BIO Commends PTO Director for Withdrawal of Harmful Rules

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued
the following statement today on the decision by David J. Kappos, Under
Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office (PTO), to withdraw the agency`s proposed rules restricting
continuation and claims practice, which had been opposed by BIO and challenged
in court by GlaxoSmithKline:

"BIO applauds the action by Under Secretary Kappos today to formally withdraw
the controversial and harmful proposed rules that would have limited the ability
of biotechnology applicants to secure full coverage of their inventions. This
action is a positive sign that the new Administration wants to work in a
constructive manner with the patent applicant community to address the serious
challenges facing the PTO, and BIO stands ready to work with Under Secretary
Kappos and others at the PTO to do so."

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 Investor Forum
October 28-29, 2009
San Francisco, CA

Advanced Business Development Course
October 30, 2009
Vienna, Austria

BIO Europe International Partnering Conference
November 2-4, 2009
Vienna, Austria

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
November 8-11, 2009
Honolulu, HI

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Stephanie Fischer, 202-312-9263
sfischer@bio.org
www.bio.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009