Howard Dean to Speak at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference

Mid-Atlantic Bio Announces Packed Conference Program and Latest Speaker
Addition, Representative Charles Boustany (R-La.)

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Mid-Atlantic Bio today announced that former Vermont Governor Howard Dean will
serve as the closing plenary speaker at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference,
November 4 through 6, held in Washington, D.C., at the Washington, DC Convention
Center. Dean will speak about how healthcare reform policy and regulatory
changes will impact the bioscience and investment communities.

Additionally, Representative Charles Boustany (R-La.) will speak on the
"Healthcare Policy Panel." Boustany, a member of the House Republican Health
Care Reform Working Group and a former cardiothoracic surgeon, delivered the GOP
response to President Obama's speech on health care reform. He will speak
alongside Representative Anna Eshoo, (D-Calif.), and Tony Zook, CEO of
AstraZeneca North America. Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, BioCentury Publications,
Inc., will moderate the panel. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) will make
remarks at the "CEO & Investor Reception."

The Conference attracts hundreds of senior executives from the life sciences
industry, as well as investors, capital sources, international delegations,
entrepreneurs, researchers and professional service advisors. Mid-Atlantic Bio
is co-hosted by the region`s most influential life science and investor
associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM/MdBio), the
Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia Biotechnology
Association (VaBIO).

"Mid-Atlantic Bio is excited to offer Dean at this year`s conference as an
opportunity for attendees to gain insights on the coming impact of policy and
regulatory changes," said Host committee member Richard Zakour, Ph.D., executive
director of MdBio. "We look at this conference as a service to the industry
because it offers an opportunity for the community to develop partnerships,
share best practices, present research findings, and learn from provocative
thought leaders."

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKERS:

R.J. Kirk
CEO, Third Security and Intrexon

Tony Zook
CEO, AstraZeneca North America
President, MedImmune

Tom Watkins
CEO, Human Genome Sciences

PANEL SESSIONS:

- Biofuels - Innovative Biotechnology Meets Commercial Needs

- If Venture Capital Is Broken, Why Are So Many People Still Doing It?

- Innovative Life Science Business Strategies in an Uncertain Environment

- Without a Net - CEOs Discuss How Their Companies Prosper, Even Today

- Accelerating and Enhancing Drug Development

- Biomarkers and Personalized Medicine: Challenges and Opportunities

- Go Where the Money Is: An Insider`s Briefing on Accessing Federal Grants

- The Crown Jewels of Biotech Value: New Developments and Strategies for
Intellectual Property

- How to Expedite Moving Submissions through the FDA in 2009

- Vaccines: Biotech`s Next "Big Thing"

COMPANY PRESENTERS

Each year at Mid-Atlantic Bio, a number of life science companies are chosen to
present before an audience of capital sources, including venture capitalists,
angel investors, and various other qualified financing sources along with
important industry professionals and potential strategic partners. This year we
will have two distinct tracks-a "Showcase" track for later stage companies and a
"Growth Watch" track for emerging companies.

INNOVATION CORRIDOR

The Mid-Atlantic Bio Innovation Corridor showcases the region's outstanding
academic translational research and development through science posters on
display at the conference. Corporate and academic entrepreneurs, researchers,
faculty members, and students from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia,
and surrounding areas will present posters that highlight their latest research
and findings.

ABOUT MID-ATLANTIC BIO

Mid-Atlantic Bio is co-hosted by the region`s most influential life science and
investor associations, MdBio Division of the Tech Council of Maryland
(TCM/MdBio), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), and the Virginia
Biotechnology Association (VaBIO). Mid-Atlantic Bio benefits from broad regional
support from the investor and greater business communities, academic
institutions, government agencies, and partnering regional associations. For
more information, or to register or sponsor, please visit
www.midatlanticbio.org.

Mid-Atlantic Bio
Kelly Dieter, 703-288-8684
Cell: 704-619-5508
kdieter@hayespr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009