BIO 2019 Wraps Up Week of Biotechnology Progress

The 2019 BIO International Convention, the world's premier life sciences event, today wrapped up four days of meetings, presentations and discussions designed to advance biotechnology innovation and solutions to the world's toughest challenges today.

United under the Convention theme, "It Starts With One," companies, academic centers, patient groups, researchers, regulatory leaders and investors worked to progress approaches in key areas, such as drug development, patient access, gene therapy, diversity and inclusion, opioids, renewable fuels and agriculture.

Hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), this year's Convention drew 17,307 attendees from 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 65 countries to Philadelphia and its burgeoning biotech community.

"BIO 2019 perfectly reflected our theme and organization's belief that the singular steps we take each day can have a significant global impact on health and biotechnology," said Joanne Duncan, President, Membership and Business Operations at BIO. "We believe many of these first steps took place this week and that attendees are now better prepared to continue marching forward to deliver innovations that heal, feed and fuel the world."

BIO 2019 included over 1,800 exhibitors, more than 800 speakers, over 250 company presentations, 126 educational sessions, nine super sessions, seven fireside chats and 18 education tracks. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, physician and oncologist, and Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, delivered keynote addresses that put a spotlight on current and future opportunities in gene therapy and improving diversity and inclusion within the biotech industry, respectively.

The Convention continued to demonstrate that it is the premiere networking event for the biotechnology industry. Facilitated by BIO's One-on-One Partneringtm system, BIO 2019 hosted more than 48,500 partnering meetings. BIO 2019 also featured a Free Student Day, offering eligible participants a one-day Exhibition Access registration and the invaluable opportunity to meet with biotech industry leaders and professionals.

During Convention, BIO also announced that Jeremy Levin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ovid Therapeutics, has been named the new Chair of its Board of Directors for the 2019-2020 term.

BIO 2019 was co-chaired by Life Sciences Pennsylvania, BioNJ and Delaware Bio.

"Life Sciences Pennsylvania was honored to co-host the 2019 BIO International Convention," said Christopher P. Molineaux, President and CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania. "The tri-state region is home to top pharma and biotech companies, universities, academic medical centers and research institutions and we're grateful to have been able to showcase the region's contributions to business and science during this week."

"The past four days of programming have enabled the leading visionaries, problem solvers and innovators across the Tri-State region and biotech ecosystem to connect, collaborate and address the industry's top issues," said Debbie Hart, President and CEO, BioNJ and co-chair of the 2019 BIO International Convention. "We now set our sights on the future of biotech innovation, inspired by the progress of the past week."

"It's been a pleasure to see the BIO 2019 programming come to life in ways that provide real value for Convention attendees," said Helen Stimson, President and CEO, DelawareBio and co-chair of the 2019 BIO International Convention. "The past four days have set the stage for what's next for our industry in the year ahead and beyond and we're honored to have co-hosted this prestigious event."

BIO 2020 will return to San Diego for the fourth time from June 8-11.

In 2021, the Convention will take place in Boston from June 14-17.

Follow the 2019 Convention @BIOConvention and join the conversation @IAmBIOtech.

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.