WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the American Cancer Society, cancer deaths in the United States have decreased for the first time since 1930, due in part to new approaches to diagnosis, therapy and prevention. Developing new therapies for cancer is one of the top missions of the biotechnology industry. A series of panel sessions on cancer treatment and prevention will be highlighted at the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention in Chicago, April 9-12, 2006. BIO 2006, the world’s largest conference, is sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and expected to attract more than 18,000 attendees and over 500 members of the media and representatives from around the world.
Advance media registration for BIO 2006 is now available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio.org/events/2006/reg/. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers and online publications must register in advance by Friday, March 31, 2006.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Emerging Opportunities in Embryonic Stem Cell Medicine
9:15 - 10:45 AM
The panel will focus on products of stem cell research that will become available for clinical application in the short term. New research includes taking stem cell lines derived from patients with cancers, neurodegenerative disorders and other complex diseases to determine the genetic causes for the disease and develop new ways of targeting them.
New Approaches in Cancer Therapies
9:15 - 10:45 AM
This session will allow key leaders from different countries the opportunity to actively debate and brainstorm on the perspectives of new cancer therapies and the new challenges facing 21st-century medicine.
Pharmacogenomics, Biomarkers and the Race for a Cure for Cancer: The Impact on Drug Discovery and Development
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
The panel will address the role of new technologies in patient selection for clinical trials and the timely approval of new agents through the application of biomarker-based surrogate endpoints.
IPRs and Ethics from a Global Perch: The Case of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine for Cervical Cancer
2:00 - 3:30 PM
This session will address questions surrounding the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and suggest policies to allow vaccine distribution to all those in need in an economically viable and ethical manner.
Manipulating the Immune System to Fight Cancer
2:00 - 3:30 PM
This session will highlight novel strategies to manipulate the immune system for therapeutic efficacy utilizing novel cell therapy, vaccines and immune modulators.
Nanotechnology Applications in Cancer Detection and Treatment
2:00 - 3:30 PM
This session will address the various ways in which nanotechnology is being used to detect and treat cancer.
NCI Guidance in Biologics Development for Oncology
4:00 - 5:30 PM
This session is intended to help biotech companies develop an understanding of 1) the currently accepted preclinical pathways that foster proceeding to IND filing and human clinical trials; 2) the best use of NCI and Developmental Therapeutics Program guidance, resources and communications in early- through late-preclinical development of cancer biotherapeutics; and 3) unique aspects of oncology drug approval processes.
Targeted Medicine-Biomarkers in the Discovery and Development Process Toward Value-added Diagnostics and Therapeutics
4:00 - 5:30 PM
This session will discuss the latest advances in the use of biomarkers across the drug discovery and development process and highlight promising potential directions of the field, including tumor diagnosis.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
CMS Collaborations: What Are the Implications?
2:00 - 3:30 PM
CMS is frequently collaborating with other agencies. For example, the agency is working with the National Cancer Institute on practical clinical trials in cancer working with FDA and collecting and using Medicare Part D claims data to monitor drug safety. What is CMS hoping to accomplish?
More details on these sessions and others at BIO 2006 can be found at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/.
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 healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
Biotechnology Industry Organization
CONTACT: Erin Reese of the Biotechnology Industry Organization,+1-202-962-9200
