San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2012 -- Robert Webster, Rose Marie Thomas Chair, Infectious Diseases, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital will be giving a keynote presentation entitled “H5N1 Influenza-Has the Threat Been Overblown?” at the Influenza Research and Development Conference on July 9th-10th, 2012 in San Francisco, CA by GTC.

Live poultry markets were the source of the initial human H5N1 cases in Hong Kong. The highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus has spread to over 63 countries in Eurasia and continues to evolve. Multiple clades and subclades continue to emerge in the regions where the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses have become endemic including Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The H5N1 viruses of particular concern are the clade 2.3.2.1 that has been isolated from wild birds in multiple regions of Eurasia. While the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses that arose over a decade ago in Southern China have, to date infected 597 persons and killed 351 the virus has not acquired the ability to spread consistently from human to human. There is a growing sense of complacency that since H5N1 has not achieved human to human transmissibility in over 15 years that it is unlikely to do so. It would be prudent to remember that it took H1N1 nearly 100 years (1918-2009) to achieve pandemic potential.

The key unanswered questions include:
-Is highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 (clade 2.3.2.1) being perpetuated in wild aquatic birds and changing the established paradigm.
-Will the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses acquire high transmissibility in mammals?

Highlights of the talk will include:

1) An underappreciated threat to human and animal health
2) Pandemic preparedness alert
3) Need for adjuvant use in vaccines
4) Need for continued surveillance
5) The &apospipe dream&apos of a universal vaccine

Robert G. Webster, PhD holds the Rose Marie Thomas Chair in the Department of Infectious Diseases at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he participates in the Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance and has served as an advisor to industry and government on the issues concerning vaccines, antivirals and biosafety of emerging infectious diseases including H5N1 influenza. He was intimately involved understanding the emergence and control of H5N1 in Hong Kong and the genesis of the Centers of Excellence for Influenza program. He is a member of The Royal Society of London, the National Academy of Sciences of the United States and an honorary member of The Royal Society of New Zealand.

Dr. Webster’s interests include the emergence and control of influenza viruses, viral immunology, the structure and function of influenza virus proteins and the development of new vaccines and antivirals. Together with Graeme Laver he developed one of the first subunit vaccines for influenza that is still being produced in Australia. The major focus of his research is the importance of influenza viruses in wild aquatic birds as a major reservoir of influenza viruses and their role in the evolution of new pandemic strains for humans and lower animals.

His curriculum vita contains over 600 original articles and reviews on influenza viruses. He has trained many scientists who now contribute to our understanding of the evolution and pathogenesis of influenza.

GTC’s Influenza Research & Development is a two-day conference that will be held at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront. This conference will cover various aspects of basic research in influenza including correlates of protection, the role of t-cells in influenza, immunity to influenza, antibodies, adjuvants and vaccination. Topics such as the current threat of the H5N1 virus and updates on the universal influenza vaccine will be covered by key academic researchers and leaders of the industry. Additionally, government representatives from BARDA, FDA and the USAID will discuss regulatory and government policies for vaccinations in conjunction with our 10th Vaccines Research and Development: All Things Considered Conference.

For more information, please visit Influenza Research and Development or http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-139103.htm

San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2012 -- Thomas Reynolds, Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics will give a featured presentation on “Empowering Antibodies Through Drug Conjugation – the Brentuximab Vedotin Story” at GTC’s Antibody Design and Discovery Conference (June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA)

Brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35, ADCETRIS) is a CD30-targeted ADC containing a proprietary cleavable linker and a synthetic auristatin with potent anti-tubulin properties. Phase 1 studies established 1.8 mg/kg q3 weeks as a suitable regimen for further development in CD30+ hematologic malignancies, and 2 Phase 2 pivotal studies were undertaken in relapsed/refractory HL and ALCL. The HL study demonstrated an overall response rate of 73%, with 32% complete remissions; in ALCL, the ORR was 86% with a 57% complete remission rate. These data, combined with an acceptable adverse event profile, ultimately led to accelerated approval by the FDA in August 2011.

Development of brentuximab vedotin in earlier lines of therapy and in other CD30+ malignancies is ongoing. Studies of brentuximab vedotin were recently initiated to evaluate the safety, clinical activity, and dose-response relationship with CD30 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and a large screening study to evaluate CD30 expression in myeloma, leukemias, and solid tumors.

Thomas Reynolds is the Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics. He leads clinical and regulatory activities across the company&aposs product portfolio. Dr. Reynolds has more than 15 years of biotechnology drug development experience, from preclinical development through the FDA approval process.

GTC’s Antibody Design and Discovery Conference, leading industry and academic innovators from Pfizer, Merck, The Scripps Research Institute, MedImmune, NIH, Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, and more to discuss exciting clinical trends and applications of antibodies. We’ll explore novel technologies being utilized to identify and select antibodies with better accuracy and efficiency, and learn about new optimization and developability techniques to enhance effective function. Moreover, attendees will hear directly from scientists and researchers about emerging clinical data, and its implications for the advancement of the field, including therapeutic antibodies in cancer, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.

This conference is also part of the Drug Discovery and Regulatory Summit, which consists of this track and three other tracks:
- Biospecimens and Biorepositories
- 6th Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry
- Life Science Legal and Business Strategy

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-139101.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/02/2012 -- “Transforming to an Enterprise of Cardiovascular Care through Provider System – Physician Alignment” will be presented by Marvin A. Konstam, MD, FACC at the Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference.

Part of the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit, the Conference is scheduled May 15-17, 2012 at the Meliá Atlanta. May 15th will be the pre-Summit Workshop, Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model.

Dr. Konstam will make the point that cardiac and cardiovascular departments have historically been mal-structured, with funds flow driving disjointedness and competition, rather than collaboration, among various groups of physician specialists and between physicians and hospitals. There is an opportunity for improving efficiency and quality of care through re-defining the “Cardiovascular Center” as a true division of the provider organization, centering on the “product” of care delivery to the patient with cardiovascular disease. Physician alignment is pivotal for achieving this goal, according to Dr. Konstam. In his presentation, Dr. Konstam will discuss how to achieve such results.

