Assistant US Trade Representative Jim Murphy Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its
selection of Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural
Affairs James M. Murphy, Jr. as Legislator of the Year for
2007-2008. The award was presented to Mr. Murphy as part of the BIO
Legislative Day Fly-In.

"Throughout 2007 Mr. Murphy worked diligently with industry and
European officials on the WTO agricultural biotechnology moratorium
trade dispute. And, over the past ten years, his patience, insight and
skillful negotiating have focused global attention on the EU's illegal
prohibitions on agricultural biotechnology," said BIO President and
CEO Jim Greenwood. "He is hands down the most influential and
supportive US government official on agricultural biotech trade
matters this year."

A seventeen year veteran of the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative, Murphy presently coordinates U.S. agricultural trade
policy among all government agencies that deal with trade. He also
oversees agricultural issues in the negotiation of trade agreements
with foreign governments.

During the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In, more than 200 biotechnology
industry representatives from 36 states will participate in hundreds
of meetings with key Members of the House and Senate. Participants
will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including
agricultural biotechnology regulations, biofuels, patent reform, and
appropriations.

BIO represents more than 1,200 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.

Upcoming BIO Events

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-- BIO National Venture Conference
April 22-23, 2008
Boston, Mass.

-- World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
April 27-30, 2008
Chicago, Ill.

-- 2008 BIO International Convention
June 17-20, 2008
San Diego, Calif.
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Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
George Goodno, 202-962-6660
www.bio.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008