International Biotech Gurus, Renowned Consultants, Venture Capitalists and Industry Participants Assemble for Bio Business ASIA 2012

TAIPEI, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - Jul 23, 2012) - Bio Business ASIA (BBA) has become one of the world's most important events for global investors and biotech companies. Discussions at the 2012 BBA, which is the 11th edition of the event, will revolve around the theme "Asia Pacific Biotechnology: Investing NOW for the Future." Two renowned individuals in the biotech field, Brian Gu, Head of Asia Pacific Healthcare at JP Morgan, and John Cannings, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, will present addresses at the gathering, enabling participants to fully understand the opportunities and challenges facing the industry. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization and the Japan Bioindustry Association will form delegations to attend the annual event for the first time, hoping to take advantage of this important interactive platform to generate new cooperative opportunities for industry participants.

Dr. Simon Chang, Minister without portfolio, stated that the BBA over the past decade has consistently provided an important platform for interaction among biotech investors and industry participants. Each year, he said, biotech experts share their latest viewpoints of the industry and introduce successful stories, thereby helping to rapidly forge investment and cooperative relationships. The global biotech sector at present is rapidly moving towards the stage of strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions, Minister Chang explained. He furthermore commented that facing an increasingly competitive environment, industry participants have no choice but to embrace strategic collaboration and alliance models to maintain their competiveness. This, he said, will ensure the sustainability of these companies in the biotech market, adding that the BBA presents an ideal platform to bolster cooperation within the industry.

Conference chairman Yio-Wha Shau, Vice President and General Director of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, remarked that this year's BBA has specially invited upstream, midstream, and downstream biotech experts to present analysis of current investment opportunities in the industry, as well as how to best respond to future opportunities and challenges. This year's BBA will be kicked off with a keynote speech by Dr. Whaijen Soo, Managing Director from the Taiwan Supra Integration and Incubation Center. Dr. Soo will offer his viewpoints on appropriate development for Taiwan's medical device and biopharmaceutical industries, which will enable Taiwan to become a comprehensive "3S" powerhouse, referring to systems, software, and services, and will create a top-notch environment conducive to attracting leading international companies. In addition, Dr. Arun Menawat, President and CEO of Novadaq, will also explain global trends and challenges in the diagnostic imaging industry. Dr. Brian Gu, Head of Asia Pacific Healthcare at JP Morgan, will offer his insights and observations on how biotech companies can best take advantage of rapid growth opportunities in the future. Lastly, Partner John Cannings from Pricewaterhouse Coopers will offer his thoughts in terms of an international pharmaceutical heavyweight as to trends in the global pharmaceuticals sector and the golden decade that the industry is about to enjoy. He will point out the strategies and thinking of big pharma companies, along with the changes and challenges in the global pharmaceuticals market.

In addition to the insightful discussions provided by some of the world's foremost biotech experts, representatives from nearly 20 international biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, along with IT heavyweight Qisda Corp., in vitro diagnostics firm Genesis Genetics Asia, and Mycenax Biotech Inc. will participate in this year's BBA on July 24^th and 25^th to introduce their latest technologies and products.

About ITRI (http://www.itri.org.tw/eng)
Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech R&D institutions. Founded in 1973, ITRI has nurtured more than 70 CEOs, 172 innovative companies, and accumulated more than 17,000 patents.