BIO Announces Keynote and Returns to Boston June 4-7 to Celebrate 25 Years of History-Making Innovation

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The BIO
International Convention, the world’s premier life sciences event,
will return to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, June 4-7, to
celebrate 25 years of advocacy and innovation. Hosted by the
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the 2018 event is expected
to attract more than 16,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors from 74
countries – all who will be welcomed in a special, keynote address by
ABC’s Robin Roberts.

“We’re thrilled to announce Robin Roberts as a BIO 2018 keynote
speaker,” said Jim Greenwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of
BIO. “From her esteemed journalism career to her personal triumphs over
illness, she is a true trailblazer and it is perfectly fitting that Ms.
Roberts will speak to the Convention’s 2018 theme: ‘make history.’”

This year’s Convention will celebrate the breakthrough innovations that
have shaped the past 25 years and the companies, academic centers and
investors that continue to advance cutting-edge science and solutions to
the world’s toughest challenges.

Registration
is open for this year’s event, which promises to be the most
comprehensive biotech convention in the world. BIO
2018 will offer:

• Nineteen educational tracks, covering all sectors of biotechnology
  including genome editing, opioids, digital health, oncology,
  personalized medicine, food and agriculture and more.
• Discussions by top thought leaders from:
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – Dr. Penny Heaton and Dr. Susan
    Desmond-Hellmann
  • Food and Drug Administration – Dr. Scott Gottlieb
  • Novartis – Dr. Jay Bradner
  • Merck – Kevin Ali, Dr. Christine Brennan, Dr. Julie Gerberding and
    Michael Nally
  • Sanofi – Dr. Heather Bell, Dr. Justin Huddleson, Dr. Adam Keeney
    and Stephen Meunier
  • Kraft Group and New England Patriots President – Jonathan Kraft
• BIO
  One-on-One Partnering™ – Expected to top last year’s more than
  41,000 individual meetings held over the course of four days.
• Engaging exhibits such as the Patient Advocacy Pavilion, Emerging
  Innovators Zone, Digital Health Zone, and Start-Up Stadium – a “Shark
  Tank”-like program where startups present to leading subject-matter
  experts in the industry.

As the world’s epicenter of biotechnology innovation, Boston – which
last hosted BIO in 2012 – is the prime location for BIO 2018. The city
is home to nearly 1,000 biotech companies, academic centers, hospitals
and life science centers advancing breakthrough research and product
development. Over the last decade, Massachusetts has become a powerhouse
for industry growth, with a 30 percent increase in jobs and no signs of
slowing down. At last year’s convention, Governor Charlie Baker unveiled
a 5-year, $500 million plan to increase infrastructure, research and
development, and workforce training to continue building upon
Massachusetts’ scientific excellence.

Complimentary media
registration is available to editors and reporters working full time
for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

Roberts will speak at Tuesday’s Keynote session from 9-10:30AM (ET). It
is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovation and is open to attendees
with Convention Access or higher.

About Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts has conducted interviews with countless newsmakers,
musicians, authors, athletes and celebrities. Under her leadership, the
ABC’s “Good Morning America” has won five Emmy Awards for Outstanding
Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime
TV Hosting Team. Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2007.
Five years later after beating cancer, she was diagnosed with
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare disease of the blood and bone
marrow once known as pre-leukemia. Roberts underwent a bone marrow
transplant in September 2012 and has become an outspoken advocate for
bone marrow donations and blood cancer research.

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing 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. BIOtechNOW is
BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO
Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe
to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

Contacts

Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
Theresa
Brady, 202-962-9235
Web: www.bio.org
Blog: www.biotech-now.org
Twitter: @IAmBiotech