2,400 leaders from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry gathered last week for the 14th annual BIO-Europe partnering conference, which saw an astounding 10,250 one-to-one partnering meetings between industry dealmakers. More complete coverage of the event can be found at here.

The conference drew over 1,350 companies from almost 50 countries around the world. These delegates engaged in partnering meetings featuring 2,460 licensing opportunities. In addition, there were 17 workshops and panel sessions, and 180 focused presentations by biotech companies seeking financing, licensing opportunities or partners for advancing development of intellectual property.

While participation increased 5% to a record 2,400 delegates attending the three-day event, it was the extraordinary growth in the number of meetings per delegate that distinguished this year's event. "Biotech and pharmaceutical executives are clearly demonstrating a bullish attitude despite the sour economic mood," said Carola Schropp, president of EBD Group, producer of the BIO-Europe conference.

"When you think that only 14 years ago biotech partnering did not even exist, we have all come a long way," added Schropp.

The success of BIO-Europe 2008 sets the stage for EBD Group's next event, BIO-Europe Spring® in Milan, Italy, March 16-18, 2009.

Delegate quotes:

"BIO-Europe never disappoints. It consistently provides me with the opportunity to meet with companies that that I may never have had exposure to otherwise. That's why this meeting is so unique - it's not the same crowd year after year. Plus, EBD Group does a great job with the conference and networking activities."

-Gwen Melincoff, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Shire Pharmaceuticals

"The BIO-Europe conference this year was a big success! The number of delegates was quite impressive and we held over 100 high quality meetings over the 3 days."

-Barbara Yanni, Vice President and Chief Licensing Officer, Merck & Co

"This year's BIO-Europe highlighted not only the current difficult issues that we are facing as an industry but the ever growing awareness of the need for Biotech and Pharma to work closely together, especially at this time, as partners."

-Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie, CEO, Roji

"BIO-Europe is by far the best Europe based, international networking conference. It has helped me to close deals for three companies by attracting the right partners year after year."

-Dr. Georg Buchner, VP, Corporate and Business Development, Novacta Therapeutics

"BIO-Europe continues to grow as a priority event for us each year. The agenda is full of top executives debating critical topics relevant to the current state of the industry and there's an equal share of company presentations from both large pharm and growth-oriented biotech companies. BIO-Europe is still the only event that attracts more business development professionals from a broad range of countries around the globe."

- Ben Bonifant, Vice President, Business Development Practice, Campbell Alliance

About EBD Group

EBD Group is the leading partnering firm for the global life science industry. Since 1993, biotech, pharma and medical device companies have leveraged EBD Group's partnering conferences, technology and services to identify business opportunities and develop strategic relationships essential to their success.

EBD Group's conferences are run with the support of leading corporations and international trade associations and include:

- BIO-Europe and BIO-Europe Spring®, the world's largest stand-alone life science partnering conferences, supported by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
- BioPharm America™, EBD Group's North American partnering event
- EuroMedtech™, EBD Group's new partnering event for the innovative medical technology industry
- BioEquity Europe, the investor conference co-organized with BioCentury Publications and BIO

EBD Group's sophisticated Web-based partnering service, partneringONE™, is used as the partnering engine at numerous third-party events around the world. Outside of the conference format, EBD Group's consultants provide hands-on assistance for firms seeking to in- or out-license products and technologies.

EBD Group has offices in the USA and Europe.

For more information please visit ebdgroup

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

BIO