Conference Reports
1st BIO-Europe Spring
Milan, Italy, 4th - 7th March 2007
“Biotech is becoming the most powerful energy in research.”Sergio Dompe, President, Farmindustria.
The first ever BIO-Europe Spring was a milestone in Italian biotechnology, being the first ever international biotechnology conference to be hosted in Italy. Welcoming around 1150 participants, the Milan International Conference Centre proved an excellent setting for this much-needed addition to the myriad international biotech conferences. Indeed, it seems that biotech, an industry only 30 years old, has become the driving force for the future of healthcare.
After a stimulating welcome reception in the charming Palazzo Clerici, the conference commenced with a business-focused attitude, in an array of plenary sessions and open-table discussions. From the off, pipeline discussions and partnering opportunities were in abundance, with an air of Italian finesse offering the perfect atmosphere and quite aptly, offering perfect coffee!
The first day kicked off with an array of interesting opportunities. Stem Cell Therapeutics discussed its recovery therapy for stroke, NTx-265, which, being the only drug with a 48hr therapeutic window, is expected to achieve blockbuster status. It is currently in Phase IIa safety trials, with results due in the 3rd quarter of 2007. Having announced partnering opportunities with this drug, Stem Cell Therapeutics is also exploring further indications in traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia. Sygnis Bioscience followed on a similar note within the CNS stream, informing of further progress in the stroke therapy arena with its neuroprotective and neuroregenerative compound, AX-200. Having obtained extensive positive preclinical data, including improvement in the long-term functional outcome after focal cortical lesions in rats, it is hoped that the drug's success will continue in the clinic. It is currently in a Phase II safety trial in Germany. Sygnis advised that it is currently looking to in-license late-stage clinical compounds to complement its CNS pipeline.
The Discovery presentation stream also offered innovative opportunities for investors, in particular, Noxxon Pharma, which in addition to offering an extensive preclinical pipeline in a variety therapeutic areas, also reported on its ability to develop spiegelmers against any biological target. This novel technology develops mirror-image oligonucleotides of very high specificity, and having already been licensed to Gruenenthal and Bayer Schering Pharma, seems to be of considerable interest in the drug development arena.
Company presentations dominated the day, with endless announcements of opportunities for big pharma and investors to invest in some of the most innovative and groundbreaking areas in healthcare. The welcome reception, in the Palazzo Reale, set on the beautiful Piazza Duomo, provided the perfect end to a busy day of presentations, encouraging networking and deal-making amongst the remarkable architecture and fantastic atmosphere of one of Milan's most prestigious areas. With traditional Italian food and wines, the night was the perfect break for many in their busy schedules.
Wednesday saw Swiss pharmaceutical company Oncalis update on its oncology-focused pipeline. Announcing that it was looking for a partner for the drug, Oncalis's CEO, Dr Alcide Barberis, reported how ONC-101, a dual-specificity inhibitor of EphB4 and Raf, looks set to inhibit cell migration and proliferation, and thus offers huge potential for success in the clinic as a novel anticancer agent. ONC-101 could become the first EphB4 inhibitor to enter clinical trials. A further exciting prospect in oncology is Sunesis Pharmaceuticals' aurora kinase inhibitor, SNS-314, which was reported at the meeting to be expected to commence clinical trials in the 2nd quarter of 2007.
Further presentations of pipeline updates followed from Creabilis Therapeutics and Indevus Pharmaceuticals the latter of which presented an informative R&D update, in the context of its imminent acquisition of Valera Pharmaceuticals. Privately-owned, specialist ophthalmic company, Ophthalmopharma, also gave an interesting presentation, advising of licensing opportunities for its cyclodexin-based solubilised products, and its soluble derivatized ciclosporin A candidate for dry eye.
As the presentations drew to a close, the exhibit hall was filled with enthusiastic, suited-professionals, utilizing the last few hours of the conference to make and maintain invaluable business contacts. The popping of champagne corks for the closing reception offered the perfect accompaniment.
BIO-Europe Spring proved an excellent addition to the Biotech industry's conference network, demonstrating once again that with the bringing together of the intellectual capital of biotech companies and the investor capital of big pharma and investors, biotechnology will become the future of healthcare. If so, the future looks bright.
Jenna Morris
Pharmaprojects Analyst
