ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM), Maryland’s largest technology trade association, will highlight Maryland’s global leadership in the innovation and development of lifesaving vaccines and cancer treatments during The Atlantic Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Summit, May 7-8, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. This premier event will bring together industry researchers and business leaders, as well as high-ranking officials from state and federal civilian and defense agencies based in Maryland, who are responsible for making the state the hub for innovation, research and development, and manufacturing of vaccines and therapies to address current and emerging diseases.
“With more than 45 companies conducting 160 clinical trials, and many more novel biotherapeutics in development here in Maryland, as well as the foremost public health institutions, the state has established itself as the epicenter in vaccine and immunotherapeutic innovation,” said Phil Schiff, TCM’s CEO. “Our Summit is a way to bring together leaders in all facets of the vaccine and cancer immunotherapeutic market to discuss new opportunities, as well as ways to collaborate in order to advance healthcare around the world.”
The opportunity for Maryland companies is tremendous for development of new solutions to prevent and treat cancer, and prevent Ebola, HIV, influenza, malaria, tuberculosis and other emerging infectious diseases through vaccination. Global vaccine sales currently are $26 billion and they are forecasted to reach $39 billion by 2020. And, while vaccines comprise less than 2 percent of the total world pharmaceutical market, the 7.6 percent growth in vaccines from 2015 to 2020 is expected to outpace pharmaceuticals, which will grow only 4.2 percent during that period.
The two-day Summit will include opening remarks from Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), on efforts to make Maryland an even more attractive location for life science companies to conduct their research and product development. BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood will headline a plenary session on policy priorities for the industry. Among the other industry leaders featured as speakers are:
- Stanley C. Erck, President and CEO, Novavax
- Bruce Gellin, M.D., MPH, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director, National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Stephen Hoffman, Chief Executive and Scientific Officer, Sanaria Inc.
- Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., President, CEO and Director, Macrogenics
- Mike Levine, M.D., DTPH, Director of the Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, School of Medicine
- Steven J. Projan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of R&D, Innovative Medicines and Head of Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, MedImmune
- Robin Robinson, Ph.D., Director, Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA), Deputy Assistant for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Steven Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute
- Nancy Sullivan, Ph.D., Chief, Biodefense Research Section, Vaccine Research Center (VRC), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Other panels and plenary sessions will include leaders from Maryland biotech companies, including Emergent BioSolutions, MaxCyte, NexImmune, Protein Potential LLC and Paragon Bioservices; as well as agencies, such as CBER Office of Vaccines, the Vaccine Research Center; U.S. Army Surgeon General’s Joint Program Committee-2 Military Infectious Diseases Consultant in Microbiology, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). Top educational institutions also will be presenting, including representatives from Johns Hopkins University and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research at the University of Maryland.
“Life sciences companies, as well as the educational and government institutions, located in Maryland are leading the way in developing life-changing products addressing major health concerns around the world, and more are in the pipeline,” said Dr. Hoffman of Sanaria, who is also chairman of the Summit. “Nine of the 50 most influential people in the world’s vaccine industry are based in Maryland, according to a ranking by Vaccine Nation. From cancer immunotherapy and therapeutic vaccines to vaccines for pandemic influenza, Ebola, HIV, TB, and malaria, Maryland’s leaders are driving innovation and will be presenting us with their latest updates on progress at this incredibly exciting summit.”
For more information about The Atlantic Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Summit or to register, visit http://www.techcouncilmd.com/vaccine-summit/.
ABOUT THE ATLANTIC VACCINES AND IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS SUMMIT
The Atlantic Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Summit is the premier event hosted by the Tech Council of Maryland to showcase Maryland’s global leadership and role as the epicenter of vaccine innovation and development. The conference – which is made possible by major sponsors such as AstraZeneca, MedImmune, Novavax, Emergent BioSolutions, MaxCyte and Paragon Bioservices – will give attendees a chance to interact, learn and engage with the industry’s foremost researchers and business leaders, while tackling the pressing issues that face the new generation of vaccines.
ABOUT THE TECH COUNCIL OF MARYLAND, INC.
The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) is the largest technology trade group serving the advanced technology and biotechnology communities of Maryland. TCM’s mission is to advocate for the interests of the technology community, further the role of technology in the Maryland economy, and nurture an environment where technology companies can collaborate, grow and succeed. For more information, visit www.techcouncilmd.com.
