Renowned Bioscience Leaders to Address BIOZONA 2009 Conference

Plenary speakers include:
Roger Newton, Ph.D., is co-discoverer of Lipitor, the most prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug in the world. He worked at Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (now Pfizer) before starting Esperion Therapeutics, where he serves as founder, president and CEO.

Christopher Gleeson recently stepped down as President of Ventana Medical Systems, following the company’s 2008 acquisition by Roche for $3.4 billion. Prior to joining Ventana in 1999, he was senior vice-president of Bayer Diagnostics, and general manager of the U.S. commercial operations for Chiron Diagnostics.

At BIOZONA: Arizona’s Annual Bioscience Industry Conference, a select group of research-based bioscience companies from the southwestern United States will take part in the Company Showcase sessions, gaining exposure to potential strategic partners, investors or research collaborators. A poster session is planned this year as well, featuring both academic and corporate research projects.

“BIOZONA 2009 is an important opportunity for the entire bioscience community,” said Robert Eaton, President & CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association. “Whether you want to take in the information-rich sessions on business and scientific topics, browse the exhibit hall or simply network with potential partners, suppliers and clients, this conference is the place you need to be on April 7.”

The feedback on BIOZONA 2008, which took place in Tucson, was overwhelmingly positive. "My company presented in one of the Company Showcase sessions at BIOZONA 2008," said Robert A. Ashley of LiPoint, Inc. "One individual in the audience for that talk soon decided to invest a significant sum in the company, and later agreed to serve as the CEO. One presentation, two problems solved. This likely would not have happened without the opportunities presented by the BIOZONA conference." Sanjeev Kulkarni of Exponent, Inc., said, "BIOZONA 2008 was a fantastic and unique opportunity for networking and learning about the bioindustry in Arizona. I definitely want to continue to be involved with BIOZONA 2009."

More information about BIOZONA 2009, including the full program and registration information, can be found on AZBio’s web site at www.azbio.org

The Arizona BioIndustry Association is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(6) trade association that seeks to unify, empower and advance its member organizations, allowing them to benefit individually by acting collectively. AZBio strives to enhance the environment that makes Arizona a place where bioscience companies can grow and succeed. AZBio is the state affiliate in Arizona for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the preeminent trade association for the biotechnology industry in the United States.