BIO 2004: Opening Reception Quiet

Protestors hardly noticed by attendees... The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) kicked off its annual meeting in San Francisco yesterday with a welcome reception at Fort Mason. Despite some confusion regarding buses, bus stops, and routes, the mood was generally upbeat and positive. The weather played along and it was warmer than most had anticipated, and the trademark San Francisco fog was nowhere to be seen. Security was out in force but not conspicuous. Some ten to fifteen protesters lined the entrance to Fort Mason holding up signs reading "biotech not welcome" but they were hardly noticed by the conference attendees.