The annual international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), April 9-12 attracted a record 19,479 attendees from 62 countries, and embraced the theme "Brilliant Science - Smart Business - Better Living". AstraZeneca's main reasons for being there were:

• Evaluating licensing and partnering opportunities within a wide range of sciences.
• Active networking with stakeholders from the worlds of science, health, politics, business, and academia.

Attendance by our senior R&D leaders

At the summit AstraZeneca's senior leadership was represented by Jan Lundberg, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Discovery Research, Frank Yocca, Vice President, Discovery CNS/Pain, R&D Wilmington and Cathy Bonuccelli, Vice President US External Scientific Affairs. Cathy Bonuccelli who was appointed to the BIO Board last year took part in a series of board meetings throughout the week. Also Michael Cloutier, CEO of AstraZeneca Canada participated.

Frank Yocca presented at the BIO Business Forum. He spoke on alliances being a key part of our R&D objectives and our vision to rapidly discover, develop and launch innovative medicines.

Among other engagements, Jan Lundberg spoke in a Q&A session around Big Pharma's approach to research. He made it clear that AstraZeneca's strategy is to complement our strong internal research programs by linking into the global pool of ideas and talent through our focus on externalisation. More about the Q&A session with Jan Lundberg

Busy in the Business Forum

Hans Hultbergand Discovery Alliances personnel along with Mike Henry  and Licensing staff led AstraZeneca partnering discussions. The teams, consisting of some 20 people had their calendars completely filled with appointments with other companies or organisations looking to match their science with AstraZeneca's.

"After three intensive days at BIO 2006, we have met with over 300 biotech companies from all over the world, and have a great many follow-up contacts to make", said Chris Yochim, Associate Director for AstraZeneca GDA and a key engineer of AstraZeneca's presence at BIO. He has been interacting with BIO since the 1996 annual meeting in Philadelphia.

"Being here is certainly very much about creating and maintaining relationships", confirmed Hans Hultberg, Head of Global Discovery Alliances, who stopped and were stopped to speak with people at every corner. "This is a great opportunity to effectively scan prospective partners", he continued. "One of these contacts may well end up in breakthrough technology for us, or a major product".

Connecting cultures

Business Development representatives from AstraZeneca Japan were present in the Business Forum, arranging meetings with US, EU and Japanese companies.

"The meetings with Japanese companies went very smoothly", remarked HåkanNyqvist in GDA Neuroscience, and pointed out the importance of connecting cultures and ensuring that language is not a barrier. "This", he said, "was also commented on by representatives from the Japanese companies who were markedly pleased."

Business emerges where science converges

According to JimGreenwood, BIO's President and CEO, "BIO 2006 was a spectacular success. The convergence of health, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology created a fantastic opportunity for the biotech industry to show the many ways it is innovating to cure and prevent disease, alleviate hunger, and improve the environment."

Next year the BIO International Convention will be held in Boston May 6-9 with the theme of "Science Converges. Business Emerges."

Published 10 May 2006