European Biotechnology Crossroads presents international conference programme
7th European Biotech Crossroads presents international programme of top level conferences
International-class speakers, a full range of conference themes and opportunities to meet and exchange views make "Biotech Nantes 2003" the unmissable biotech event in Europe

Nantes, France, June 19, 2003 -- The seventh annual European Biotech Crossroads announces today a full programme of conferences for the event taking place on September 25-26. Key players from the world of biotechnology and more than 100 top level international experts will share their insights and experience in a series of conferences. The programme will enable visitors to compile their own à la carte menu of talks and conferences from the three main tracks of the Crossroads - science, business, and careers - alongside the trade show and business partnering convention.

The presence of government ministers and other European VIPs at the opening and closing ceremonies will highlight the important international status of the Crossroads. Claudie Haigneré, French minister for research and new technologies, will officially open Biotech Nantes 2003. Haigneré has invited Edelgard Buhlmahn, German minister for education and research and Philippe Busquin, European commissioner for research to open the event with her. Nicole Fontaine, French minister for industry has asked Lord Sainsbury of Turville, British parliamentary under-secretary of state for science and innovation and Erkki Liikanen, European commissioner for enterprise and information society to participate in the closing ceremony.

Full details of the conference programme including information on speakers can be found below, or at http://www.biotech-nantes.com/programme.html .

"We are delighted to have secured the participation of such excellent speakers for Biotech Nantes 2003," said Jean-François Balducchi, managing director at Atlanpole (Nantes-St Nazaire's technopole and bio-incubator) and Chairman of the 7th European Biotech Crossroads' Organising Committee. "As we put the finishing touches to the conference programme, we are more than satisfied that it further reinforces the convention's excellent international reputation. This conference programme demonstrates our commitment to make the European Biotech Crossroads a must for biotech people in Europe."

In putting together the programme of conferences and events, the convention's organisers have focused on addressing the hot issues affecting biotechnology today (such as nanotechnology, new diagnostics and analysis tools, and clinical trials), as well as tackling topics that have become more "traditional" (including gene therapy, genomics and proteomics, and vaccines). Organisers have also sought to make Biotech Nantes 2003 an original and unique event through interactive conferencing; information exchange has been made a priority over lectures, conference chairing will be lively, aided by real-life testimonials and case studies. The event organisers have spared no efforts to achieve a varied and complementary programme.

The conference programme including full list of speakers is given below. For a hard copy of the programme by mail or email, please contact Andrew Lloyd & Associates (gilles@ala.com). Alternatively, you can download up-to-the-minute information at:

http://www.biotech-nantes.com/programme.html 

About the European Biotech Crossroads, Biotech Nantes 2003:

www.biotech-nantes.com
The European Biotech Crossroads is one of the key annual events for biotechnology in Europe. Initiated in 1997 by the French Ministry of Research and organised in a different French city each year, the seventh European Biotech Crossroads will take place at the Cité des Congrès conference centre in Nantes, on September 25th and 26th, 2003. It will bring together all the key players in French and European biotech as well as a significant number of biotech companies from the rest of the world.

The European Biotech Crossroads comprises:

* A two-day programme of world-class scientific seminars

* Europe's second biggest annual trade show for biotech professionals

* A business convention bringing together European investors, businesses, start-ups and specialised service providers such as lawyers and patent attorneys.

The 2002 Biotech Crossroads held in Lille brought together 3,208 delegates (35% of whom were from outside France, with 27 countries represented), 308 exhibitors at the trade show event and 180 participants in a business partnering convention which generated more than 1000 business meetings.
 
The European Biotech Crossroads is organised by Atlanpole on behalf of the French Ministry of Research and New Technologies with support from the Pays de la Loire Regional Council, the Loire Atlantique General Council, Greater Nantes, the Brittany Regional Council, the Poitou Charentes Regional Council, the European Union, the Angers Development Agency, Nantes and Saint Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ANVAR (the French Innovation Agency), Digitip (the French government's Directorate General for Industry and ICT), the French Ministry of Finance and Industry and INSERM Transfert.

The European Biotech Crossroads is organised in partnership with a number of official bodies: France Biotech (France's national biotech industry association), EuropaBio, ADEBIO (the French Association for the Development of Biotechnology and the Bioindustry), Génopole Ouest, France Technopoles Entreprises Innovation, EBN (European BIC Network), IASP (the International Association of Science Parks), CNRS (the French National Research Council for Scientific Research), Ifremer (the French Research Institute for Marine Studies), INRA (the French National Agronomic Research Council), Inserm, the France Atlantique university network, the University of Nantes, BioChim action, the Atlantic Innovation Relay Centre, Ouest Atlantique, and Alcimed.

