2008: The Year in Review
Greetings, and welcome to the last issue of the Biocommunique for 2008. This has been a tremendous year for BIOCOM and for the Southern California life science community. Looking back on the year, we wanted to remind you of some of the major events and activities of the year and wish you great success in 2009.
BIO 2008 Arrives in San Diego in June
Martin Madaus of Millipore, Jim Greenwood of BIO, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Catherine Mackie of Pfizer and Joshua Boger of Vertex open the exhibit floor at the 2008 BIO International Convention.
BIOCOM's Joe Panetta with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vicki Bradshaw, the governor's cabinet secretary.
The biggest story in San Diego biotech was when the world's largest life science convention came to town in June. After more than two years of preparation and with BIOCOM being regional host, the 2008 BIO International Convention was an unqualified success for the Southern California life science community, giving our life science community a chance to shine in front of the entire industry while also building our visibility with our friends and neighbors in Southern California.
In terms of overall numbers, there were 21,108 attendees, with more than three-quarters of them coming from outside of California. The full Convention included four full days with 175 breakout sessions, 21 educational tracks, more than 1,000 speakers, three keynote sessions, six Super Sessions and three CEO Forum sessions, with Gen. Colin L. Powell, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), and J. Craig Venter highlighting the keynote addresses.
There were more than 100 television clips and hundreds of print articles generated at the 2008 BIO International Convention. Of special note was a special section in the San Diego Union-Tribune, which also published opinion submissions from leading life science organizations that ran in the Union-Tribune’s editorial pages during the week of BIO, talking about the impact of the life science community on our region and our future.
Forward Venture’s Ivor Royston’s piece on the importance of funding basic research.
Dan Bradbery of Amylin’s piece on diabetes treatments.
J. Craig Venter’s piece on taking control of biology.
Joe Panetta of BIOCOM and Bio’s Jim Greenwood on biotech and government regulation.
The 2009 Bio International Convention will take place from May 18-21, 2009 in Atlanta, GA.
California Life Science Alliance Formed
BIOCOM's Joe Panetta, the Southern California Biomedical Council's Ahmed Enany and BayBio's Matt Gardner sign the agreement forming the California Life Science Alliance
SoCalBio (the Southern California Biomedical Council), BIOCOM and BayBio, which together represent life science firms and research organizations across California, launched an alliance to promote the state’s life science industry during the 2008 BIO International Convention in San Diego.
The California Life Science Alliance is based upon a memorandum of understanding signed at BIO 2008. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, the organizations will pool resources and work together to address a range of public policy issues. The new alliance recognizes that California is the birthplace of biotechnology and the undisputed leader in global biocommerce and innovation.
Please click here to see the California Life Science Alliance's Web site at www.CaLifeScience.org.
Cell Culture Showcases Life Science Art at San Diego Airport
Passengers arriving at Terminal 2 walk by the Cell Culture art exhibit at the San Diego Airport.
One week before the 2008 BIO International Convention, BIOCOM. the Southern California life science community and San Diego International Airport held a grand opening for Cell Culture, an airport art display with artwork form San Diego life science research institutions and companies. The vibrant artwork welcomes airport visitors with a visual representation of the research that over 40,000 life science employees use in creating new cures for diseases and to help save the environment.
On display are a collection of images 16 from exhibitors like Invitrogen, J. Craig Venter Institute, Linda Nye, Pfizer La Jolla, The Salk Institute, San Diego State University, The Scripps Research Institute, Senomyx, UCSD’s Division of Biological Sciences and National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, and Vertex San Diego.
The exhibit will run from June through January 2009. The exhibit is located behind security in the upper level transition corridor of Terminal 2 between gates 33 and 21 at the San Diego International Airport.
The exhibit will be transitioning to area public libraries in the New Year as part of the San Diego Science Festival.
Public Policy Builds on Local, State and Federal Levels
BIOCOM once again was very successful in the California Legislature, with an 87% (7 of 8) success rate on bills deemed to be “priority” legislation. Please click here for more information.
BIOCOM was an active member of a national coalition which prevented a patent reform bill that would have been very adverse to the life science industry from being enacted by Congress. Mobilized by BIOCOM, our member companies submitted the equivalent of hundreds of letters to legislators regarding the need for adequate patent protections.
BIOCOM secured a major victory at the City of San Diego during the enactment of the General Plan Update by leading a coalition preserving industrial lands for future expansion of core industries, including the life sciences.
Governor Schwarzenegger at Invitrogen
Aiming to recognize growing technology companies and job creation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Invitrogen in February. Please click here to read articles in the
Water Authority Urges Citizens to take on 20-Gallon Challenge to Save Water
Faced with an ongoing drought in a region where 90 percent of water is imported, BIOCOM joined the San Diego County Water Authority on the 20-Gallon Challenge, an effort to get citizens and business to save 20-gallons of water a day.
Proving that politics can make for strange bedfellows, BIOCOM partnered with the Surfrider Foundation on a packed educational seminar in September featuring the managers of Orange County's new water reclamation facility. Please click here to learn easy ways how you can conserve water and join the 20-Gallon Challenge.
