2008-06-13 23:24:23 -

www.bio.org - Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO): -0- WHAT: Governor Tim Kaine will be available for satellite uplink interviews while attending the BIO 2008 International Convention. The Governor will be discussing Virginia's recent Achievements in the Life Sciences Industry. Refer to the following bulleted list for further details. WHEN: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 11:15 a.m. - Noon PDT

(2:15 - 3:00 p.m. EDT) WHERE: Satellite Uplink/POTS Interviews from: BIO TV Studios, San Diego Convention Center BIO 2008 International Convention WHO: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

Recent Virginia Achievements in the Life Sciences Industry

-- Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Farm Campus in Loudoun County, Virginia, opened in Fall 2006. The $500 million facility was created to pursue fundamental problems in basic biomedical research that are difficult to approach in academia or industry. Three hundred jobs were created as a result of the project.

-- In May 2003, Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation expanded its manufacturing capacity at its subsidiary, Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals, Inc. in the City of Petersburg, Virginia. The completion of all phases of the Petersburg expansion were projected to reach $260 million in new capital investment by 2011 with an overall increase in employment of 165.

-- Philip Morris USA announced in April 2005 its plans to invest $300 million to open a Research and Technology Center in Virginia. The project will create 500 new jobs, including scientists, lab technicians and lab support. The center will allow the company to develop new technologies that improve the products it currently manufactures, and may lead to innovative new products.

-- December 2006 announcement by SRI International to establish a Center for Advanced Drug Research in Virginia. The Center will partner with James Madison University and other Virginia institutions of higher education in its research efforts that, in addition to drug research, will delve into areas such as biothreats and homeland security, engineering, nanotechnology, energy and information technology. By the end of the first ten years of operation, the project will create more than 100 new jobs with an average annual compensation of $85,000.

-- In June 2007, Merck & Co., Inc. announced its second Virginia expansion in six months, which involved a $193 million investment to expand its Elkton, Virginia, facility, further enhancing production capabilities for the pharmaceutical company's medicines and vaccines. In December 2006, Merck & Co., Inc. announced a $57 million investment to expand the role its Elkton facility plays in producing GARDASIL(R), Merck's cervical cancer vaccine. The investment included construction of a new building and the installation of equipment for the purification process--a key stage in manufacturing the product. Merck also completed construction of a vaccine fermentation facility at Elkton, which will be used to support an earlier stage in the GARDASIL manufacturing process. Merck first expanded its facility in 2005 to undertake part of the manufacturing process for GARDASIL(TM).

-- Bostwick Laboratories announced in July 2007 a $4.6 million investment to expand its Henrico County, Virginia, headquarters facility. The expansion will create 600 new jobs in the area of urologic disease research that will help improve the lives of Virginians and people around the world.

-- Covance announced in November 2007 its new pharmaceutical research and development laboratory in Prince William County, Virginia. The company is investing about $175 million.

-- Earlier this year, Barr Laboratories invested $62 million to expand production and packaging capacity at its facility in Bedford County, Virginia. In addition to enhancing its current product line, the expansion allows Barr to add equipment that will incorporate a new timed-released technology for solid dosage pharmaceuticals.

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 -0- BIO International Convention June 17-20, 2008 San Diego, CA Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy Sept. 10-12, 2008 Vancouver, BC BIO Investor Forum 2008 October 29-31, 2008 San Francisco, CA BIO-Europe 2008 November 17-19, 2008 Mannheim/Heidelberg, Germany

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Paul Winters, 202-962-9237
pwinters@bio.org