Other speakers at the Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference include:

Nicole Banister, Director, Regional Heart Program, Dell Children&aposs Medical Center
Diana Bruno, Principal, Una Vita
Joseph T. Butz, Vice President of Cardiac & Transplant, Sentara Healthcare
Gabrielle DeTorra, Principal and Senior Strategic Marketing Consultant, DeTorra Consulting, LLC
Sue Ellen Green, Senior Vice President, Operations, Grady Health Systems
Lauren A. Johnson, MS, RT, Cardiac Cath Lab Technical Manager, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Thomas A. Nicosia, Executive Director, Jim Moran Heart & Vascular Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Inc.
Catherine McCarver, Administrative Director, Heart Center, Duke University Hospital
Robert A. Minkin, MBA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, The Camden Group
Thomas A. Nicosia, Executive Director, Jim Moran Heart & Vascular Center, Holy Cross Hospital
Philip Regas, Executive Director, Heart & Vascular Services, Providence Medical Center
Marti Taylor, Executive Director, Ross Heart Hospital and Chief Operating Officer, Ohio State University Heart & Vascular Center
Ronald L. Vance, JD, Managing Director, Navigant Consulting, Inc.

The conference is part of the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit, which includes:
1) Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference
2) Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcinsight.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-138825.htm

Edmond Yunis to speak at Antibody Conference June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/02/2012 -- Edmond Yunis, Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Immunogenetics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will give a featured presentation on “Humoral Mechanisms and Molecular Signatures of Latent Tuberculosis Infection” at GTC’s Antibody Design and Discovery Conference (June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA)

Innate and adaptive cell-mediated immunity (CMI) play a pivotal role in the response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in experimental models and humans. Humoral immunity is involved in the protection and control of Mtb infection by specific antibodies (neutralizing toxins, promote opsonization and modulation of complement-mediated lysis). High titers of IgG anti-tuberculin antibodies and up-regulation of IL-17 mRNA are signatures of high risk LTBI. Future functional studies need to focus in the mechanisms involved in the early control of Mtb infection and the interplay with host innate and acquired immunity with microbiota to understand the pathogenesis of TB particularly the role of humoral immunity and IL?17 in latent tuberculosis; related to the proinflammatory state and generation of a broad spectrum of reactions either toward Th1 responses favoring stimulation by cytokines or by antibodies and those toward diminished responses by Th2 cytokines or blocking by antibodies; possibly involving mechanisms of antibody dependent protection from Mtb by different subclasses of IgG. Of importance, the cross?talk between Candida and Tuberculin mRNA responses need to be compared with signatures produced by other antigens(LPS and Streptococcus) to determine their importance and specificity in the pro?inflammation state of individuals of different populations and their role in immune responses; vaccinations or infectious diseases.

Dr. Yunis is presently a Professor of pathology at The Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Distinguished Physician in Medical Oncology at the department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He has received many awards, including the Rose Payne of the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in 1992, The Philip Levine of the American Association of Blood Banks, 1987, the Hispanic Scientist of the year at MOSI, Tampa, FL in 2005 among others. Moreover, Dr. Yunis has made numerous contributions in immunogenetics, immunobiology, genetic diversity, infections, autoimmune diseases, and aging.

GTC’s Antibody Design and Discovery Conference, leading industry and academic innovators from Pfizer, Merck, The Scripps Research Institute, MedImmune, NIH, Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, and more to discuss exciting clinical trends and applications of antibodies. We’ll explore novel technologies being utilized to identify and select antibodies with better accuracy and efficiency, and learn about new optimization and developability techniques to enhance effective function. Moreover, attendees will hear directly from scientists and researchers about emerging clinical data, and its implications for the advancement of the field, including therapeutic antibodies in cancer, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.

This conference is also part of the Drug Discovery and Regulatory Summit, which consists of this track and three other tracks:
- Biospecimens and Biorepositories
- 6th Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry
- Life Science Legal and Business Strategy

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-138800.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/01/2012 -- Berthold Huppertz, Professor of Cell Biology at Medical University of Graz and Director and CEO at Biobank Graz will give a presentation on “Biobank Graz: Increasing Sample Quality via Automation from Collection to Storage” at GTC’s Biospecimens and Biorepositories Conference (June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA)

Dr. Huppertz contends that once a biological specimen has been retrieved from a donor, the quality of this sample can only get worse. In general, a biobank cannot control for the pre-acquisition variables such as medication or intra-surgical parameters. However, most of the post-acquisition variables are under the control of the biobank, especially control of temperature. Hence, the Biobank Graz is focusing on how to optimize handling of samples in terms of temperature control from liquid handling to storage and retrieval. Through this presentation, Dr. Huppertz will guide through automation steps and actions and will show examples how to keep the quality of samples high. He will discuss post-acquisition variables a biobanks encounter, how to improve collection of blood samples at any time point, how to improve storage logistics of large sample collections, and how to improve temperature stability of frozen samples.

The Biospecimens and Biorepositories Conference is designed to bring leading industry, academic, and government experts from Merck, the College of American Pathologists, NCI/ NIH, OBBR, USCF, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center and more to discuss developing trends and innovations in biobanking.

Delegates will receive guidance and updates on regulatory and ethical considerations, including an investigation into international regulations and the ethics of using pediatric biospecimens. We’ll also explore novel strategies and techniques in biospecimen science, such as bioinformatics, and sample standardization and quality control, to increase biospecimen viability. Moreover, attendees will hear directly from scientists and researchers about emerging uses in personalized medicine and disease study.

This conference is also part of the Drug Discovery and Regulatory Summit, which consists of this track and three other tracks:
- Antibody Design and Discovery
- 6th Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry
- Life Science Legal and Business Strategy

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-138611.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/01/2012 -- Rade Drmanac, Chief Scientific Officer of Complete Genomics will be giving a featured presentation entitled “Large-scale Accurate Whole Genome Sequencing to Enable Genomic Medicine” at the 2nd Next Generation Sequencing Conference on May 29-31st in Boston, MA.