About Atlanpole:
Atlanpole is a technopole, incubator and business innovation centre. It has been contributing to the company start-up process since 1987 and fuels the "Nantes Atlantique" business region's strong entrepreneurial spirit.

Given official recognition by the French Ministry of Research in 1999, the Atlanpole Bio-incubator has provided business support to more than 80 innovative start-up projects, including 32 in the life sciences.

Atlanpole draws on the experience of a multidisciplinary team serving entrepreneurs in three areas:

* Building and running a skills network

* Project engineering and innovation management

* Marketing the region and welcoming companies that choose it as a business location.

Appendix

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME FOR THE 7TH EUROPEAN BIOTECHNOLOGY CROSSROADS, "BIOTECH NANTES 2003"

OPENING CEREMONY

Claudie HAIGNERÉ, French minister for research and new technologies
Edelgard BUHLMAHN, German minister for education and research*
Philippe BUSQUIN, European commissioner for research*
Prof. Michel LAZDUNSKI, Directeur Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, FRANCE

SCIENCE TRACK

Biodiversity: Exploring genetic polymorphism

Dr Francis GALIBERT (Host), Directeur unité de recombinaisons génétiques, FRANCE
Prof. Michel AIGLE, Directeur Institut de biochimie et génétique cellulaires - CNRS, FRANCE
Dr Aled EDWARD, CEO of Structured Genomics Consortium Banting and Best Research Institute - Affinium Pharmaceuticals Inc., CANADA
Prof Arcady R. MUSHEGIAN, Director of bioinformatics - Stowers Institute for medical research, USA
Prof. Leena PELTONEN, Director Dept. of molecular medicine and medical genetics - National Public Health Institute and University of Helsinki, FINLAND
Dr Laurent PRADIER*, Department of neurodegenerative diseases - Aventis Pharma, FRANCE
Prof. Goran SANDBERG *, Umeå Plant Science Center, SWEDEN
Dr Kari STEFANSSON*, CEO deCODE Genetics, ICELAND

Biodiversity: Bio-products, Bio-processes

Prof. Spiros N. AGATHOS, Directeur unit of bioengineering (GEBI) - Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), BELGIUM
M. Daniel BERNIER, Chargé de projets spéciaux - Les Laboratoires Aeterna inc., CANADA

Prof. Peter HEGEMANN, Institut für biochemie 1, GERMANY
Prof. Jakob K. KRISTJANSSON, CEO Prokaria, ICELAND
Prof. Lene LANGE, Science Director, molecular biotechnology Novozymes A/S, DENMARK
Dr Philippe MARLIERE, CSO Evologic S.A., FRANCE
Dr Joël QUERELLOU, Directeur Laboratoire de microbiologie et de biotechnologie des extremophiles, FRANCE

Biodiversity: Enhancement and preservation

Dr Michel RENARD (Host), Directeur Génopole Ouest, FRANCE
Prof. Klaus AMMANN, Director Botanical Garden - University of Bern, SWITZERLAND
Dr Ingrid OLESEN*, Head of division genetics and breeding - Akvaforsk, NORWAY
Dr Francesco SALA*, Dipartimento di biologia - Università degli Studi di Milano, ITALY
Prof. Paula SCHNEIDER, Director Laboratory of DNA poymorphisms - University of Belem, BRAZIL
Prof. Marc VAN MONTAGU, Chairman Institute of plant biotechnology for developing countries (IPBO), BELGIUM
Dr Alan WILDEMAN, VP Research University of Guelph, CANADA

Tools for Life: Proteomics

Dr Bernard JÉGOU (Host), Directeur groupe d'étude de la reproduction chez le mâle, FRANCE
Dr Lori FRAPPIER, Affinium Pharmaceuticals, CANADA
Dr Samir HANASH, HUPO President (Human Proteome Organisation) -University of Michigan, USA
Dr Charles PINEAU, Directeur scientifique, Innova Proteomics, FRANCE
Dr Pierre COLAS*, Directeur scientifique, Aptanomics, FRANCE
Dr Christopher TAYLOR, School of biological sciences, University of Manchester, UK

Tools for Life: Nanobiotechnologies

M. David BARIAU, Business Unit Manager Biotechnologies, Alcimed, FRANCE
Dr Martin BENNINK, Program director MESA+ Research Institute - University of Twente, The NETHERLANDS
Dr Alexandra FUCHS*, CEA, FRANCE
Dr Niek VAN HULST*, MESA+, University of Twente, The NETHERLANDS

