Keynote Panel Discussions to Provide Top Level Insight on Today’s Most Pressing Biopharmaceutical Issues

The organizers of INTERPHEX2008, the world’s largest and most comprehensive life sciences manufacturing conference and exhibition, announced a robust keynote and education program spanning the universe of issues facing drug manufacturers today. Featuring leaders from industry, government, academia and the media, this year’s keynote program takes aim at global issues that transcend the pharmaceutical industry.After 6 consecutive years in New York City, INTERPHEX returns to Philadelphia for the 2008 event taking place March 26-28 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. As a major life sciences hub, Philadelphia will draw leaders from global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, while maintaining proximity to participants from New York and the Northeast.

Keynote Program

March 26th from 11:30am-12:30pm

G. Steven Burrill, CEO of Burrill and Co., returns to INTERPHEX following last year’s keynote presentation to a packed room of attendees. This year, Burrill will present an analysis of key activities taking place in the life science industry sectors with highlights on recent advances in technology and scientific activity. His keynote presentation, entitled “Biotech 2008: A 20/20 Vision of 2020,” will also explore the emergence of biotechnology as a global industry and the impact it will have on the future of healthcare.

March 27th from 11:30am-12:30pm

In line with the convergence theme at INTERPHEX2008, the March 27th keynote entitled, “Innovation to Commercialization” will feature a high-level panel discussion with CEOs from the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology industries. Panelists from GlucoLight, GlaxoSmithKline and BioRexis will address current trends in innovation, and global market challenges and collaborations across these converging markets.

March 28th from 9:00am-11:00am

The keynote entitled, “From Pandemics to Bioterrorism: The Role of Bio Manufacturing in Global Healthcare” will help biopharmaceutical industry leaders keep pace with today’s rapidly changing economic, political and global health issues.

During this high-level panel discussion, executives from Xcellerex, MARSH, Dowpharma and Merck Vaccine Division & Infectious Disease will address challenges and opportunities within the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as current government and private sector initiatives to protect the world’s vulnerable populations.

Robust Conference Program

The INTERPHEX2008 conference program will feature more than 70 sessions on today’s most pressing life sciences issues. The comprehensive program will feature a mix of panel discussions, case studies, tutorials and workshops led by professionals from the regulatory, manufacturing, supplier and academic communities. By delving into the key life sciences issues, INTERPHEX’s robust education program will help pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies keep pace with the rapid changes taking place in the industry.

This year, INTERPHEX adds three new track titles – Technology Enablers, Basics & Building Blocks, and Compliance – to its educational program, reflecting the industry’s growing emphasis on technology, regulatory issues and effective business foundation-building. These tracks, together with those for Biotechnology, Facilities & Engineering, Manufacturing, and Outsourcing, will provide illuminating and well-rounded education for the performance-driven professional. Specific sessions will cover topics ranging from single-use technologies to vaccine production to supply chain issues to sustainability to Process Analytical Technologies (PAT), and more.

Featured Events

To address the needs of the converging pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology industries, PharmaMedDevice will be co-located with INTERPHEX for the second year in a row. Featuring more than 100 exhibitors and a comprehensive conference program, PharmaMedDevice will provide unprecedented insight into the combination products market. BIOTECHNICA America will be featured as part of INTERPHEX2008 for the first time, bringing with it a strong biotechnology focus and the brand equity that goes along with Europe’s largest biotechnology show, BIOTECHNICA.

“The conference program is representative of INTERPHEX’s sweeping coverage of the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology sectors this year with the addition of BIOTECHNICA America and PharmaMedDevice,” says RJ Palermo, Industry Vice President at Reed Exhibitions. “Globalization, the advent of biogenerics, blockbuster patent expiry, industry convergence, and economic and political forces are all at work rapidly changing the dynamics of the pharmaceutical industry. INTERPHEX’s comprehensive education program addresses the entire universe of issues facing drug and medical device companies today, helping them turn challenges into opportunities.”

Special Sessions

In addition to keynote presentations, INTERPHEX will feature the following two special sessions, which are also open to all badgeholders:

On March 26th, Jim Miller, President, PharmSource will give a presentation entitled, “State of the Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Industry.” His presentation will highlight the opportunities and challenges facing Contract Research organizations (CROs) and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and the sponsors that use their services.

Alan Isacson, President, ABI Marketing Public Relations, will deliver a presentation entitled, “Six Ways to Increase Sales in the Pharmaceutical Industry” on March 27th. Isacson will provide insight on how pharmaceutical industry suppliers can avoid the commoditization trap by communicating value through benefits-oriented marketing and selling.

Value-Added Benefits

Event participants will also benefit from the Life Sciences Job Fair taking place at INTERPHEX2008. Produced by AAPS and ISPE, two of the largest and most respected pharmaceutical societies, the job fair will provide a comprehensive hiring solution for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturers. Designed for all levels of professionals seeking scientific and technical positions within the life sciences industry, the Life Sciences Job Fair will take place on March 26th from 10:00am to 6:00pm and on March 27th from 10:00am to 3pm in Room 201.

INTERPHEX2008 will also feature receptions on all three days of the events to maximize networking opportunities between drug manufacturers and suppliers. An opening night reception featuring drinks and hors d’oeuvres will take place from 5:00pm-6:30pm on Wednesday, March 26th. On March 27th, an exhibit hall reception will take place from 4:00pm-5:00pm, followed by another on the last day of the show from 2:00pm-3:00pm.

For more information about the keynote presentations or specific conference events, please contact: RJ Palermo, Industry Vice President at INTERPHEX. Tel: 203-840-5924 or email: rpalermo@reedexpo.com.

About INTERPHEX

Entering its 29th year, INTERPHEX, the world’s largest and most comprehensive pharmaceutical conference and exhibition, will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA from March 26-28, 2008. Approximately 1,000 leading global companies serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries will showcase the latest lines of equipment, technologies and services in the areas of PharmaManufacturing, PharmaSourcing & Services, PharmaIT and PharmaFacilities.

Presented by Reed Life Sciences, a part of Reed Exhibitions, the INTERPHEX exhibition will be paired with an innovative application-oriented conference program created to help pharmaceutical and biotechnical professionals develop critical skills to increase on-the-job performance. In addition to Philadelphia and New York, INTERPHEX holds events in Japan, Singapore, China, Mexico, India and Puerto Rico. To learn more about INTERPHEX, visit http://www.interphex.com