Whole genome sequencing is a revolutionary technology poised to change the way healthcare is managed. WGS provides a powerful method for identifying all genetic variants involved in diseases and other phenotypes. Yet, it can be challenging for researchers to discriminate causal variant(s) from the millions of other contextually interdependent sequence changes. Even so, as a clinical tool, WGS is providing a new strategy for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of multitudes of diseases including all cancers.

There are many potential uses for whole human genome data in translational medicine and the clinic, especially as more genomes are sequenced; 30,000 genomes are expected to be sequenced this year. Some clinicians have begun to utilize the power of whole genome data to identify and treat undiagnosed diseases and refractory cancers. Sequencing results from WGS projects will be summarized from real-life disease studies.

Benefits of this talk will include:
- Gaining further understanding of how whole genome sequencing is being use to better understand both germline and somatic mutations involved in disease
- Identifying how genetic information can be used as a strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions
- Reviewing results from real-life genomic medicine examples
- Preparing to tackle some of the obstacles faced with using whole genome sequencing as a tool for genomic medicine

Radoje Drmanac, Ph.D., is co-founder of Complete Genomics and has served as its Chief Scientific Officer since July 2005. He is one of the founders of human genomics and worked in this field for over 25 years. In 2001, Dr. Drmanac co-founded Callida Genomics, Inc., a genomic technology company, and served as Callida’s Chief Scientific Officer from 2001 to 2004 and has served as its President since 2004. In 1994, Dr. Drmanac co-founded Hyseq, Inc., a DNA array and gene discovery company that became Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and later merged with Variagenics, Inc. to become Nuvelo, Inc. Rade served as its Senior Vice President of Research from 1994 to 1998 and as its Chief Scientific Officer from 1998 to 2001. Prior to that, Dr. Drmanac served as a group leader at Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Drmanac received a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. (1988) in Molecular Biology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.

For more information, please visit 2nd Next Generation Sequencing Conference or http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-138610.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/18/2012 -- GTC’s Life Science Legal & Business Strategy Conference is the only biotech regulatory conference on the west coast. Providing executive level insight into the legal issues of greatest concern in today’s business environment, the conference also offers in depth knowledge and perspectives into the latest regulatory changes and how to develop plans to protect your organization and its products as well as prepare for opportunities that may only exist for a limited time.

MCLE Credit of 11.5 hours approved by the California State Bar.

The law firm of Mayer Brown is sponsoring this timely conference and will offer the event’s opening presentation. Mayer Brown was recently named as a 2012 finalist for the prestigious “Litigation Department of the Year” by The American Lawyer magazine.

Topics to be discussed during the Conference include:
- America Invents Act
- FDA regulation and enforcement
- User fee legislation
- Outsourcing drug development
- Satisfying safety reporting standards
- Ensuring clinical trial compliance
- Hatch-Waxman legislation
- Trade secret protections
- Pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting
- Advertising regulations impacting biotech
- Social media standards
-Intellectual property protection
- Compliance standards of non-FDA agencies
- False Claims Act

About GTC
Specializing in the healthcare industries, GTC develops independent events bringing together executive level professionals to acquire the latest industry data while networking and building important business relationships. You may visit GTC at http://www.gtcinsight.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-136649.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/16/2012 -- Barry A. Morgan, Vice President of Molecular Discovery Research, Site Head in Boston at GlaxoSmithKline to give a Keynote Presentation on “DNA Encoded Libraries: A Disruptive Technology for Lead Discovery” at the 6th Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry Conference (June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA)

Encoded Library Technology (ELT) is a novel approach to lead discovery based upon the creation of large (our biggest library has over a trillion components!) encoded libraries of novel, drug-like structures that can be rapidly interrogated to identify families of compounds with affinity for a macromolecular target. The utility of libraries assembled by combinatorial chemistry to molecular discovery has been constrained due to deconvolution limitations: ELT addresses this issue by encoding each molecule with a covalently attached DNA sequence. The resulting libraries are screened by “selection” on the basis of affinity, any “hits” identified by high capacity DNA sequencing, and the corresponding organic structures synthesized and tested in biochemical assays.

Studies with these libraries against a variety of drug targets, yielding families of “hit” molecules that inhibit the function of these targets with single good potency and selectivity will be described. Aspects of experiences at GSK of four years of applying ELT to molecular discovery, including comparisons and contrasts with other diversity screening approaches will be reviewed.

GTC is proud to present the 6th Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Conference held on June 7-8, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA, which will bring together leading industrial and academic experts to further collaborate on the exciting advances in the field. Experts will facilitate discourse on topics such as strategies for hit and target identification, fragment based drug design, chemoinformatics, protein-protein interactions, ligand based drug design, computer aided drug design, protein flexibility, high performance computing, covalent inhibitors, mutational resistance, selectivity of kinase inhibitors, potency, specificity, lead optimization, ADMET, safety in drug discovery, advances in drug delivery and much more.

The sessions for the 2012 agenda include:
- Druggability, Chemical Tractability, Druglikeness, Leadlikeness
- Druggability, Chemical Tractability, Druglikeness, Leadlikeness
- Optimization Strategies
- Advances in Drug Design & Delivery
- Trends & Challenges in Drug Discovery.

The top companies and experts in the field of Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry will come together to discuss the latest discoveries. Companies include ArQule, Array BioPharma, Astex Therapeutics, OSI Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Bayer, Genentech, Hoffmann-La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, and much more!

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:

Barry A. Morgan, Vice President, Molecular Discovery Research, Site Head in Boston, GlaxoSmithKline

Alexander Hillisch, Director, Medicinal Chemistry & Head, Computational Chemistry, Bayer

Francesca Milleti, Head, Cheminformatics & Statistics, Hoffmann-La Roche

Stephen Burley, Distinguished Lilly Research Scholar, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly

This conference is part of the Drug Discovery and Regulatory Summit, which consists of three other conferences:
- Antibody Design and Discovery
- Biospecimen Repositories
- Life Science Legal & Business Strategy

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-136406.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/16/2012 -- G. Steven Burill, CEO, Burill &Co. will be giving a plenary keynote presentation entitled “Innovating in the New Austerity: What’s Really Happening and Why Creative Dealmaking is Essential” at the Genome-wide Partnering & Deal-making conference (May 30-31, 2012 in Boston, MA)

Pharmaceutical R&D spending is falling, the demand for innovation is increasing, and the traditional business model for the industry is failing. What does innovation look like today in the new austerity and what will it take to be successful? What’s required is creativity in raising money, making deals, and forging new business models. Burrill brings his 45 years of successful dealmaking, company building, and investing to this discussion.