Drug Discovery, A strategic approach

Prof. Denis ESCANDE (Host), Directeur Laboratoire physiopathologie et pharmacologie cellulaires et moléculaires, INSERM 533, FRANCE
Dr Andreas BUSCH, Head DG cardiovascular diseases Aventis Pharma, GERMANY
Dr Ian M. HUNNEYBALL, President, Services Division Evotec OAI Ltd, UK
Prof. Olli KALLIONIEMI, Group Leader VTT Biotechnology - Medical Biotechnology Group, FINLAND
Dr Frédéric REVAH, CSO Cerep, FRANCE
Dr Sally ROSE, Director of computational chemistry bioFocus discovery, UK
Dr Hartmut VOSS, Vice President Scientific Content, LION Bioscience AG, GERMANY

Biotherapies, from promise to practice Gene Therapy

Dr Philippe MOULLIER (Host), Directeur du Laboratoire de thérapie génique, INSERM - ERM 104, FRANCE
Dr Olivier DANOS, Directeur scientifique Genethon III, FRANCE
Prof. Mark E. HASKINS, Professor of pathology and medical genetics school of veterinary medicine - University of Pennsylvania, USA
Dr Susan KINGSMAN*, Research director Oxford BioMedica plc, UK

Biotherapies, from promise to practice: Stem cells and transgenesis

Dr Ignacio ANEGON (Host), Unité d'Immunointervention dans les allo et les xénotransplantations, INSERM 437, France
Dr Michel RENARD, Service de biologie du développement INRA, FRANCE
Dr Alexandre FRAICHARD, CEO GenOway, FRANCE
Prof. Giorgios KOLLIAS, President and Director biomedical sciences research center 'Alexander Fleming', GREECE
Prof. Bruno PEAULT, Directeur Unité d'ontogenese de l'hématopoièse, INSERM U506 Hôpital Paul Brousse, FRANCE
Dr Jean-Paul RENARD, Service de biologie du développement - INRA, FRANCE
Dr Michael RUDNICKI, Ottawa health research institute, CANADA
Dr Joseph WAGNER, Director of cell biology Neuronyx, Inc., USA

Biotherapies, from promise to practice: Vaccines

Dr Marc BONNEVILLE (Host), Directeur Laboratoire interactions récépteurs ligands en immunocancérologie et immunopathologie INSERM 463, FRANCE
Dr Jean-Marc BALLOUL, Department of molecular immunology Transgene S.A., FRANCE
Dr Guiseppe DEL GIUDICE, Head, serology and animals models Chiron SRL, ITALY
Prof. Jean-Gérard GUILLET, INSERM U445 Hôpital Cochin, FRANCE
Dr Pascale JEANNIN, Centre d'immunologie Pierre Fabre, FRANCE
Dr François ROMAGNE, Directeur R&D Innate Pharma SAS, FRANCE
Prof. Rafick-Pierre SEKALY, Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, CANADA
Dr Laurence ZITVOGEL, Unité d'immunologie et de thérapie génique Institut Gustave Roussy, FRANCE

Tools for Life: Diagnostics and Food analysis

Prof. Jean-Paul MOISAN (Host), Directeur du Laboratoire d'étude du polymorphisme de l'ADN (LEPA), FRANCE
Prof. Jean-François CHATAL, Directeur Laboratory of immunospecific vectorization of pharmaceutical agents, FRANCE
M. Marc CUZIN, Vice President, Technical Manager Apibio, FRANCE
Dr Andreas PARDIGOL, Responsable business unit biologie moléculaire Eurofins Scientific, FRANCE
Dr Alexander OLEK*, CEO Epigenomics AG, GERMANY
Dr John WILLIAMS*, Division of molecular biology - Roslin Institute, UK
 
BUSINESS TRACK

Clinical Trials: business and good practice

Mr Lionel SEGARD (Host), Directeur Général INSERM Transfert, FRANCE
Prof. Christian BRECHOT, Directeur Général INSERM, FRANCE
Prof. Francis P. CRAWLEY, Chairman European Forum for good clinical practice, BELGIUM
Prof. Jean-Hugues TROUVIN, Directeur de l'évaluation des médicaments et des produits biologiques AFSSAPS, France
Dr Charles de TAISNE, Business development director, Aventis Pasteur, FRANCE
Dr Manfred SCHROEDER*, Clinical Development Manager Berna Biotech, SWITZERLAND
Prof Antoni TRILLA*, Hospital Clínico de Barcelona, SPAIN

