BioCentury Editor Dr. Karen Bernstein Added To The Roster of National Speakers For The BioWest 2007 Conference and Expo

Denver, CO – Karen Bernstein, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the BioCentury family of publications, including the well-read “The Bernstein Report on Biobusiness” has been added to the roster of national speakers for BioWest 2007 on Thursday, December 6 (12:15 – 1 p.m.) at the Grand Hyatt Denver. The announcement is made by Chris Shapard, Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) Deputy Director, who says Dr. Bernstein replaces Colorado Governor Bill Ritter for the Thursday luncheon address. Governor Ritter’s commitments required that his speech on “Colorado’s Bioscience Economic Development Agenda” be rescheduled to the 2:30 – 3 p.m. time slot the same day.

“We were very fortunate that Dr. Bernstein could join us,” Shapard explains. “BioCentury is held in high esteem by bioscience company executives throughout the world.  Most, if not all, of the biotech executives read her publications religiously. Further, Dr. Bernstein has written a number of articles on companies in Colorado.”

Conference registration is required in order to attend Dr. Bernstein’s presentation “Global Financing Trends in the Biopharmaceutical Industry.” Complete registration details for the BioWest Conference and Expo are available at http://www.BioWestConference.com

Dr. Bernstein has been writing and publishing on biotechnology since 1987. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University, and a B.A. in politics and history from Brandeis University, where she now is a member of the Brandeis University Sciences Advisory Council. In 1996, Dr. Bernstein and Co-Founder, President & CEO David Flores were honored with the Special Recognition Award given by the annual gathering of biotechnology chief executive officers at The Biotech Meeting in Laguna Niguel, California, citing the BioCentury organization’s ongoing contributions to the industry. In 2005, The Biotech Meeting CEOs inducted Dr. Bernstein into their Hall of Fame, citing her lifetime contribution to the biotech community. In 2007, Karen received a Special Recognition award at the American Liver Foundation's Salute to Excellence, honoring individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to biotechnology and medical innovation.

More than 900 participants are expected at this year’s event, December 6-7, at the Grand Hyatt in Denver. Best-selling author & noted management scholar Jim Collins headlines a stellar lineup of national presenters for BioWest 2007. Collins most recent work, GOOD TO GREAT: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t, attained long-running positions on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek best seller lists, selling 2.5 million hardcover copies since publication. Collins will spend two hours with the audience presenting his ideas and thoughts and interacting with the participants for a unique extended business education session (http://www.jimcollins.com).

Additional national speakers confirmed for BioWest 2007 include:

* December 6 Founder’s Breakfast: Chris Nolet, Partner & Leader, Pacific Northwest Area, Life Sciences Industry Group Ernst & Young.

* December 7 Breakfast Address: Stephen Ubl, President and Chief Executive Officer of AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association

* December 7 CBSA Awards Luncheon Keynote: Ivor Royston, M.D., founder of the legendary Hybritech and Managing Member at the San Diego-based Forward Ventures

The BioWest Conference and Expo is the Rocky Mountain region’s preferred venue for visiting with researchers about their newest discoveries and meeting founders of the area’s most innovative and promising bioscience start-up companies. The annual Venture Showcase, scheduled for the morning of December 7, will bring together six start-up companies to make their “pitch” to a panel of national venture capitalists. The $10,000 Faegre & Benson Venture Showcase Award will again be presented to the company with the best presentation.

Earlier stage technologies will be showcased at the Technology Transfer Poster Reception on the evening of December 6. Researchers from the region’s top institutions will be on hand with scientific poster presentations to discuss their bioscience discoveries. BioWest 2007 will also provide participants with a 30,000 foot overview of the national biotechnology and medical device issues and trends.

In addition to formal presentations, productive networking among attendees will occur at this year’s BioWest Expo, featuring 50 bioscience suppliers whose exhibits will fill the hallways with services and products to help the region’s companies succeed and grow.

Last but not least, the grand finale to the BioWest Conference and Expo is the December 7 CBSA Annual Awards Luncheon where the bioscience industry celebrates the “Best of the Best” and recognizes industry leaders and supporters. Dr. Royston, keynote speaker for the luncheon, led the concept of partnering medical discovery with industry when he co-founded Hybritech, San Diego's first biotechnology company, in 1978. Today, a good majority of San Diego biotechnology companies can trace their roots back to Hybritech. Dr. Royston is currently Managing Member of San Diego-based Forward Ventures. Additional information is available at http://www.forwardventures.com

About BioCentury

Now in its 15th year, BioCentury is recognized as the essential provider of independent, informed business intelligence that regularly affects decisions made by bio-industry leaders and investors throughout the world. BioCentury's mission is to provide value-added information and analysis for biotech and pharma companies, investors, academia and government on the strategic issues essential to the formation, development and sustainability of biopharmaceutical ventures. Breadth of coverage includes corporate strategy, partnering, emerging technology, clinical data, public policy and the financing markets. Publications include: The Bernstein Report on Biobusiness, BioCentury Extra, BioCentury Part II and BioCentury Quarterly Stock Roundup. More information is available at http://www.biocentury.com

About Colorado BioScience Association

CBSA is a not-for-profit corporation providing services and support for Colorado's growing biosciences industry. With more than 400 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment, grow the state's biotech workforce, fight for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state and speak with a single voice on behalf of the industry. For more information, visit http://www.cobioscience.com

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Contacts:

Christine Shapard, Deputy Director, Colorado BioScience Association http://www.cobioscience.com – 303-592-4089 or cshapard@cobioscience.com

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely Public Relations http://www.absolutelypr.com – 303-984-9801, maggie@absolutelypr.com