For Immediate Release: May 1, 2007
DBEDT Release News 07-07

HONOLULU--Twenty organizations from the State of Hawai‘i will participate in the BIO International Convention from May 6 through 9 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Examples of Hawai‘i's life science industry that will be prominently featured at the Hawai‘i Pavilion at the conference.

"The BIO meeting offers an unparalleled opportunity for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from Hawai‘i and around the world to gather in one place at one time to learn about each other, meet one-on-one, and discuss business opportunities of mutual interest," said Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Director Theodore E. Liu.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), founded in 1993, is a nonprofit association that represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, state and international affiliates, and related organizations. BIO members develop and market revolutionary products in health, food and agriculture, and industrial and environmental biotechnology.

At their annual convention, BIO attracts nearly 20,000 attendees to learn about the latest industry developments in technical conference sessions and on the exhibition floor which features pavilions from over 30 states, 30 countries and a multitude of private companies. BIO also provides a slate of business development services, including investor, partnering, and executive training events.

Hawai‘i exhibitors at BIO 2007 include:

BioXene
Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i, University of Hawai‘i
Cellular Bioengineering, Inc.
Center for Marine Microbial Ecology & Diversity, University of Hawai‘i
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Enterprise Honolulu
Hawai‘i Biotech, Inc
Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board
Hawai‘i Science and Technology Council
High Technology Development Corporation
InCode BioPharmaceutics, Inc.
Kaua'i Economic Development Board
Manoa Transgenics
Maui Economic Development Board
Nanopoint, Inc.
Noni Biotech International
PanThera Biopharma LLC
Peletex, Inc.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
University of Hawai‘i, Office of Technology Transfer & Economic Development

Examples of work being done by Hawai‘i companies include:

• Development of the next generation nanobiosensor.
• Research and development of serum complement depletion biopharmaceuticals.
• New technology centered around a non-viral gene therapy platform; initial products are unique types of plasmids and transgenic animals.
• Revolutionary product for live cell imaging solutions.
• Development of new drugs to combat emerging infectious diseases such as dengue and West Nile, and potential biowarfare agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin.
• Development of a superior new method of air filtration, the Aqueous-Froth Air (AFA) Filtration technology that has many applications.

BIO 2007 attendees can learn about these important life science developments by visiting the Hawai‘i Pavilion (Booth #687).

Media representatives interested in interviewing members of the Hawai‘i delegation may contact Elizabeth Corbin at 808-255-1560.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov