BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

The 2007 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference today announced the keynote speakers for their October 24 – 26 conference: Nobel Laureate Dr. Thomas Cech, president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, AstraZeneca CEO David Brennan, and Jim Mullen, chairman and CEO of Biogen Idec. More than 800 attendees will hear these luminaries discuss emerging academic and entrepreneurial trends in bioscience, analyze the latest technology and research findings, and offer their opinions on the future of this exciting industry.

The selection of such bioscience notables as Dr. Thomas Cech, CEO David Brennan, and Chairman and CEO Jim Mullen underscores the conference’s goal of delivering world-class, innovative programs from the bioscience industry’s premier thought leaders.

“Mid-Atlantic Bio provides an opportunity for attendees to hear from the experts of our industry and to attend educational programs on topics such as pandemic flu, building a biotech business and raising capital. Equally important, the conference provides the platform for conducting business and building broad alliances with key organizations and audiences dedicated to promoting the long-term growth and stability of biotechnology in the Mid-Atlantic,” said Mark A. Herzog, executive director of the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO). VaBIO is joined by the MdBio/Tech Council of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA) as co-hosts of Mid-Atlantic Bio.

Our Speakers

In addition to winning the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1989, Dr. Thomas Cech’s work has been recognized by many national and international awards and prizes. Dr. Cech serves as the president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a private biomedical research institute with an endowment of more than $16 billion. Last year, HHMI opened the Janelia Farm Research Campus (JFRC) located on a 689-acre property in Northern Virginia. The unique, world-class biomedical research complex represents a $500 million investment by HHMI.

James Mullen, CEO and President, Biogen Idec, has helped shape Biogen Idec into a global technology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies. For the past 18 years, Mr. Mullen’s vision and direction have helped ensure that Biogen Idec’s 3,900 employees in over 70 countries around the world are delivering results for the company and its customers. From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Mullen held various positions at SmithKline Beckman Corporation (now GlaxoSmithKline plc). Mr. Mullen is also a director of PerkinElmer, Inc. and served as chairman of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

As CEO and Executive Board Director of AstraZeneca, David Brennan is responsible for directing North American operations for one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. With AstraZeneca’s pending acquisition of Maryland-based MedImmune, Mr. Brennan will be part of the team working to create a premier, fully integrated biologics and vaccines company. A member of the executive board of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and a member of the executive board of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Mr. Brennan is past chairman of the board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Heart Association and honorary board member of the US CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

The Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference

Dedicated to promoting the growth of biotechnology in the region, the Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference is collectively sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic’s most influential bioscience and investor associations, MdBio/Tech Council of Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO). The goal of the conference is to deliver a unique combination of hands-on information, visionary viewpoints, analyses of technology trends, and discussions of critical bioscience issues. For more on the Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference, complete program agenda and speaker information, as well as registration information, please visit www.MidAtlanticBio.org.

About MdBio/Tech Council of Maryland

MdBio/Tech Council of Maryland is a private, non-profit corporation whose mission is to advance the commercial development of bioscience in Maryland. For more information, please visit www.mdbio.org.

About MAVA

Founded in 1986, MAVA represents the collective interests of venture capitalists investing in the mid-Atlantic, including more than 500 venture professionals, at 125 firms, with more than $10 billion in capital under management. For more information, please visit www.mava.org.

About the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO)

VaBIO, the Virginia Biotechnology Association, is the 150-member statewide trade group that promotes the considerable scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information, visit www.vabio.org.