G. Steven Burrill has been involved in the growth and prosperity of the biotechnology industry for over 40 years. An early pioneer, Mr. Burrill is one of the original architects of the industry and one of its most avid and sustained developers. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of AliveCor, Catalyst Biosciences, Depomed (NASDAQ: DEPO), NewBridge, Novadaq (TSX: NDQ), Proventys, Targacept (NASDAQ: TRGT) and XDx. Previously he served as Chairman of the Boards of BioImagene, Abunda Nutrition and Pharmasset. Prior to founding Burrill & Company in 1994, he spent 28 years with Ernst & Young, directing and coordinating the firm&aposs services to clients in the biotechnology/life sciences/high technology/manufacturing industries worldwide.

The Genome-wide Partnering & Deal-making Conference is a forum for pharmaceutical, diagnostics, technology and healthcare companies to discuss investments and partnerships in the genomic field. Topics of discussion are companion diagnostics and partnering for personalized medicine, regulatory and reimbursement issues and the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of human genome sequencing.

The conference is part of the Omics Evolution Summit, which includes 6 co-located conferences. Register for the entire summit and have access to the all of the following conferences:

2nd Genomic & Proteomic Drug Discovery Conference
2nd Epigenetics in Drug Discovery Conference
7th Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery Conference
3rd RNAi Research and Development Conference
2nd Next Generation Sequencing

Sign up for the pre-summit workshop on Clinical Sequencing on May 29th. This interactive workshop is dedicated to discussing emerging technologies, current and future trends of clinical sequencing, and the implementation of next generation sequencing in a CLIA environment.

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-136405.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/16/2012 -- Alexander Hillisch, Director of Medicinal Chemistry & Head of Computational Chemistry at Bayer to give a Featured Presentation on “Ligand and Structure-based ADMET Prediction: Tools and Applications in Lead Finding and Optimization” at the 6th Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry Conference (June 7-8, 2012 in San Diego, CA)

The number of solved X-ray structures of proteins relevant for ADMET processes of drug molecules has increased remarkably over recent years. In principle, this development offers the possibility to complement the quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR)-dominated repertoire of in silico ADMET methods with protein-structure-based approaches. However, the complex nature and the weak nonspecific ligand-binding properties of ADMET proteins take structural biology methods and current docking programs to the limit.

In this talk, Dr. Hillisch will discuss the utility of protein-structure-based design and docking approaches aimed at overcoming issues related to plasma protein binding, active transport via P-glycoprotein, hERG channel mediated cardiotoxicity and cytochrome P450 inhibition, metabolism and induction. The presentation will compare QSPR approaches with protein-structure based ADMET prediction and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches.

GTC is proud to present the 6th Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Conference held on June 7-8, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA, which will bring together leading industrial and academic experts to further collaborate on the exciting advances in the field. Experts will facilitate discourse on topics such as strategies for hit and target identification, fragment based drug design, chemoinformatics, protein-protein interactions, ligand based drug design, computer aided drug design, protein flexibility, high performance computing, covalent inhibitors, mutational resistance, selectivity of kinase inhibitors, potency, specificity, lead optimization, ADMET, safety in drug discovery, advances in drug delivery and much more.

The sessions for the 2012 agenda include 1). Druggability, Chemical Tractability, Druglikeness, Leadlikeness 2). Optimization Strategies 3). Advances in Drug Design & Delivery 4). Trends & Challenges in Drug Discovery.

The top companies and experts in the field of Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry will come together to discuss the latest discoveries. Companies include ArQule, Array BioPharma, Astex Therapeutics, OSI Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Bayer, Genentech, Hoffmann-La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, and much more!

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:

Barry A. Morgan, Vice President, Molecular Discovery Research, Site Head in Boston, GlaxoSmithKline

Alexander Hillisch, Director, Medicinal Chemistry & Head, Computational Chemistry, Bayer

Francesca Milleti, Head, Cheminformatics & Statistics, Hoffmann-La Roche

Stephen Burley, Distinguished Lilly Research Scholar, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly

This conference is part of the Drug Discovery and Regulatory Summit, which consists of three other conferences:

- Antibody Design and Discovery
- Biospecimen Repositories
- Life Science Legal & Business Strategy

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-136404.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2012 -- The first diabetes conference focusing on the unique business and administrative challenges of providing disease specific healthcare services has been announced by producer, GTC. The Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference is scheduled May 15-17, 2012 at the Meliá Atlanta hotel.

The Conference kicks off with a keynote address from The Joint Commission on the topic, Accreditation Standards for Disease Specific Certification. Preceding the main Conference, the pre-Summit Workshop “Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model” is a special half-day event on May 15th.

“After speaking with several executives at diabetes departments and centers,” said James Liu, president of GTC, “a clear message we received was the real need for a conference focusing on leadership issues from a case study approach presented by diabetes [healthcare provider] leaders. There is no other forum focusing on the business needs of a diabetes center and there is a need for executives to hear directly from their colleagues which administrative approaches have been successful.”

Confirmed speakers at the Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference include:

- John L. Brooks III, President and Chief Executive Officer, Joslin Diabetes Center
- Manisha Chandalia, MD, Director, Stark Diabetes Center, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Les Jebson, Executive Director, The University of Florida Diabetes Center of Excellence
- Gail Nunlee-Bland, Director and Chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes Treatment Center, Howard University Hospital
- Beth Pfeffer, RN, BSN, CDE, Director Diabetes Services, The Nebraska Medical Center
- Marian Rewers, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics & Medicine, Clinical Director, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- Abby Schwartz, RN BSN MBA, Director of Nursing for Business Development, Mount Sinai Hospital
- Linda M. Siminerio, PhD, Executive Director, University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute

The Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference is part of the larger, Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit that also includes the tracks, Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference and Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference. This unique event provides exceptional learning and networking opportunities.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-135948.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2012 -- The Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference will be held May 15-17, 2011 at the Meliá Atlanta hotel, conference producer GTC has announced.

