Montgomery County biotech initiatives, companies shine at BIO 2012

As you may know, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (MCDED) led the County’s participation at the 2012 BIO International Convention held June 18-21 in Boston, MA.

Our team of business development professionals participated in dozens of business partnering forum meetings with national and international biotech companies during the course of the Convention. On June 19, MCDED held a press conference from the floor of the BIOMaryland Pavilion, kicked off by Human Genome Sciences CEO and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Board Chairman Tom Watkins and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. The press conference highlighted the success of the County’s biotech investment incentive program – the nation’s ONLY such local program which helped spur more than $6 million in investments to 10 County-based biotech companies in 2011 – and the creation of the County-inspired, regional biotech intermediary BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI). BHI is chaired by Scott Carmer, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations, MedImmune and sponsored by Human Genome Sciences and several other local private-sector companies and academic institutions. The press conference also featured a panel, moderated by MedImmune CEO Peter Greenleaf, of County-based, serial biotech entrepreneurs discussing why and how they started companies in Montgomery County.

In addition, MCDED, as part of BIOMaryland, again hosted the Convention’s annual gala event held June 20 at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The gala attracted thousands of BIO 2012 attendees giving them an opportunity to network and mingle in a relaxing, festive environment prominently showcasing the BIOMaryland brand. We also sponsored raffles for 6 months of free lab space in one of the county’s premiere incubator facilities and for tickets to this week’s AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.

Montgomery County’s biotech sector had an impressive presence at BIO 2012. Of the nearly 30 BIOMaryland Pavilion exhibitors, about half were County businesses or entities. Representatives from nearly 70 county organizations, companies, and federal agencies attended the Convention, including the following Montgomery County Business Innovation Network (BIN) current and/or graduate companies: Clarassance, Inc., Creatv Microtech, Inc., Daewoong America, HeMemics, Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and SuperNova Diagnostics. Additionally, Lentigen Corporation, a biotechnology company specializing in the development and manufacture of biotherapeutics and vaccines using its proprietary lentiviral gene delivery technologies, announced the opening of its 5,000 sq. ft. GMP Manufacturing Facility located at the company’s headquarters in Gaithersburg.

The June 20 keynote luncheon panel entitled “Biotech and Big Pharma — What’s Next?” featured Rachel King, CEO of Gaithersburg-based GlycoMimetics and the newly announced incoming Chair of BIO for 2013, and Tom Watkins.

These are just some of the targeted activities the County’s team managed, participated in and/or helped promote during BIO 2012 – the biotech industry’s largest and most important gathering of the year attracting more than 15,000 attendees from around the world. Below are some pictures and video clips from the Convention we’d like to share with you.

MedImmune CEO Peter Greenleaf (standing, purple shirt) and bio entrepreneur panelists
(seated, shown l-to-r: Mark Rampey, CEO, CohBar, Inc.; Peter Kiener, President & CEO, Zyngenia;
and John Trizzino, CEO, ImmunoVaccine) field questions during June 19 press event.

Scott Carmer, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations, MedImmune
and BHI Board Chair explains MedImmune’s role in BHI and the importance of this
new, industry-led biotech intermediary. He is joined by Montgomery County
Executive Isiah Leggett,who announced thesuccesses of the County’s local
biotech investment incentive program earlier in the press conference.

MCDED Director Steve Silverman chats with HGS CEO & BIO
Board Chair Tom Watkins after the June 19 press event.

MCDED Director Steve Silverman & Ken Carter, President and CEO, NexImmune
and Board Chairman, Noble Life Sciences, discuss Montgomery County’s
key biotech sector advantages and successes during the June 20
BIO Buzz Center interview at BIO International Convention (click picture to see interview).

Steve Silverman,
Director

Montgomery County biotech initiatives, companies shine at BIO 2012

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