as the first VP and Global Head of Communications for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, the worldwide research division of Novartis. In addition to his communications director experiences, Fintan held several editorial positions for public and private scientific publishers, including News and News & Views editor for Nature Medicine, Executive Editor of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Executive Editor of Genomics and of Molecular Therapy.
Following Dr. Steele's keynote is the first discussion panel from 2-3 p.m.: "Health Care Reform - Key Provisions that will Impact your Company." Participants include Linda Pryor, Director of Government Relations, Pfizer; Dr. Kiki Traylor, Government Affairs, Amgen; and Barbara Lussenhop, State Government Affairs, Genentech.
Aegis Analytical's CEO Di Scipio follows at 3:15 p.m. covering "Minimizing Risk in your Virtual Manufacturing Network." Aegis Analytical Corp., along with Pfizer, are corporate sponsors of the Biotech & Pharma Symposium. The second discussion panel from 4-5 p.m., "Lessons Learned: Drug Development Strategies," includes the three CEOs from Array BioPharma, GlobeImmune and Ariel Pharmaceuticals. A networking reception follows from 5-7. All sessions are being held in the Mount Evans Room at the Denver Grand Hyatt.
Advanced registration is required for the event at: http://www.cobioscience.com/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=20284. Cost: CBSA Members: $50, Non-Members: $100.
About the Colorado Bioscience Association
The CBSA is a not-for-profit corporation providing services and support for Colorado's growing biosciences industry. With more than 400 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment, grow the state's biotech workforce, fight for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state and speak with a single voice on behalf of the industry. For more information, visit http://www.cobioscience.com.
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