San Francisco conference is chance for Arizona to lure Bay Area
companies
PHOENIX, Ariz. - April 6, 2010 - Scottsdale-based TGen Drug
Development (TD2) will join the Greater Phoenix Economic Council
(GPEC) this week at BayBio2010 in an effort to spur Arizona's
bioscience industry.
BayBio2010 is a one-day conference April 7 in San Francisco
sponsored by BayBio, an industry trade group focused on Northern
California's 1,400 bioscience companies, more than any other single
region in the world.
"We will showcase TD2's unique oncology solutions, including our
integrated approach to guiding biopharmaceutical firms through
anti-cancer drug creation, clinical trials and regulatory
approvals," said Debbie Snyder, TD2's Vice President for Business
Development. "TD2 holds the potential to make significant
contributions to patient care, while at the same time sparking
major advancements in the Phoenix-area economy."
A recent study shows that TD2 is poised to play a significant role
in the expansion of Scottsdale's biomedical industry, fostering new
jobs and city revenues, and prompting the creation of more related
businesses. The independent economic research firm Tripp Umbach of
Pittsburgh released a report in January pegging TD2's total annual
economic impact on Scottsdale in 2009, including affiliated company
operations, at $26 million - a figure expected to grow to $239
million by 2015.
GPEC, Arizona's leading non-profit economic development
organization, aims to build on Arizona's unprecedented recent
growth in its bioscience industries. Public-private collaborations
have created world-class biomedical research centers, including
TD2's parent organization, the Phoenix-based Translational Genomic
Research Institute (TGen). From 2002, when TGen began, to 2007,
bioscience jobs in Arizona increased by 23 percent, compared to a
national average of 11 percent.
The GPEC delegation also will include representatives from Tempe
and Chandler, and the company InNexus Biotechnology Inc. The
group's goal is to promote Greater Phoenix's growing bioscience
industry with the intent of attracting new companies and jobs to
the region.
"Arizona's bioscience industry is gaining strength with such
examples as VisionGate relocating to the Valley," said Barry
Broome, president and CEO of GPEC. "Greater Phoenix is recognized
as a center of excellence in health care, home to world-class
leadership and a hub of innovative partnerships. Companies are
taking notice of the environment we are creating here."
BayBio2010 is one of nation's first bioscience conferences since
last month's passage of federal health care reform legislation, the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has been touted
by BayBio as "a big win" for the life science industry.
A key provision, according to BayBio, is the Therapeutic Discovery
Project Tax Credit, which will provide $1 billion over two years to
help companies with 250 or fewer employees offset a portion of the
costs for therapeutic development activities, including hiring
scientists and conducting clinical studies.
BayBio2010 will examine the fundamental questions of who pays for
biotech innovation and why, and focus on how the current financial
environment and new sources of capital could affect business
models, development and commercialization strategies. The
conference also will review new trends in public markets, venture
investment, mergers and acquisitions, and life sciences research
and development.
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About BayBio
BayBio is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association
serving the life science industry in Northern California. The staff
and services of BayBio are paid primarily through memberships,
sponsorships, and event registration fees. BayBio provides these
services through representatives in South San Francisco and through
coalition partners in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit:
www.baybio.org.
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About GPEC
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) is a true
public/private partnership. GPEC is the regional economic
development organization for Greater Phoenix. Working with its 18
member communities, Maricopa County and more than 140 private
investors, GPEC attracts quality businesses to this dynamic region.
By creating a high-performance economy through capital investments
and jobs, Greater Phoenix companies enjoy a business climate where
they can compete and thrive in today's global economy. Since, 1989,
GPEC has worked to achieve an economically sound and sustainable
region. For more information, visit: www.gpec.org
Media Contact:
Kristina Justin
GPEC Director of Communications
Direct: 602.262.8602
Cell: 480-286-8933
[email protected]
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About TD2
TGen Drug Development (TD2), a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), is a 501(c) 3
non-profit organization. TD2 provides innovative services for
oncology focused biopharmaceutical companies using a dedicated team
of professionals with broad experience and understanding in drug
development. TD2 is uniquely positioned to support the need for
improved and accelerated development of new chemical entities
(NCE's) for life-threatening diseases. TD2 uses a unique
combination of experience gained through its contract research
organization business, and an integrated suite of proprietary and
non-proprietary tools, preclinical study execution, regulatory
affairs assistance, clinical trial design and management, and drug
development experts to successfully move therapeutics towards
regulatory approval. TD2 is dedicated to reducing the risks and
uncertainty inherent in the drug development process. For more
information, visit www.td2.org.
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
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