Uniquely focused on the business and administrative challenges of leading a center or hospital cardiac care department, the Conference will include a series of case studies from healthcare executives.

Speakers offering insight into successful strategies and tactics include a wide spectrum of organizations ranging from academic university hospitals, independent systems and children’s care facilities. By bringing together representatives of a range of institutions, attendees will benefit by hearing all viewpoints including many they likely had not previous considered.

The Joint Commission kicks off the event with a keynote address, Accreditation Standards for Disease Specific Certification. Preceding the main Conference, the pre-Summit Workshop “Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model” is a special half-day event on May 15th.

The dynamic nature of today’s healthcare business environment requires provider leadership to continuously seek innovative means to deliver healthcare the most efficient, cost effective and quality driven means possible. The Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference brings leaders in innovation together in a single forum.

Institutions represented on the program include:
- Dell Children’s Medical Center
- Duke University Hospital
- Grady Health Systems
- Holy Cross Hospital, Inc.
- Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
- Ohio State University Heart & Vascular Center
- Providence Medical Center
- Tufts Medical Center
- Sentara Healthcare

The Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference is part of the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit. Other tracks at the Summit include Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference and Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference. The event offers unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-135947.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2012 -- The Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference will be held May 15-17, 2012 in the Meliá Atlanta hotel, conference producer GTC has confirmed.

“We are pleased to offer business and administrative leaders at hospital departments, university centers and independent cancer care providers the opportunity to learn from and interact with their peers,” said GTC president, James Liu. “Our advisors for this Conference have stressed the importance of focusing on the business issues unique to cancer centers and examining what tactics have proven to be successful. We felt inviting leadership from a range of [cancer care] providers to offer case-study presentations is the best way to accomplish this effort.”

The Joint Commission leads off the Conference with a keynote presentation, Accreditation Standards for Disease Specific Certification. Preceding the main Conference, the pre-Summit Workshop “Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model” is a special half-day event on May 15th.

Confirmed speakers, in addition to The Joint Commission, include:
- DelRia Baisden, Vice President, Southeast Georgia Health System
- Thomas D. Brown, MD, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona
- Ira S. Goodman, Associate Director for Administration, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
- Barbara Grillo, Vice President, Oncology, Maine Medical Center
- John E. Hennessy, Executive Director, CCP, Kansas City Cancer Center/University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Cory W. Jones, MBA, Administrative Director Oncology Clinical Program, Intermountain Healthcare
- Adriene Kinnaird, Executive Director of Cardiac and Cancer Services, Grady Health Systems
- Mark Witte, Executive Director, TriHealth Cancer Institute

The Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference is part of the larger, Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit. Additional tracks at the Summit include, Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference and Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-135945.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/26/2012 -- M. J. Hampel, MPH, MBA, Senior Associate Director, Disease Specific Certification, The Joint Commission will serve as a keynote speaker at the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit.

The Summit is scheduled May 15-17, 2012 at the Meliá Atlanta hotel.

“We are pleased to welcome The Joint Commission to the program,” said James Liu, President of GTC. “Organizations such as The Joint Commission provide Summit attendees important inside knowledge into what is needed to ensure their organizations will be unquestionably recognized as leaders in providing healthcare services. Ms. Hampel will be a wonderful addition to our many case studies already included in the agenda.”

Broken into three conference tracks, the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit includes Cardiac Centers; Cancer Centers and Diabetes Centers programs. Ms. Hampel’s address will be during the joint plenary session including all audiences. Each track has its own unique program agenda following the plenary session.

Uniquely focused on the business and administrative aspects of leading a healthcare center, the Summit serves as a gathering center for executives, administrative directors, physician executives and department directors allowing them to gain the latest business insight and build important peer-to-peer working relationships.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-132874.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/21/2012 -- Next-generation sequencing is undergoing accelerating translation into the clinical realm and is transforming the research sequencing landscape. Several clinical diagnostic tests are available that employ next-generation sequencing and many companies/laboratories have announced launch dates and development plans for additional tests. Some of these products afford improvements on existing themes by harnessing the capacity of next-generation sequencers to increase clinical sensitivity by analyzing disease loci more comprehensively than previously possible. Other products exploit unique characteristics of next-generation sequencing methods to enable entirely new diagnostic assays. These technologies have enabled a plethora of new discoveries by allowing us to answer questions more cost-effectively than in past and ask questions that were impossible to address by capillary electrophoresis sequencing or high density chip platforms.

The Clinical Sequencing Workshop, being held on May 29th, 2012 at the Hyatt Harborside in Boston, MA, is a half-day pre-conference workshop to the Omics Evolution Summit. The workshop will present an overview of these product categories focusing upon product profiles and technical underpinnings as well as discuss from a user’s perspective the many issues of the implementation of Next-Generation Sequencing into the clinical space.

Attendees will have a chance to discuss with presenters the issues of clinical sequencing as well as experiencing firsthand available sequencing technology and analytic tools for clinical research and data. Topics that will be covered:

- Emerging Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies and its Clinical Applications
- The Implementation of Next-Generation Sequencing in a CLIA Laboratory - Issues and Challenges
- Translation of Next-Generation Sequencing from Research Applications to a Standardized Lab Developed Test in a CLIA Environment
- Measuring and Ensuring Quality in Next-Generation Sequencing

This workshop is part of the Omics Evolution Summit which consists of six concurrent conferences:

2nd Next Generation Sequencing
2nd Genomic & Proteomic Drug Discovery
Genome-wide Partnering and Deal-making
2nd Epigenetics in Drug Discovery
3rd RNAi Research and Development
7th Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-132051.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/21/2012 -- Richard Lewis, Principal Scientist, Amgen to give a Presentation on “The Discovery & Optimisation of a Novel Class of Potent, Selective and Orally Bioavailable Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Inhibitors with Potential Utility for the Treatment of Cancer” at the 7th Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery Conference (May 30-31, 2012 in Boston, MA)

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is an attractive therapeutic target in Oncology. Cytogenetic translocations and inversions are known to lead to the generation of novel fusion-ALK proteins which have constitutive kinase activity, and contribute to the oncogenic process. The best validated of these fusion proteins include nucleophosmin –ALK (NPM-ALK) which has been characterized in a subset of anaplastic large-cell lymphomas, and a fusion of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 with ALK (EML4-ALK) which is a driving oncogene in a subset of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). The optimization of a novel screening hit to generate potent, kinase selective, and orally bioavailable candidates suitable for clinical development as second generation ALK inhibitors will be described.

