HONOLULU, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearly emerging as a region for biotechnology and research, Hawaii will feature prominently at the upcoming BIO 2004 Annual International Convention with participation by a high-level delegation, including world-class researchers and industry leaders from the Aloha state. The Hawaii delegation at the largest biotech event of its kind -- being held at the Moscone Convention Center from June 6-9, 2004 -- also will include government officials, and top representatives from the University of Hawaii, major research institutions, and the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), among other participants.
A Hawaii Pavilion, located at Booth 5144 in the North Hall of the Moscone Convention Center, will house exhibits from the islands’ various public and private sector entities.
In addition, the state will host a Hawaii Life Sciences Industry Forum at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel Yerba Buena Ballroom, starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 7. Speakers will include Deputy Director for DBEDT Steve Bretschneider and a panel from the University of Hawaii consisting of: Dr. Peter Englert, chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Dr. Edwin Cadman, dean of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM); and, Dr. Carl Vogel, director for the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. Also featured will be a life sciences industry panel comprising: David Watumull, president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Biotech, Inc.; Dr. Reza Kamarei, director of nutrition for the Oceanic Institute; Dr. Carl Trygstad, vice president of Medical and Scientific Services for Quintiles Transnational; and, Nick Susner, president and CEO of STI Medical Systems Inc. The business forum will be followed by a reception hosted by government officials.
“Hawaii is already a life sciences center,” said DBEDT Deputy Director Steve Bretschneider. “We are hosting cutting edge research in genetics, cellular research and more than 400 clinical medical trials.
“We have the central location to bridge to huge markets in Asia, while offering the security and legal protections of the United States,” he said. “Our diversity, security and accommodating lifestyle are the keys to productivity in a new and highly competitive world.”
Bretschneider added that one of the reasons for the accelerated growth of the biotech industry in the islands is the new University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. Now under construction and opening in 2005, ‘JABSOM’ is slated to become among the world’s most prestigious facilities for biomedical research.
Dr. Edwin Cadman, dean of JABSOM and a BIO 2004 participant, explained: “Extraordinary things are happening in Hawaii. Our new research intensive medical school and surrounding Kakaako Bioscience Park, the growing number of successful biotech companies, and dedicated real estate in downtown Honolulu for further developing the biotech industry -- all of these certainly demonstrate that the future growth of Hawaii lies in the life sciences. Attendees at BIO 2004 will have the opportunity to learn about these important developments by visiting the Hawaii Pavilion and attending our business forum.”
Chairman of the Biotech Council of the Hawaii Technology Trade Association (the state affiliate of BIO), and President and CEO of Hawaii Biotech, Inc. David Watumull heads one of the largest and longest established companies in the state’s biotech industry. “As we’ll share during the business forum, we and our peers in the industry are very excited at the prospect of benefiting from the JABSOM and Kakaako Bioscience Park project that will house 30 to 40 new biotech researchers,” said Watumull. “This expanded effort, as evident from other similar research clustering across the country, should provide a catalyst for the development of the biotech industry in Hawaii.”
Hawaii Biotech is privately held and is engaged in research and development of human pharmaceuticals. The company has concluded a broad-based, multi-project research collaboration with the University of Hawaii and, as the first project under this agreement, is actively collaborating with university researchers on an anthrax program.
According to Watumull, Hawaii is emerging as a preferred location for human clinical trials conducted by major pharmaceutical, biotech, contract research organizations (CROs), and site management organizations (SMOs) looking to bridge Caucasian, Japanese, and other Asian populations. “Hawaii’s large Japanese ethnic population and well developed clinical trial infrastructure have served as a foundation for this capability. In addition, its dense population and ease of patient recruitment gives it a competitive advantage compared to other areas in the country. As a result, we have also developed clinical development capabilities that have attracted non-ethnic studies too,” he said.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 494 clinical trials are currently underway or recruiting patients in Hawaii, more than any other state in the country. Sponsors and managers include each of the ten largest global pharmaceutical companies, 42 of the 50 largest pharmaceutical/biotech companies, major CROs and SMOs, and government agencies. Representative names include Merck, Pfizer, Amgen, Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Idec, Biogen, Quintiles, Radiant Research, and the NCI.
“This clinical trial capability provides Hawaii Biotech with convenient access to a critical mass of infrastructure important to its Phase II licensing and value creation strategy,” Watumull said.
Watumull describes Hawaii’s tax offerings as another of the advantages for businesses such as biotech companies. “Hawaii offers a 20 percent refundable tax credit for qualified R&D, including clinical trials, conducted in Hawaii. No state tax liability is needed to claim this credit and its refundable nature makes this credit an additional source of financing. In addition, the state offers 100 percent state tax credit to investors who invest in Hawaii Biotech and other similar companies.”
The BIO 2004 Hawaii Pavilion sponsors and participants are: DBEDT; University of Hawaii; Enterprise Honolulu; the Hawaii Island, Kauai and Maui Economic Development Boards; Global Pau Hana; Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California; University of Hawaii’s Cancer Research Center, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), Center for Marine Microbial Ecology and Diversity, Institute of Marine Biology, Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development, and Pacific Biomedical Research Center; Hawaii Papaya Industry Association; Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii; Genentex; Hawaii Biotech; Hawaii Community Development Authority; Hawaii Pacific Health Research Institute; Hawaii Strategic Development Corp.; High Technology Development Corp.; Hoana Medical; KUD International LLC; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Oceanic Institute; Pacific Health Research Institute; Quintiles Transnational Corp.; and, STI Medical Systems, Inc.
For more information about conducting business in Hawaii, visit http://www.hawaiiworks.com/.
To obtain additional press information and/or to schedule interviews, please contact: Della Sweetman, Fleishman-Hillard, 619-237-7721 or 619-203-7598, or Dennis Ling, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, 808-387-8140.
Hawaii Tourism Authority; Milici Valenti Ng Pack
CONTACT: Della Sweetman, of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-619-237-7721 or+1-619-203-7598, sweetmad@fleishman.com, for Hawaii Tourism Authority; orDennis Ling, of Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Stateof Hawaii, +1-808-387-8140, dling@dbedt.hawaii.gov