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“We can’t afford to rest on our laurels” was the message County Executive Ike Leggett delivered as he received a bold new bioscience strategy designed to position Montgomery County as a “globally recognized leader in advancing bioscience research and development, and in translating scientific discoveries into commercially available products that benefit human health.” The strategy was developed by the Biosciences Task Force, formed by Leggett in October 2008.

Joining the Executive in the announcement were Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force Chair David Mott, members of the County Council, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development Director Steve Silverman, members of the Task Force, and public and private sector stakeholders from the local biotech community.

Steady progress toward broader adoption of BENLYSTA treatment

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. HGSI +1.18% will today announce its priority goals for 2012 and report on progress with the commercialization of BENLYSTA(R) (belimumab), the first approved drug for systemic lupus in 56 years, during a presentation this afternoon by H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, to financial analysts and investors at the 30th Annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

“Thousands of patients with systemic lupus are now being treated with BENLYSTA,” said Mr. Watkins. “We are pioneering a treatment in a market that has not seen a new option for patients in decades. Although we are still in the early adoption phase of our launch, our experience in the market to date reinforces our belief that BENLYSTA will ultimately play a major role in improving the standard of care for SLE patients.”