MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Benitec Ltd. , a leading developer of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics, announced today that Sara Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Benitec, will be speaking on a panel entitled "RNAi: Advancing Therapeutic Development" at the BIO 2006 Chicago Annual International Convention.
The panel will take place from 4:00 to 5:30 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 in room 401BC at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. John Rossi, Chair and Professor, Division of Molecular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope will be the moderator for the panel. Other panelists joining Ms. Cunningham include John Maraganore, President and CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Howard Robin, President and CEO of Sirna Therapeutics; and Edward Tenthoff, Senior Research Analyst at Piper Jaffray.
Ms. Cunningham said, "I am delighted to be a part of BIO's RNAi panel and look forward to discussing the important trends in RNAi therapeutics including Benitec's proprietary technology, latest developments, and contributions in the field. I commend the organization for continuing to recognize the importance of RNAi -- this will certainly be an interesting and informative panel."
About BIO 2006
BIO 2006, the Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual convention is April 9-12, 2006 in Chicago at McCormick Place. The convention is expected to draw 18,000 CEOs, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and venture capitalists for three days of networking and learning. BIO 2006 will feature more than 180 educational sessions and workshops on finance, partnering, R&D, science and policy.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
About Benitec
Benitec is an international biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics to treat serious diseases using its proprietary RNAi technology. Benitec is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has its operations in Mountain View, California, USA. Its lead therapeutic programs are for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Benitec's RNA-based HIV therapeutic, co-developed with the Center for Biomedicine & Genetics at the City of Hope in Los Angeles, California, will enter Phase I clinical trials in 2006. Benitec's RNAi therapeutic for HCV will enter clinical trials in 2007. For additional information, please visit www.benitec.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Companies' current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Companies' research strategy, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the uncertainties related to the regulatory process.
CONTACTS: BENITEC LTD. Paulette Isler +1 650 564 9850 ext.1111 pisler@benitec.com
Benitec Ltd.CONTACT: Paulette Isler of Benitec Ltd., +1-650-564-9850 ext. 1111,pisler@benitec.com
Web site: http://www.benitec.com/