Financing the biotech innovation in biotechnology: fostering the synergy

Mme Jeanne SEYVET, Directrice Générale DIGITIP, FRANCE
M. Jean-Paul MINGASSON*, Directeur Général pour l'entreprise, Commission Européenne, FRANCE

Strategy and Negotiation: Increase the value of your patents

M. Jean-François BLOCH, Directeur propriété industrielle, accords et licences Proteus SA, FRANCE
M. Jean-Bernard BORFIGA, Head of Corporate Business Development & Scientific Collaboration Servier, FRANCE
M. Ian HARVEY, CEO BTG Plc, UK
M. Steven SEGET, CEO Delphipharma, SWITZERLAND
M. Jacques WARCOIN, Directeur Associé Cabinet Regimbeau, FRANCE

Supporting Biotech: needs and opportunities

M. Frédéric ALLEMAND, Directeur Genopole Entreprises, FRANCE

Dr Ena PROSSER, Director BioResearch Ireland, IRELAND
M. Jean-François MOUNEY, CEO Genfit, FRANCE

Private Funding: a differential case study

Mr Diego BRAGUGLIA, Partner VI Partners AG, SWITZERLAND
M. Michael DONNELLY, CEO Growcorp Group Ltd, IRELAND
M. Jean-Denis DUBOIS, Vice President, Investments, Life Sciences Fonds de Solidarité FTQ, CANADA
M. Claude HENNION, Président Synergenes, FRANCE
Mr Christof LENZ*, BayTech Venture Capital Beratungs GmbH, GERMANY
Dr Stephane MERY*, Fund Manager Bloomsbury Bioseed Fund, UK
Mr Marc-Olivier PERRET*, Directeur Gilde Investment Management, THE NETHERLANDS
M. Damien SALAUZE, Directeur Associé Auriga Partners, FRANCE

Focus on: Evolution of the production and economics of biotherapeutics - different approaches

Dr Guy de MARTYNOFF, Director Corporate Development BioProtein Technologies, FRANCE
Dr Gordon SHERIFF, Technical director Excell Biotech, UK
Dr Manfred THEISEN, Research director Meristem Therapeutics, FRANCE
Dr Michel THIRY, Biologics business unit Manager Eurogentec S.A., BELGIUM

Be the partner of choice: criteria and diligence

M. Eric HALIOUA, Senior manager Practice Life Science Arthur D. Little, FRANCE
Dr Rolf MEYER*, Nestlé, SWITZERLAND
M. Gilles NOBECOURT*, Directeur sciences de la vie LCF Rothschild Private Equity, France
M. Patrick TRICOLI, Directeur de la valorisation Sanofi Synthelabo, FRANCE
Dr Rémi URBAIN, Directeur de la recherche extérieure Pierre Fabre, FRANCE

Growing biotech: Alliances, mergers, subsidiaries

Dr Hugues BIENAYME, CEO Chrysalon S.A., FRANCE
Dr Gilles MARTIN, Président Directeur Général Eurofins Scientific Analytics, FRANCE

Dr Jonathan TURNER, Head of C. dpt Business development Boeringher Ingelheim GmbH, GERMANY

PLENARY SCIENTIFIC SESSION

Success story: Raven biotech

Dr Jennie P. MATHER, CEO Raven Biotech, USA

Biotechnology and Sustainable Industry

Dr Iain GILLESPIE, Head of biotechnology unit OCDE, FRANCE

Bioethics: New technologies, new drugs, new needs, evaluating the risk/benefit balance

Prof. Fred BINKA*, University of Ghana, GHANA
Dr Hervé CHNEIWEISS, Collège de France - INSERM U 114, FRANCE

Prof. Göran HERMEREN*, Professor medical ethics, Faculty of medicine, SWEDEN
Prof. Jennifer A. THOMSON, Professor of microbiology University of Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
CLOSING CEREMONY

Nicole FONTAINE, French minister for industry

Lord SAINSBURY of TURVILLE, British Parliamentary under-secretary of state for science and innovation *

Erkki LIIKANEN, European commissioner for enterprise and information society*
Dr Philippe POULETTY, President France Biotech, FRANCE

*tbc

For further information:

Andrew Lloyd/Keren Perrott

Andrew Lloyd & Associates

+44 1273 675 100

allo@ala.com/keren@ala.com