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Summer 2007
Once Omeris, now BioOhio
As most of you probably know, Ohio’s bioscience membership and development organization has changed its name from Omeris to BioOhio. A new logo with a stylized shape of our state debuted in tandem with the new name in late March.
BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis said the name is already building more effective branding outside of Ohio for the statewide organization responsible for attracting out-of-state company relocations and capital investment for emerging entrepreneurial companies. In late 2006, BioOhio received a three-year, $1.5 million grant from Ohio’s Third Frontier Commission to recruit cutting-edge bioscience companies from around the world.
“The bioscience industry in Ohio is growing very rapidly and maturing into a significant portion of the GDP of the state,” Dennis said. “The increasing numbers and success of Ohio’s bioscience companies and research institutions have captured the attention of the global bioscience industry.
Since we’ve contributed to this progress, we felt it was time for our organization’s identity to embody our product, bioscience in the State of Ohio.”
More than 750 bioscience-related entities are operating in Ohio, ranging from the very large to the very young. BioOhio will continue to focus on adding to this number through company recruitment and formation. In 2006 alone, more than 40 companies were either launched or recruited within Ohio’s borders, including Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Bioscience-related entities include those involved in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, bioinformatics, medical devices, medical equipment, and other health-related products.
“It’s always been very important to us to create a sense of community and collaboration among Ohio’s bioscience companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, and students,” Dennis added. “The name BioOhio better represents the bioscience community in Ohio.”
Founded in 1987 as Edison BioTechnology Center, BioOhio is a non-profit organization designed to build and accelerate bioscience industry, research, and education in Ohio. Headquartered in Columbus, BioOhio is supported by the Thomas Edison Program of the Ohio Department of Development and contributions from its 230-plus members. BioOhio regional business development affiliates are located in Athens (Edison Biotechnology Institute), Cincinnati (BIO/START), Cleveland (BioEnterprise), and Columbus (TechColumbus).
4th annual issue of Accelerating Excellence unveiled
New interactive digital version debuts
The latest issue of BioOhio’s annual magazine, Accelerating Excellence, hit the streets in early May at the BIO Convention in Boston. Much of this year’s issue highlights the impact and importance of workforce and talent in the continued growth of Ohio’s bioscience sector.
The editorial focus on bioscience workforce and talent spawned the creation of a “Thirty in Their 30s” list featuring 30 of Ohio’s best, brightest, and youngest bioscience professionals. Other articles share the thoughts of industry and academic leaders on Ohio’s bioscience workforce landscape, shed light on career-oriented educational approaches, and detail BioOhio’s collaborative plan to attract cutting-edge bioscience companies from around the world.
Accelerating Excellence is available in hard copy (by request through BioOhio and at upcoming BioOhio events) and in a new interactive digital format featured on BioOhio.com. More than 5,000 hard copies are printed and distributed each year and online versions are downloaded at least 500 times a month.
The latest issue also was the first produced in partnership with BioMedia, a BioOhio member and Ohio-based custom publishing company that produces a variety of print and electronic media for high technology, start-up, and non- profit organizations.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals expands manufacturing operation
In early May, Governor Ted Strickland announced a decision by Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to expand operations at its West Chester Township (Butler County) facility.
Amylin’s subsidiary Amylin Ohio LLC will expand construction at its facility where it intends to manufacture exenatide long-acting release (LAR), a diabetes drug candidate currently in clinical development. The expansion is dependent on continued progress of exenatide LAR through its development process. This expansion is expected to result in the creation of up to 500 jobs over the next three years.
 “I’m pleased that Amylin will grow its biopharmaceutical operations in Ohio and provide high tech jobs for our workforce,” said Governor Strickland. “Amylin is a significant partner in Ohio’s growing bioscience industry and will undoubtedly serve as a blueprint for companies dedicated to developing innovative therapies in the future.”
Amylin is a biopharmaceutical company that currently markets two first-in-class medicines for diabetes, SYMLIN® (pramlintide acetate) injection and BYETTA® (exenatide) injection. Amylin’s Ohio facility will manufacture exenatide LAR, a long-acting release version of BYETTA currently in clinical development. Exenatide LAR may greatly enhance the convenience of managing diabetes by requiring only once-weekly administration.
The company’s plans for expansion include additional construction at the facility, and the acquisition of pharmaceutical filling and sterilization machinery and other production line and distribution equipment. Amylin anticipates its manufacturing facility will be complete by the end of 2008.
“Amylin’s Ohio manufacturing facility is an important investment in our mission to deliver life-changing medicines,” said Daniel M. Bradbury, president & CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We believe Ohio has a favorable business environment and is an ideal location for investing in our company’s future growth.”
The State of Ohio, local communities and business partners have been supportive of Amylin’s expansion plans. Among these partnerships, BioOhio, Ohio’s bioscience membership and development organization, was instrumental in connecting Amylin with workforce resources and other established bioscience companies throughout the state during its initial decision to build a facility in West Chester and in making its recent decision to expand.
"Amylin joins the growing bio/pharmaceutical cluster developing in Ohio, especially in southwest Ohio, and further establishes the biosciences as one of the pillars on which Ohio will build its economic future,” commented BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis. “We are pleased to have played a major part in helping Amylin’s Ohio expansion and look forward to their leadership in our rapidly growing bioscience community."
In addition, the State of Ohio, through the Ohio Department of Development, and the local communities have committed more than $117 million in statutory benefits and financial assistance for the project based on Amylin’s expected total investment of approximately $400 million.