Dr. Lewis will disclose a new class of ALK inhibitor, discuss building in kinase selectivity, provide an in-vitro strategy for building in-vivo potency, and address mechanisms of resistance at the 7th Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery Conference in Boston, MA, to be held on May 30-31, 2012. Topics to be discussed at the event include:

Overcoming Challenges in Kinase Drug Development
Trends in Drug Design – Structure/Selectivity/Pathway/Epigenetics
Oncology Kinases & Inhibitor Candidates
Other Kinases & Inhibitor Candidates

Top companies and experts in the field of Protein Kinases will come together to discuss their latest discoveries. Companies participating include ArQule, Avila, Beactica AB, Amgen, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, Merck and more!

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:

Michael Yaffe, Professor, Biology & Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nathanael Gray, Principal Investigator, Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Craig C Mello, Nobel Laureate & Distinguished Professor, Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School; HHMI

George Church, Professor, Genetics; Director, Center for Computational Genetics, Harvard Medical School

Steven Burrill, Chief Executive Officer, Burrill & Company

This 7th Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery conference is part of the Omics Evolution Summit which consists of five other conferences:

2nd Genomic & Proteomic Drug Discovery
2nd Next Generation Sequencing
Genome-wide Partnering and Dealmaking
2nd Epigentics in Drug Discovery
3rd RNAi Research and Development

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-132041.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/21/2012 -- GTC is proud to announce the Pre-Summit Workshop, “Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model.” The workshop to be held on May 15th, 2012 will directly precede the Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit at the Meliá Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

The Healthcare Centers of Excellence Pre-Summit Workshop combines classroom style instruction with case studies in a highly interactive setting. The Workshop provides attendees the tools and inside knowledge to develop a comprehensive strategy empowering their healthcare provider facility to reach its highest potential in a dynamic business environment.

Topics in the Workshop agenda include:
- Efficient patient turnover to maximize volumes
- Inspired employees who are powerfully engaged in the hospital’s or department’s success
- A crafted patient experience for the unique needs of the local customer population
- Lean business systems that slash wasteful and unproductive spending
- Revenue tracking models encompassing each patient’s comprehensive treatment, including multiple departments and facilities

Workshop speakers include Diana Bruno, Principal, Una Vita; Vivian Knight, Risk Manger, Patient Safety Officer, Patient Navigator, Baptist Health South Florida and Marc-David Munk, MD, MPH, Executive Medical Director for Quality and Patient Safety, University of New Mexico Public Hospitals.

The Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit includes three concurrent tracks, Cardiac Centers of Excellence, Cancer Centers of Excellence and Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conferences. Attendees may choose to register for a single track or the Summit as a whole and attend portions of each track in addition to attending the Workshop.

About GTC
Specializing in the healthcare industries, GTC develops independent events bringing together executive level professionals to acquire the latest industry data while networking and building important business relationships. You may visit GTC at http://www.gtcinsight.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-132040.htm

VP at Boehringer Ingelheim to speak at Diabetes Summit, April 19-20, Boston

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2012 -- Hans-Juergen Woerle, MD, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Vice President and Head of Therapeutic Area Metabolism at Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany, will be giving a plenary keynote presentation entitled “Diabetes Drug Development in Light of the New FDA CV Guidance: Experience from the Recent Linagliptin Registration” at the 2nd Diabetes Summit to be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA by GTC.

Dr. Woerle’s presentation will provide a brief outline of the FDA CV guidance regarding required evidence for CV safety of new drugs seeking approval for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. He will provide a brief retrospective look at the CV safety data contained in the submission package of rosiglitazone in light of the controvery related to this compound. Examples on how excess CV risk was ruled out for some compounds recently approved (saxagliptin, liraglutide) will also be given.Finally, experiences related to registration of linagliptin with respect to the regulatory CV safety requirements, including a perspective on the recently introduced paradigm shift in choise of comparator for required large outcome/safety trials in type 2 diabetes mellitus, will be presented.

In his current role, Dr. Woerle is responsible for the global development of compounds from Phase I-IV, primarily within the field of diabetes. Moreover, he is also the head of the Global Medical Affairs team, and is a member of the Collaboration Leadership Team for the Diabetes Alliance, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly. Dr. Woerle joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 2007, as the Associate Therapeutic Head of Metabolism. Dr. Woerle is also a lecturer of internal medicine at the University of Ulm, Germany, and besides that is a specialist in Diabetes and Endocrinology.

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more.

This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-130276.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2012 -- Ralph A. DeFronzo, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Diabetes Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas), will be giving a presentation entitled “Treatment of T2DM Should be Based on Established Pathophysiologic Abnormalities” at the 2nd Diabetes Summit to be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA by GTC.

Dr. DeFronzo is a graduate of Yale University (BS) and Harvard Medical School (MD) and did his training in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He completed fellowships in endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health and Baltimore City Hospitals and in Nephrology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, he joined the faculty at the Yale University School of Medicine (1975-88) as an Assistant/Associate Professor. From 1988 to present Dr. DeFronzo has been Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Diabetes Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He also serves as the Deputy Director of the Texas Diabetes Institute.

