Sir Elton John Delivers Keynote Today at 2009 BIO International Convention

Renowned AIDS Activist Addresses Biotech's Role in HIV/AIDS Prevention,
Treatment
ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
Sir Elton John delivered today`s keynote address at the 2009 BIO International
Convention at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. He focused on the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, how biotechnology has influenced prevention and treatment of
the disease and an outlook of the challenges and solutions that lie ahead.

"Despite our many advances, and despite your laudable work, HIV/AIDS is still
winning. It continues to devastate populations in the developing world. But the
epidemic is also worse than we thought in this very city, and in this very
country.

"We are truly the `David` of nonprofits, fighting the `Goliath` of diseases.

"The answer, in short, is that collectively the world`s governments and
industries are too often ignoring reality. And this creates gaps between what
governments and industry are doing to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and what
they should be doing."

Called for industry to come together - "where is our collective voice on this?"

"There are new biomedical technologies - such as potential vaccines,
microbicides and the use of antiretroviral drugs for prevention - which must be
evaluated for potential use.

"Let us demand that researchers have the resources to undertake every new
investigation of every promising scientific approach. Let us demand that
government deploy health advances once proven effective. Let us demand that
Congress support a new National AIDS Strategy."

In 1992, frustrated and angered by the growing magnitude of the epidemic and how
comparatively little was being done to help those affected by the virus, Sir
Elton decided to bring focus to all of his AIDS-related work by establishing the
Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) in the United States (EJAF-US). The following
year, he also established this foundation in the United Kingdom (EJAF-UK).

Today, EJAF is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations supporting
innovative HIV prevention programs, direct care and support services for people
living with HIV/AIDS, and efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination
associated with the disease. EJAF US's current grant-making priorities target
HIV prevention programs in the Southern United States, the Caribbean and Latin
America, focusing on HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized
and vulnerable populations, and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion
of sexual health for adolescents. EJAF-UK focuses its grant making on projects
in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

In addition to Sir Elton John's keynote address, presentations and educational
sessions at the 2009 BIO International Convention will focus on research and
development, partnership opportunities, and new business models required to meet
global health challenges.

The BIO International Convention is expected to draw approximately 12,000 to
15,000 industry leaders from 48 states and 60 countries. This year, the
Convention program features 170 sessions in 22 breakout session tracks. Sessions
will address the most pressing issues facing biotech today, including healthcare
pricing and access, capital formation and partnering strategies in a tight
credit environment, and climate change and biofuels.

In addition, this year`s BIO Exhibition covers approximately 176,000 net sq. ft.
and host more than 1,800 exhibitors.

The BIO International Convention helps to support BIO programs and initiatives.
BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the
industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through
biotechnology innovation. For more information on the global event for
biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit
http://convention.bio.org.

About BIO

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

BIO Human Resources Conference
May 17-19, 2009
Atlanta, GA

2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, GA

BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

BIO
Tracy Krughoff, 202-279-0536
tkrughoff@bio.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009