Conference Reports
3rd BIO-Europe Spring
Milano Convention Centre, Milan, Italy, 16-18th March 2009
The fashionable city of Milan was the location of choice for the annual BIO-Europe Spring conference; 'where the global biotech industry comes to partner'. The event was set in the newly built Milano Convention Centre, located in the heart of this historic city.
Only in its third year, BIO-Europe Spring showcased a
record 953 biotech and pharmaceutical companies
through lively exhibitions, workshops, panels and company
presentations, whilst also raising awareness of the
industry within Milan. Attended by 1,561 delegates representing
44 countries around the world, the 7,000
scheduled one-to-one meetings a week prior to the conference
set the pace from the offset. The welcome and
networking reception on the Sunday evening at the local
Meliá Milano Hotel set the tone for the next three
days, which despite the turbulent economy, had an emphasis
on the positive.
With 150 company presentations planned, biotech companies and large and midsize pharma alike were able to present information on current pipelines, partnering opportunities and corporate strategy, ranging from companies focusing on cancer to gene therapy and infectious disease. Amongst all this there was a particular emphasis on organisational structure, successful product launches and research/preclinical projects, and established partnered alliances; with an aim to attracting future potential partners.
A notable number of companies, such as Adherex Technologies and Kiadis Pharma, reported on the suspension of development of certain products in favour of lead candidates. Whether or not this is as a result of financial constraints, there is no doubt that such companies still arguably provide attractive pipelines. CEO of Kiadis, Dr Manja Bouman, reported on the success of their lead candidate Theralux, a photodynamic therapy for the treatment of haematological cancers. Having already received EU and US orphan drug status, Kiadis is planning to initiate a pivotal Phase III trial of Theralux in acute lymphocytic and myelogenous leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients in early 2009, with a filing for approval anticipated later in the year.
Other larger pharmaceutical companies, such as Eurand, presented a strong pipeline with an equally strong financial backing, with all five products in latestage development, including three drugs currently under FDA review. Particular focus was given to their lead candidate EUR-1008, an innovatively-formulated pancreatic enzyme product being developed for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency, which Eurand will be looking to launch itself in the US and out-license for the rest of the world.
Palau Pharma provided further partnering opportunities of interest with a pipeline of ten autoimmune/ inflammation projects, including the recentlylaunched Irist, for the treatment of coronary restenosis, and six other products in late-stage clinical development. Having already established development and commercialisation partnerships with the likes of Stiefel, Schering-Plough, Affectis and IHT, Palau will look to partner other projects once proof-of-concept has been achieved. US-based PolyMedix, a company focused on the treatment of infectious disease, is also looking to out-license many of the products in its current pipeline, including PMX-30063 and PMX-60056, both of which are expected to begin Phase II trials in the second quarter of 2009. The company is seeking global or regional partners.
BIO-Europe Spring once again lived up to its expectation of encouraging scientific discussion and business development. We eagerly look forward to next year's conference, certain that it will build once more on the success of the meeting preceding it.
Parita Patel
Editorial Analyst
Photograph courtesy of Scrip World Pharmaceutical News