His major interests focus on the pathogenesis and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the central role of insulin resistance in the metabolic-cardiovascular cluster of disorders known collectively as the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique in combination with radioisotope turnover methodology, limb catheterization, indirect calorimetry, and muscle biopsy, he has helped to define the biochemical and molecular disturbances responsible for insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

For his work in this area, Dr. DeFronzo received the prestigious Lilly Award (1987) by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Banting Lectureship (1988) by the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Novartis Award (2003) for outstanding clinical investigation world wide and many other national and international awards. He also is the recipient of the ADA’s Albert Renold Award (2002) for lifetime commitment to the training of young diabetes investigators. Dr. DeFronzo received the Banting Award from the ADA (2008) and the Claude Bernard Award from the EASD (2008). These represent the highest scientific achievement awards given by the American and European Diabetes Associations, respectively. In 2008 Dr. DeFronzo also received the Italian Diabetes Mentor Prize and the Philip Bondy Lecture at Yale. With more than 550 articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals, Dr. DeFronzo is a distinguished clinician, teacher, and investigator who has been an invited speaker at major national and international conferences on diabetes mellitus.

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more. This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-130275.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2012 -- Peter T. Lomedico, Director of Industry Partnerships, Cure Therapies at Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF] will participate in the panel discussion called “Partnering with Non-Profits” at the 2nd Diabetes Summit to be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA by GTC.

Other panelists in the panel discussion include James Lenhard at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson and Dennis Urbaniak at Sanofi-Aventis. Together they will hold a lively discussion on the expectations in partnering with a foundation, how to form a partnership, the benefits of partnering with a foundation and much more.

JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is now the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF research is to improve the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share this goal. Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research.

JDRF seeks to create partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics and devices for type 1 diabetes.

JDRF particularly encourages partnerships: (a) to translate early-stage academic and industry research discoveries with the goal of identifying more advanced therapeutic candidates, (b) to conduct testing of therapeutic candidates in relevant animal models or in people, and (c) to work closely with private and public capital allocators to leverage funds and source opportunities in our strategic areas. Partnerships are focused on creating opportunities for JDRF to foster long-term collaborative relationships with industry, taking promising research through discovery and development, and toward commercialization.

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more.

This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-130272.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2012 -- Andrew Merron Ph.D., Biosimilars Advisory Service Product Director at BioTrends (a Decision Resources Company), will be giving a featured presentation entitled “Biosimilar Opportunity within the Insulin Market” at the 2nd Diabetes Summit to be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA by GTC.

Dr. Merron’s presentation will forecast the commercial future of insulin biosimilars across the seven major pharmaceutical markets based on survey responses of 77 endocrinologists in the United States, France, and Germany as well as the current trends in sales for branded insulins.

Benefits of the presentation:
- Learn about the current regulatory requirements for approval of biosimilar versions of insulin
- Understand current endocrinologist awareness and perceptions of biosimilar versions of insulin
- Realize what clinical trial burden endocrinologists expect for biosimilar insulins
- See the forecasted market potential for biosimilar insulins

Prior to managing the Biosimilars Advisory Service, Dr. Merron was a senior analyst in the oncology department at Decision Resources. Dr. Merron has extensive experience in forecasting oncology and hematology-oncology drug markets. Dr. Merron also has considerable experience in conducting primary research with physicians and payers across the major pharmaceutical markets. Through his analyses, Dr. Merron identifies key market findings and highlights their strategic importance. Prior to joining Decision Resources, Dr. Merron received his B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Bath and his Ph.D. in molecular oncology from the University of London. His doctorate focused on in vivo molecular imaging of cancer gene therapies, specifically oncolytic adenoviruses.

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more. This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-130271.htm

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF] to speak at Diabetes Summit, April 19-20, 2012 Boston

Boston, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/06/2012 -- Peter T. Lomedico, Director of Industry Partnerships, Cure Therapies at Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF] will participate in the panel discussion called “Partnering with Non-Profits” at the 2nd Diabetes Summit to be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA by GTC.

Other panelists in the panel discussion include James Lenhard at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson and Dennis Urbaniak at Sanofi-Aventis. Together they will hold a lively discussion on the expectations in partnering with a foundation, how to form a partnership, the benefits of partnering with a foundation and much more.

JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is now the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF research is to improve the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share this goal. Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research.

JDRF seeks to create partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics and devices for type 1 diabetes.

JDRF particularly encourages partnerships: (a) to translate early-stage academic and industry research discoveries with the goal of identifying more advanced therapeutic candidates, (b) to conduct testing of therapeutic candidates in relevant animal models or in people, and (c) to work closely with private and public capital allocators to leverage funds and source opportunities in our strategic areas.

Partnerships are focused on creating opportunities for JDRF to foster long-term collaborative relationships with industry, taking promising research through discovery and development, and toward commercialization.

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more.

This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com
Event Website:
http://www.gtcbio.com/component/conference/?file=home&cn=Diabetes+Summit&cid=20

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-129139.htm

VPs and Directors of Big Pharmas to speak at Diabetes Summit, April 2012 Boston

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/06/2012 -- Vice Presidents and Directors of Big Pharmas – Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and many more will speak at the 2nd Diabetes Summit (April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA).

The Big Pharma executives will come together to meet and collaborate with various biotech companies, other pharmaceutical companies, venture capitalists, investors, non-profits, academia, government affiliates, etc. Their discussions will focus on key issues and trends in the field of diabetes as well as winning strategies in partnering, licensing and deal-making.

Benefits of the discussions:
1. Meet with key representatives and high level Big Pharma executives in the field of diabetes
2. Learn about current partnering opportunities, funding opportunities, the diabetes regulatory environment
3. Hear from several up and coming diabetes companies about their pipeline, new therapeutic targets, novel technologies and partnering availabilities
4. Hear from Big Pharma on their partnering trends, winning licensing strategies, and recent deals
5. Participate in lively discussions about partnering opportunities with Big Pharma, academia and non-profits such as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF]

With more than 400 drug candidates for diabetes in active development and in light of the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to assess cardiovascular risk in clinical trials, the burden to develop novel drugs is greater and the barrier for success has become higher than ever. What will be the next block-buster drug target for T1DM and T2DM? How does the recent FDA guidance affect our approach to develop new medications for diabetes? How do different size companies adapt the best strategy to be competitive in this field?

