Press Release
Contact: Robert Albright |
Phone: 919-549-7500 ext.123 |
Life Science Sector Momentum Builds in Early 2004
CED Highlights Positive Indicators In Advance of Biotech 2004 Conference
May 13, 2004, Research Triangle Park, NC - North Carolina's life science companies are closing deals, filing to go public, securing capital and forging key partnerships in the early months of 2004 - indicating the sector's increasing economic impact. In advance of Biotech 2004, scheduled for May 26-27 at the RTP's Sheraton Imperial Hotel, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) points to specific deals and initiatives that highlight increased activity in recent months.
Among the most significant events thus far in 2004:
- Biolex Acquires Epicyte Pharmaceutical (May)
- Icagen Files for IPO Valued Over $86 million (April)
- Dynogen, Boston-based company with R&D Headquarters in Durham, Raises $50 Million (April)
- Affinergy Raises $1 Million Seed Funding (April)
- Amphora Raises $13 million (March)
- AlphaVax Announces New Manufacturing Initiative (March)
- “Staying on Top” Plan Released to Nurture Clusters Growth in the Triangle (March)
- N.C. Biotechnology Center Presents Strategic Plan to Gov. Easley (February)
- Hemocellular Lands $1 Million Seed Round (January)
In concert with these positive financings and initiatives, Biotech 2004: “Fusing Science, Technology and Industry Leadership” will celebrate North Carolina's thriving life science industry. CED is presenting the 13th annual Biotech conference in partnership with the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the North Carolina Biosciences Organization (NCBIO) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
In addition to previously announced featured speakers Dr. Leroy Hood, Dr. Ralph Snyderman and Steve Burrill, Biotech 2004 will offer panels with successful entrepreneurs, university officials, investment bankers, investors and other life science industry experts. During these sessions at Biotech 2004, panelists will explore such topics as going public, technology commercialization, prescription drug benefits, biomanufacturing and university-led economic development initiatives. Confirmed session topics at Biotech 2004 include the following:
- Trading Spaces, NASDAQ Style - Makeover from Private to Public Company
- Paths for Commercializing New Ideas
- Prescription Drug Benefits: The Payor's Impact on Small Companies and Their Investors
- North Carolina's Biomanufacturing & Pharmaceutical Training Consortium: Establishing a World-Class Workforce
- University-Led Economic Development Initiatives: Promoting Growth in North Carolina and Throughout the Southeast
“The collection of favorable events in this year's first quarter indicates the continuing positive trend for North Carolina's biotech sector,” said CED President Monica Doss. “And our attraction of such world class visionaries as speakers at Biotech 2004 speaks volumes to our state's position in the worldwide biotech marketplace. Cutting-edge biotech is happening right here, right now.”
Visit www.cednc.org/biotech for the conference agenda and registration details.
About CED: The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences, seminars, workshops and monthly programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2004, is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 3,500 members representing 1,000 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. www.cednc.org
About the North Carolina Biotechnology Center: The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation funded primarily by the state's General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business and education statewide. www.ncbiotech.org
About the North Carolina Biosciences Organization: NCBIO is a trade organization promoting the development of the biosciences industry in North Carolina. NCBIO provides cost-effective, organized legislative and advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry at the state and federal levels.
About the Biotechnology Industry Organization: The Biotechnology represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. www.bio.org
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