The BIOCOM Institute Secures Funding
The BIOCOM Institute, a charitable organization focused on advancing science literacy, secured non-profit status and funding for its mission to serve as a bridge between learning institutions and life science companies.
Funded with two initial $30,000 grants from the Pfizer Foundation and the San Diego Foundation, the institute is a 501 (c) (3) arm of BIOCOM that will raise awareness and provide training for career opportunities in the biotech and medical device community for students, scientists, career counselors and teachers. Please click here for more information.
BIOCOM Career Center Posts 500th Job
The BIOCOM Career Center, powered by BioSpace, posted more than 500 jobs throughout California over the course of 2008. Go to www.biocomcareercenter.org to create your profile and start your job search. Here are a few of the jobs currently posted for Dart NeuroScience:
Associate Scientist II, Mouse NeuroGenomics
Associate Scientist III, Drosophila NeuroGenomics
Scientist I, Drosophila NeuroGenomics
Associate Scientist II, Drosophila NeuroGenomics
Associate Scientist I, Drosophila NeuroGenomics
Annual Dinner Celebrates Life Science Successes
BIOCOM held its sixth annual dinner in March. Human genome-sequencing pioneer J. Craig Venter was the keynote speaker, with Billy Tauzin of PhRMA speaking as a patient advocate. Please click here to read a full story in the North County Times about Dr. Venter’s presentation. BIOCOM's 2009 Annual Dinner will be on April 27.
Orange County Hosts Third DeviceFest
Michael McCann of HeartSmart Technologies was honored at BIOCOM's DeviceFest.
BIOCOM held its third annual DeviceFest in June in Orange County, marking the association's first major events there. IntelliDOT, Benechill, Heartsmart Technologies and CVAC Systems were all recognized as winners in the competition. HeartSmart Technologies was also recognized in the Orange County Register as a winner as well as in the Orange County Business Journal. The Register also did a profile of HeartSmart CEO Michael McCann after the event. Please mark your calendars today for DeviceFest on May 7, 2009.
Investor Conference Highlights Life Science Investments
Larry Stambaugh of Aperçu Consulting, Evan McCulloch of Franklin Templeton Investments, Matthew Perry of the Biotechnology Value Fund, Kurt von Emster of MPM Capital and Robert J. More of Frazier Healthcare Ventures.
In spite of a rocky economic outlook, the 2008 BIOCOM Investor Conference was a strong success, with more than 400 attendees and over 50 presenting companies demonstrating innovative biotech, medical device and diagnostic companies and technologies. Please click here to read media stories resulting from the conference, including this outlook on big pharma's influence in the industry and this overview of the above panel of investment experts. The 2009 BIOCOM Investor Conference is scheduled for Oct. 25-27, 2008.
Recession Builds Participation in PG
With budgets heavily impacted by belt-tightening across the industry, interest in the BIOCOM Purchasing Group has gone through the roof in 2008, with PG participation growth at almost three times historical rates and members on track to save over $27 million in 2008. The Purchasing Group has 24 agreements set up with major vendors like Office Depot, VWR, Airgas and Harlan, offering discounts that average to 44 percent off of retail pricing to participating members. In 2008, the BIOCOM Purchasing Group renewed agreements with Harlan, Office Depot/Tech Depot, PR Newswire and VWR. We are also proud to announce the addition of Mission3 and Retirement DNA to the BIOCOM Premier Suppliers.
Please contact Bonnie Breece for more information.
BIOCOM Perks Program Posts Record Second Year
More than 162 local retailers became a part of the BIOCOM PG’s Employee Perks program in 2008 which was used by employees of BIOCOM member companies throughout San Diego and Orange Counties to save money on commonly used goods and services. In January, the BIOCOM PG mailed out more than 29,000 Perks program cards to the primary contacts at member companies. The Employee Perks program offers retail discounts and benefits to member companies at local businesses like restaurants, dry cleaners and day spas. To find out how you can use the Perks program as a member of BIOCOM, or to get your retail business on the program, please contact Jessica Trieb. And don't miss the bonus discount on Sharp LCD TVs in this edition of the BCQ.
Online Media Brings In More Biotech Coverage
In spite of ongoing challenges for both online and print advertising, new Web sites and blogs added to the Southern California media-landscape to provide different points of view on the trials and tribulations of the life science community, alongside traditional media outlets like the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Business Journal, the North County Times, and the San Diego Daily Transcript in San Diego and the Orange County Business Journal, the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times further north.
Please put the following Web sites into your Web circuit for tech news.
Xconomy.com launched a San Diego-tech news Web site in October, while bizSanDiego is also covering business news.
VoiceOfSanDiego.org is building its biotech presence.
The North County Times has an active blogging presence you can read here.
BIOCOM Expands Membership Throughout Southern California
BIOCOM continued growth throughout the Southern California region in 2008, with a membership consisting of more than 575 companies, including biotech, medical device and diagnostic and clean tech companies, as well as the service providers that help them succeed. The association continues its growth into Orange County, with 75 medical device companies and 50 Orange County members.
BIOCOM's membership department also unveiled its "Breakfast at BIOCOM" events and launched a new online directory.