BIO-Europe Spring® 2008 Program Shines a Light on Biotech Industry Developments in Spain

Business Wire,  March 25, 2008  

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CARLSBAD, Calif. and MADRID, Spain -- As an addition to the varied and in-depth workshops and panels where luminaries cover the business of biotechnology, EBD Group today announced that it will feature a special emphasis on biotech developments in Spain during the BIO-Europe Spring[R] 2008 conference, held April 7-9, 2008 at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos, Madrid.

On Monday, April 7, BIO-Europe Spring will feature a workshop entitled "Focus on Spain", moderated by Mr. Federico Manrique Ruiz, General Director, General Directorate of Technological Innovation, Madrid Regional Ministry of Economy and Consumer Affairs. Panelists will feature Luis Ruiz Avila, CEO, Advancell; Ignacio Gonzalez Ochoa, General Director, Biopolis; Pedro M. Franco de Sarabia, President, Biotools B&M Labs.; and Alfonso Casal, Marketing and Sales Director, PharmaMar.

The workshop will showcase four examples of pioneering and established Spanish companies and explain their keys to success:

* Advancell, a world leader in nanomedicine, which is developing a product for the topical treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases.

* Biopolis, a producer of high value products by fermentation of microorganisms with industrial applications in the agri-food and pharma-chemical fields.

* Biotools B&M Labs, a leader in real-time kits based on its patented Lionprobes technology.

* PharmaMar, a leading biopharmaceutical company, with five novel compounds committed to advancing the treatment of cancer through the discovery and development of new marine-derived medicines.

Commenting on the fast-evolving Spanish biotechnology industry, Rogelio Pardo, Manager of Madrid Biocluster, stated, "Biotechnology offers interesting business opportunities and is one of the best performing high technology sectors in Spain. The number of companies in Spain with biotechnology related activities is 581, most of which are located in bioregions and bioclusters that foster synergies between these various bio-industry players. Madrid Biocluster, the heart of the Spain's Biotechnology industry, is pleased to welcome BIO-Europe Spring."

According to Jose Luis Jorcano, President of Genoma Espana, "The business relevance of the Spanish biotechnology industry is growing very positively. From 2000-2006 the number of biotechnology companies has grown 166%, turnover has increased 200%, and sector employment has grown 750%. Additionally, according to the Spanish Bio-industry association Asebio, the number of Spanish biotechnology alliances has increased in the last two years, and 37% of these alliances have an international partner. The BIO-Europe Spring conference provides a highly visible and unique opportunity for the global biotech community to experience the potential that is the Spanish biotech industry."

With an anticipated 1,400 participants, BIO-Europe Spring 2008 is expected to be one of the most productive and content-rich partnering conferences of 2008.

Notes to Editors:

Entry to BIO-Europe Spring[R] 2008 is free to the media, including full access to the partnering system, sessions, press conferences, workshops, and pre-arranged partnering meetings. Visit the BIO-Europe Spring conference website at http://www.ebdgroup.com/bes/press_reg.htm for detailed information on this year's conference and online registration. When you register online, please indicate in the comment field that you are requesting a complimentary press registration. Please fax a copy of your press pass to complete your complimentary media registration to fax number +49 (89) 23 88 756 55.

About BIO-Europe Spring 2008:

The BIO-Europe Spring[R] event brings together international decision-makers from all sectors of the biotechnology industry, and features the successful combination of one-to-one meetings, company presentations, panel discussions and a lively exhibition.

Positioned as the springtime counterpart to EBD Group's flagship conference, BIO-Europe, the BIO-Europe Spring event continues the tradition of providing life science companies with high caliber partnering opportunities. The event enables biotechnology companies to identify, meet and network with companies across the life sciences value-chain from large biotech and pharma companies to financiers and innovative start-ups.

The local hosts of BIO-Europe Spring 2008 are Madrid Biocluster, PromoMadrid, Red de Parques y Clusters de la Comunidad de Madrid, Camara de Madrid, Genoma Espana, INTERES Invest in Spain, Sistema madri+d and CEIM.

About Biotech in Spain and Madrid:

The number of biotech firms in Spain has doubled in the last six years to 150. There are almost 600 enterprises in Spain that are engaged in the biotech arena, producing a turnover in excess of EU 20,000 Million. Today, Madrid leads Spain with 27 % of total biotech companies and, significantly, accounts for 45.2 % of sales and 45.5 % of employment by biotech companies. Madrid is characterized by its potential as an innovative area specialized in biotechnology, due to its good scientific-technological base, dynamic entrepreneurial sector, infrastructures and advanced services and its prestigious hospital network. With a highly skilled workforce of 5,000 researchers and 600 new PhDs each year in Life Sciences, Madrid Region has become one of the most important research clusters in Europe, attracting international key players.