Acting FDA Commissioner To Deliver Keynote Address At IBC Life Sciences's 11th Annual Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Acting FDA Commissioner and Director of the National Cancer Institute Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. will deliver a keynote address at the upcoming 11th Annual Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress, to be held August 7-10, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. IBC Life Sciences, which produces the conference, announced that the keynote presenters this year, in addition to Mr. von Eschenbach, include Steven M. Paul, M.D., Executive Vice President, Science and Technology, President, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Peter B. Corr, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Science & Technology, Pfizer Inc and Susan Hockfield, Ph.D., President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. von Eschenbach's address will provide an overview on the FDA's initiatives for protecting and advancing public health by helping to speed innovations, and highlighting the need for FDA-industry interaction and communications as the basis for success in bringing safer and more effective medicines to market. His speech complements the overall World Congress theme of providing scientific solutions and business strategies to help speed drugs to market.

Dr. Paul's address, "Drug Discovery and Development in XXIst Century: Realizing the Promise of Molecular Medicine," aims to discuss the factors which have contributed to declining R&D productivity despite the recent advances in genomics and the substantial investments in R&D made by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He advocates for more innovative and flexible approaches to drug discovery and early clinical development.

Dr. Corr's address, "The 'Biomedical Ecosystem': Delivering Better Health and Prosperity," will look at the efforts that the biomedical community must make to maximize their capabilities and resources in order to increase productivity, forge stronger alliances, and advance innovation. He voices the need for a paradigm change -- from a focus on late-stage diseases to prevention, early diagnosis, targeted treatment and improved compliance.

Dr. Hockfield's address, "The Art of Translation: Science, Engineering, Health and the Marketplace," will explore the promise and implications of new partnerships between institutions and across the boundaries between the university and the industry, which are the foundations in today's collaborative environment.

The Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress expects more than 4,000 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, government and academic researchers, executives and technology providers to participate. With more sessions than ever before, this year's program includes six dedicated conferences:

* Targeting Disease and Evaluating Disease-Relevant Targets * Lead Discovery and Lead Optimization * Discovery to Development: Case Studies, Safety, PK/PD and Pharmacogenomics * Biomarkers: Utility, Validation and Applications from Discovery to Clinic * R&D Strategies and Business Alliances * The Interface between Drug Discovery and Informatics

The World Congress also includes 7 pre-conference workshops taking place on Monday, August 7, 2006. Plus, on Thursday, August 10, 2006 the Congress will also feature a 1/2 day "Early Stage Company Showcase" as part of the R&D Strategies and Business Alliances conference and AAAS/Science will host a career fair.

Complete details on this event can be found at http://www.drugdisc.com/us or to receive a press pass or arrange an interview with a speaker, email Dawn Eagan at deagan@ibcusa.com.

About Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress

Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress (DDT), now in its 11th year, is the industry's premier, international conference and exhibition to provide education on the most vital topics in drug discovery and development to help accelerate products to market. The event provides a meeting place for attendees from around the world to network, find business and scientific partners and to discuss scientific advances, R&D strategies, business alliances and informatics solutions in drug discovery and development.

About IBC Life Sciences

IBC Life Sciences is the worldwide leader in scientific, technological and business conferences and courses for the life science industry. To develop its programs, IBC actively researches the advancements, technologies and trends impacting and driving the race for new drugs and therapies. No other organization can make claim to the breadth and quality that IBC Life Sciences delivers in each event giving the company recognition around the globe for quality, service and value. For more information, visit: http://www.IBCLifeSciences.com.

Contact: Dawn Eagan IBC Life Sciences 508-614-1679 deagan@ibcusa.com

IBC Life Sciences

CONTACT: Dawn Eagan of IBC Life Sciences, +1-508-614-1679,deagan@ibcusa.com

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