Five Top Colorado Bioscience Company CEOs Present at This Year’s BioWest Investor Forum

Denver, CO – The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) jointly announce participation of the following Colorado bioscience CEOs in the BioWest Investor Forum on August 24, 2006 (3:45 - 5:45 p.m.), at the Colorado Convention Center: Paul Berns, Allos Therapeutics; John Serino, Encision; Bill Freytag, Myogen; Patrick Mahaffy, Pharmion; and Ken Collins, Replidyne.

“This is the first time that a group of CEOs at this level have presented in one place at one event in Colorado,” says Denise Brown, CBSA Executive Director, “They will discuss their newest clinical findings, regulatory approvals and other relevant investor information.”

Conference registration is required in order to attend the Investor Forum. Complete registration details for the BioWest Conference and Expo are available at http://www.BioWestConference.com

"The success and growth in scope and attendance of the annual BioWest conference is a direct reflection of the vibrancy of the bioscience industry in Colorado," commented Freytag of Myogen.  "The access to leading research science in our local academic institutions and the talented, highly educated workforce make Colorado an ideal location to grow a bioscience company."

More than 750 participants are expected at this year’s BioWest. America’s “Cowboy Poet” Baxter Black and NPR Science Friday® host Ira Flatow are the headliners for the event, along with the presentation, “Where Innovation Happens” from Federal Reserve Executive Michael Orlando.

BioWest 2006 will again feature the Venture Showcase competition where seven emerging bioscience companies from the Rocky Mountain region will present their business plans to a panel of national venture firms. One company will be chosen the winner, receiving the $10,000 Faegre & Benson Venture Showcase Award during the CBSA Annual Awards Dinner.

Here are additional highlights of the upcoming BioWest 2006:

* AdvaMed, the national medical device industry association, and Ernst & Young will preview what to expect nationally and internationally at the two BioWest plenary sessions.
* The Emerging Company Track is offered for start-up bioscience or medical device companies. Dollars Speak Volumes is the main message for these three sessions.
* The Operations Track targets more established companies, particularly operations employees of both biotechnology and medical device companies, covering pre-commercialization and commercialization operations issues that need to be considered for clinical and commercial manufacturing.
* The Regulatory Track offers three sessions in including Navigating the Challenges of PostMarket Compliance for the medical device industry, What’s Hot in Today’s Regulatory Issues for bio-pharmaceutical companies and Key Issues in Getting to Market in Europe.
* The Founder’s Breakfast on the 23rd brings together Eric Sondermann, a Colorado political pundit and Patrick Kelly, BIO’s Director of State Affairs to talk about the state and national elections coming up this November.

In addition to formal presentations, there are also numerous networking sessions scheduled during BioWest. The Expo Hall, with 80 exhibitors, will be open both days; the Technology Transfer Poster reception will be held in the Hall on August 23; breakfast will be in the Hall on August 24 and dessert and coffee will be served in the Hall both days.

About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

OEDIT works with companies starting, expanding, or relocating in Colorado. The office offers a wide range of services to assist new and existing business of every size. http://www.AdvanceColorado.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 300 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment, growing the state's biotech workforce, fighting for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state and speaking with a single voice on behalf of the industry.  For more information, visit http://www.CoBioScience.com

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Contacts:

Christine Shapard, Director of Bioscience and Emerging Industries, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade http://www.AdvanceColorado.com — 303.892.3840, Christine.shapard@state.co.us

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely Public Relations http://www.absolutelypr.com — 303.984.9801, maggie@absolutelypr.com