Morehouse's Louis Sullivan, GVP’s John Richard To Receive GaBio Top Awards

ATLANTA, GA (December 18, 2009) – Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., President Emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and John P. Richard, Managing Director of Georgia Venture Partners, are the recipients of the 2010 Georgia Bio Industry Growth Awards.

The Industry Growth Awards are the highest honors bestowed each year by Georgia Bio. They recognize individuals in the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry. Dr. Sullivan is the recipient from the public sector; Mr. Richard, from the private sector.

Dr. Sullivan is being honored for his vision and leadership in life sciences university research and industry development, for establishment of Morehouse School of Medicine as a leading educational and research institute, and for bringing the proposed National Health Museum to Atlanta, which will solidify the reputation of the city and state as a global center of health research and education.

Mr. Richard is being recognized for his years of service to Georgia’s life sciences community as the founder of a venture fund investing in early-stage life sciences companies, as a serial entrepreneur who has been a mentor to other industry entrepreneurs, and as a leader in developing conferences and events promoting Georgia’s life sciences industry.

Dr. Sullivan and Mr. Richard will be honored at the GaBio Annual Awards Dinner, January 21, 6 pm to 9 pm, at The Retreat in Dunwoody. Here is a link to register.

To read complete press release visit: http://www.gabio.org/pr_details.aspx?subid=277&refid=8

Deals of Year Spotlight Acquisitions, Financings, Licensings, GRA Fund

ATLANTA, GA (December 21, 2009) -- Georgia Bio (GaBio) announced its 2010 Deals of the Year for medical device and biopharmaceutical companies in four categories – mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings and licensing agreements – reflecting a broad range of activity in the midst of a challenging economic environment.

The annual Deal of the Year awards recognize transactions by life sciences companies that are significant to Georgia’s life sciences industry development. The recipients will receive their awards at the GaBio Annual Awards Dinner January 21, 6 pm to 9 pm, at The Retreat of Dunwoody. Here is a link to register.

The deals occurred between the beginning of 4th quarter 2008 and the end of the 3rd quarter 2009. The recipients are:

• Altea Therapeutics of Atlanta is developing a breakthrough transdermal technology, the PassPort System, for the convenient and painless delivery of currently injected biologics from a small skin patch.
• The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Seed Fund, a public-private effort to create new technology-based companies out of local university research.
• Iconic Therapeutics of Atlanta, a biotechnology company developing a drug to treat wet macular degeneration based on novel immunoconjugate proteins called “I-cons.”
• Inhibitex of Alpharetta, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat serious infectious diseases.
• Medshape Solutions of Atlanta, a medical device company with proprietary materials technology specifically formulated to improve soft tissue fixation and fracture management.
• Porex Corporation of Fairburn, a global developer, manufacturer and distributor of porous plastic products primarily for the healthcare and surgical end markets
• Solvay Pharmaceuticals of Marietta, the U.S. headquarters of a group of companies that constitutes the global pharmaceutical business of the Belgium-based Solvay Group, focused on therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardiometabolic, influenza vaccines, gastroenterology and men's and women's health.
• Synageva Biopharma of Athens and Waltham, Mass., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel, next generation and follow on protein therapeutics that leverage its proprietary Synageva Expression Platform.
• Visioneering Technologies of Atlanta, a start-up company with technology for correcting presbyopia through contact lenses and other “on eye and in eye” applications.

Learn read the complete press release click here: http://www.gabio.org/pr_details.aspx?subid=279&refid=8

Sen. Adelman, Rep. Amerson Selected 2010 Legislators of the Year

ATLANTA, GA (December 21, 2009) -- Georgia Bio (GaBio) announces that Senator David Adelman (D-42nd District) of Atlanta and Representative Amos Amerson (R-9th District) of Dahlonega have been selected the 2010 Legislators of the Year for their support of the life sciences industry in Georgia.

Sen. Adelman, the Senate Minority Whip, and Rep. Amerson, Chair of the House Science and Technology Committee, have consistently supported the life sciences industry’s research, development and legislative challenges. They will be honored at the GaBio Awards Dinner, January 21, 6 pm to 9 pm, at The Retreat at Dunwoody. Click here to register.

Sen. David Adelman was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2002. He began his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia, and is currently a partner in the Atlanta law firm Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan LLP. In addition to his commercial practice, he represents indigent veterans on a pro bono basis before the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals and serves as counsel to the Partnership Against Domestic Violence.

To view complete press release click here: http://www.gabio.org/pr_details.aspx?subid=278&refid=8

BIO Announces Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to Provide Keynote at 2010 Convention

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, November 17, 2009) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announces that Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the 42nd and 43rd Presidents of the United States, will appear together for a moderated discussion at the 2010 BIO International Convention, which will be held May 3-6 in Chicago, Ill. at McCormick Place.

Presidents Clinton and Bush, who served in the White House for 16 years, will discuss a wide variety of issues relating to both domestic and foreign policy. Jim Greenwood, BIO's President and CEO, will moderate the discussion between the two former Presidents on Tuesday, May 4th at 11:30 a.m.

Read complete press release at http://www.bio.org/news/pressreleases/newsitem.asp?id=2009_1117_01