Come and join other diabetes experts at GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit and hear key thought-leader&aposs opinions to these questions and many more. This important meeting will be held on April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA. The conference will bring together the leading experts on diabetes from both industry and academia to discuss novel targets for diabetes, lessons to learn from current clinical drug development, and business strategies and opportunities under the current regulatory landscape.

The 2nd Diabetes Summit will consist of 2 tracks:

5th Diabetes Drug Discovery and Development
2nd Diabetes Partnering & Deal Making

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com
Event Website:
http://www.gtcbio.com/component/conference/?file=home&cn=Diabetes+Summit&cid=20

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-129137.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/27/2012 -- Brock Reeve, Executive Director, Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute to give a Featured Presentation on “The Latest From The Lab” at the 8th Stem Cell Summit (April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA)

The Latest From The Lab

In the current environment, the commercial sector is increasingly dependent on interactions with academia for new ideas and the latest science, especially in a field where the knowledge base is literally growing at an exponential rate. This talk will highlight some of the more recent findings in the field of stem cell science that are coming out of the leading labs of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Examples of stem cells in their uses as tools, as targets and as therapies will be discussed as well as examples of what we have learned as a result of knowing more about biology and disease. The implications of these findings for the clinic and the market will be highlighted.

The 8th Stem Cell Summit includes two concurrent tracks including a couple joint sessions. This summit provides cutting-edge information on developments in all areas of stem cell research including the biology, medicine, applications, regulations, and the business of Stem Cells.

Recent developments in pre-clinical and clinical trials of stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, cancer stem cells, stem cell reprogramming, and regulatory policies regarding stem cell research will be addressed.

In addition, focuses on the business opportunities, challenges and potential strategies for overcoming these challenges will be addressed. What categories of companies are currently commercially viable? How are they being funded? What kind of strategic relationships are available within the industry?

Session Topics for each track are shown below:

Track 1: Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Advances in Stem Cell Research
-Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
-Overcoming Challenges in Clinical Development
-Bringing Research to Drug Discovery

Track 2: Stem Cell Commercialization & Partnering:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Technologies in Stem Cell Research
-Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Panel Discussion: Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market
-Panel Discussion: Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:
Glen Prestwich, Presidential Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah
Douglas Losordo, Vice President, Medical Director, New Therapies, Baxter
Leanna Caron, Vice President, Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Genzyme
Devyn Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Neusentis Research Unit, Pfizer
Sridaran Natesan, Scientific Site Head & Head, External Innovation & Partnering, Sanofi-Aventis
Brock Reeve, Executive Director, Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Tiina Palomäki, SWP and CPWP, EMA, & Finnish Medicines Agency
Gregory Bonfiglio, Managing Partner, Proteus Venture Partners

The Stem Cell Summit will also be running concurrently with GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit.

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-128620.htm

Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/27/2012 -- Tiina Palomäki, Safety Working Party & Cell Products Working Party, European Medicines Agency & Finnish Medicines Agency to give a Featured Presentation on “Regulatory Requirements for Stem Cell-based Medicinal Products in the EU” at the 8th Stem Cell Summit (April 19-20, 2012 in Boston, MA)

Regulatory Requirements for Stem Cell-based Medicinal Products in the EU

Stem cells hold the promise as a source of cells for therapeutic applications in various conditions, including metabolic, degenerative and inflammatory diseases, for the repair and regeneration of damaged or lost tissues and also in the treatment of cancer. The two principal characteristics that define stem cells, i.e. capacity to self-renew and differentiate make stem cells attractive and promising source for cellular replacement therapies. However, the same characteristics can be seen as the primary cause of additional risks of tumourigenicity as well as of unintended differentiation at ectopic locations. Safe therapeutic application of stem cells necessitates understanding the possible risks. Stem cells represent a spectrum of different cell-based products with varying amount of scientific data and clinical experience. Similarly, perceived risks associated with different types of stem cells are not the same.

In the EU, the regulatory framework for development of stem cell-based medicinal products is laid down in the legislation and in the guidelines. Existing EU guidance on cell based medicinal products lays down general outlines that are applicable to all cell based-medicinal products including stem cells. In addition, stem cell-associated additional safety concerns are covered in the recent Reflection paper on stem cell based medicinal products which highlights the potential and theoretical safety concerns based on the current scientific understanding, as well as the technical and methodological challenges related to non-clinical and clinical development of stem cell based products.

The 8th Stem Cell Summit includes two concurrent tracks including a couple joint sessions. This summit provides cutting-edge information on developments in all areas of stem cell research including the biology, medicine, applications, regulations, and the business of Stem Cells.

Recent developments in pre-clinical and clinical trials of stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, cancer stem cells, stem cell reprogramming, and regulatory policies regarding stem cell research will be addressed.

In addition, focuses on the business opportunities, challenges and potential strategies for overcoming these challenges will be addressed. What categories of companies are currently commercially viable? How are they being funded? What kind of strategic relationships are available within the industry?

Session Topics for each track are shown below:

Track 1: Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Advances in Stem Cell Research
-Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
-Overcoming Challenges in Clinical Development
-Bringing Research to Drug Discovery

Track 2: Stem Cell Commercialization & Partnering:
-Funding Opportunities (Joint Session)
-Regulatory Guidance & Updates (Joint Session)
-Novel Technologies in Stem Cell Research
-Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Panel Discussion: Partnerships & Acquisitions
-Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market
-Panel Discussion: Commercialization: Bringing Drug to Market

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:
Glen Prestwich, Presidential Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah
Douglas Losordo, Vice President, Medical Director, New Therapies, Baxter
Leanna Caron, Vice President, Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Genzyme
Devyn Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Neusentis Research Unit, Pfizer
Sridaran Natesan, Scientific Site Head & Head, External Innovation & Partnering, Sanofi-Aventis
Brock Reeve, Executive Director, Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Tiina Palomäki, SWP and CPWP, EMA, & Finnish Medicines Agency
Gregory Bonfiglio, Managing Partner, Proteus Venture Partners

The Stem Cell Summit will also be running concurrently with GTC’s 2nd Diabetes Summit.

For more information, please visit http://www.gtcbio.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-128621.htm