BIO Challenges Biotech Community to Help Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation
Leaders in biotechnology research and patient advocacy joined forces today at the 2009 BIO International Convention to discuss the latest breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS treatments. Following a keynote speech by Sir Elton John focused on the needs of the HIV/AIDS community, representatives of biotech companies previewed the next generation of treatments while patient advocates reiterated the need for new therapies, particularly for those who have developed resistance to existing medications. Researchers are developing new therapies that are more effective in treating HIV/AIDS, including an AIDS vaccine and new methods of delivery that hold the potential to increase patient compliance.
“Through biotechnology, we have been able to suppress many of the symptoms of AIDS, increasing both quality of life and life expectancy for millions of people around the world who are living with HIV/AIDS. Day in and day out, the men and women of biotechnology are working to find a way to one day put an end to this terrible disease,” said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Greenwood was joined by a number of companies and patient representatives:
- John Bonfiglio, CEO of Argos Therapeutics
- Marie-Pierre de Bethune, Ph.D., Vice President, Scientific Affairs, Tibotec
- Michael Manganiello, Board Member, Whitman-Walker Clinic
- Robert McNally, President and CEO, GeoVax Labs
- David Miller, Board Member, AIDS Institute
- Paul Stoffels, M.D., Company Group Chairman, Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson
“For 22 years, I have lived with a disease for which there is no cure,” said Michael Manganiello. “But I am hopeful. And, initiatives like the ones we are learning about today give me hope. I believe that innovative approaches to the discovery and development of new treatments will lead to a cure for the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS.”
Approximately two million people die from HIV/AIDS each year, and an equal number of children live with the disease. Today, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, although the annual number of deaths attributed to AIDS has declined in the past two years, in part as a result of greater access to treatment.
Biotechnology has led the way in developing advanced treatments for the more than 33 million people worldwide who are HIV positive and/or living with AIDS.
To help meet the needs of people living with AIDS, BIO announced a two week fundraising campaign to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. BIO challenged the broader biotech community to match the association's own donation of $150,000. To make a contribution to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, log onto IAmBiotech.org/ejaf between now and June 2.
About Argos Therapeutics, Inc
The Company has generated
multiple platform technologies and a diverse pipeline of products based
on its expertise in the biology of dendritic cells - the master switch
that turns the immune system on or off. The Company's ArcelisTM
technology trains the immune system to recognize and attack the disease.
Although current therapies (primarily highly active antiretroviral therapy) constitute a $5 billion market, they have a number of limitations and challenges and often ultimately fail due to viral mutation and resistance. Argos' ArcelisTM HIV immunotherapy addresses a number of these issues by mobilizing a broad-based and completely relevant immune assault on the patient's own virus. The Company is currently enrolling and treating patients in a Phase 2 HIV trial at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.
About GeoVax Labs, Inc
GeoVax is a Biotechnology company
developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus - AIDS) and other infectious agents.
The company works to develop AIDS vaccines for global markets, manufacture and test these vaccines under GMP/GLP conditions (FDA guidelines), conduct phase I/II and III human trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness and obtain regulatory approval of these vaccines in the USA and specified international markets.
About Tibotec
Tibotec R&D is dedicated to the discovery and
development of innovative new drugs for HIV/AIDS and other infectious
diseases of high unmet medical need. Tibotec was established in 1994 by
Rudi Pauwels as a drug discovery laboratory. In 1995, Virco was
established as a spin-off to improve the management of HIV/AIDS with
innovative, new molecular diagnostic tools for HIV resistance testing
that would better inform the treatment decisions made by physicians. In
April 2002, Tibotec and Virco were acquired by Johnson & Johnson and
evolved to a fully integrated pharmaceutical company focussing on the
discovery and the development of new drugs for Infectious Diseases.
About 2009 BIO International Convention
The world's leading
biotechnology industry event, the BIO International Convention, is
taking place May 18-21, 2009, at the Georgia World Congress Center in
Atlanta. The BIO International Convention is the largest global event
for the biotechnology industry and attracts the biggest names in
biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and
provides insights and inspiration on the major trends affecting the
biotech industry. The annual event draws industry leaders from 48 states
and 60 countries.
The BIO International Convention helps to support BIO programs and initiatives. BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through biotechnology innovation. For more information on the global event for biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit http://convention.bio.org/.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and
related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of
innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental
biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International
Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry,
along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around
the world.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO
Human Resources Conference
May 17-19, 2009
Atlanta,
GA
2009
BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta,
GA
BioEquity
Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany
World
Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July
19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Contacts:
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Audrey Chang,
202-489-8634
audrey.chang@harbourgrp.com
or
Tracy
Krughoff, 202-279-0536
tkrughoff@bio.org