BioOhio in Beantown
State’s bioscience champions promote assets and opportunities at annual BIO Convention
The 2007 BIO International Convention, held in Boston May 6-9, drew a record 22,366 attendees with representatives from 48 states and 64 countries. As in years past, BioOhio was in the mix, promoting our state and its bioscience-related organizations as ideal partners for growth and investment.
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| A portion of the BioOhio booth at BIO 2007 |
In addition to greeting visitors and holding meetings within a 400 sq. ft. exhibit booth, BioOhio hosted a well attended evening reception, which was sponsored by BioOhio-member Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. BioOhio also held two partnering breakfasts while in Boston. On the morning of May 7, tech transfer and commercialization officials from Ohio State, Case Western, Ohio University, and University of Cincinnati discussed how their bioscience research programs interact with industry. The next morning, executives from P&G, Meridian Bioscience, and Diagnostic Hybrids outlined their companies’ strategic alliance and partnering targets for 2007 and beyond. Each breakfast attracted nearly 40 guests from around the globe.
Other Ohio-based exhibitors at BIO 2007 included The Ohio State University, CAS, Eurand, Meridian Bioscience, Ricerca, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Jones Day, among others.
Next year the BIO International Convention will be held in San Diego, June 17-20.
Exploring biomedical partnerships in Israel
State of Ohio well represented at international bioscience conference
BioOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, Israel Economic Mission, and SGI Global Business Advisors have joined forces to promote Ohio’s bioscience business, healthcare, and research excellence at BioMed Israel, a major international conference and exhibition for the life sciences industry. Currently underway (June 3-9) in Tel Aviv, the conference is expected to draw an international attendance of over 4,000 from 43 different countries.
Israel’s life sciences industry—spanning medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare IT—stands at the forefront of the current global high tech boom. Ohio participants plan to meet companies with cutting edge technologies in order to facilitate joint ventures and accelerate R&D activity. Additionally, they hope to present Ohio’s world-class assets on an international stage, thereby attracting investment and jobs.
“There is a lot of history, synergy, successful business and cultural relationships, and many future opportunities to match key bioscience assets between Israel and Ohio,” said BioOhio Vice President John F. Lewis, Jr. “BioOhio will specifically promote Ohio strengths in cardiovascular, medical imaging, bio/pharmaceutical manufacturing and biopolymers as bi-directional investment opportunities for Israeli companies.”
Dr. Wayne Poll, director of Robotic Surgery at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, thinks the combination of Israel’s innovative business culture and Ohio’s reputation for clinical excellence is ripe with potential. "The opportunity to create partnership between the Ohio and Israeli life science communities to create new treatments, companies, and jobs is real."
A special panel session entitled “An Overview of Ohio’s Global Center of Excellence for Healthcare Delivery, Research, and Medical Education” will be presented on the first day of the conference. Ohio is the only state given the opportunity to make such a presentation. The panel will feature leaders from Cleveland Clinic, Akron General Medical Center, Ohio State University Medical Center, NEOUCOM, and Ohio Health Corporation.
The Ohio delegation—17 individuals from throughout the state—will also participate in prestigious events such as the annual Israel America Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner at the residence of the US Ambassador to Israel, Robert H. Jones, in Herzliya, one of Columbus’ international sister cities.
Ohio participants also will visit the new facility of Teva, the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs, as well as the acclaimed Hadassah Medical Center, the largest in the Middle East.
According to Howard Gudell, principal of SGI Global Business Advisors, the biomed-focused mission follows the highly successful medical IT mission from Israel to Ohio last June. It is anticipated the mission will result in at least three joint ventures, two potential co-locations, potential collaboration with the Weizmann Institute, and licensing, distribution and other tech transfer agreements.
Career Fair pairs Ohio employers with Michigan talent
On March 3, BioOhio held a career fair designed primarily to match soon-to-be displaced Pfizer employees with growing Ohio pharmaceutical firms. In conjunction with the University of Toledo and the City of Toledo, the event was held at the Dana Conference Center on the campus of UT’s medical center. About 100 prospective jobseekers, the majority from Pfizer, enjoyed a unique opportunity to interact with 15 Ohio employers.
| Career Fair Exhibitors |
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Alkermes
Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Ben Venue (Boehringer Ingelheim)
BIO/START
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Columbus Children’s Research Institute
Eurand
Hill Top Research
M3 Clinical Research
NAMSA
Patheon
PharmaForce
Prologue
Roxane (Boehringer Ingelheim)
University of Toledo College of Medicine
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Due to Pfizer’s global restructuring plans announced in February 2007, 2,400 Michigan employees have been or will be soon displaced, the majority from a research facility in Ann Arbor. While Pfizer and Michigan state agencies have collaborated to assist the employees in their job search, it has been reported that Michigan’s economy probably cannot absorb the majority of these skilled workers.
From this, BioOhio recognized a potential positive impact on Ohio’s growing bioscience economy and its talent-seeking employers. Anticipating a short window of opportunity, BioOhio staff quickly planned a pharma-focused career fair in Toledo, given its proximity to Michigan.
Feedback from exhibitors and job seekers was positive. One attendee “was really personally touched and impressed that (BioOhio) would act so quickly to put together an event to allow Pfizer researchers to see the opportunities available that might allow them to stay in the Midwest.”
The event was sponsored by the Ohio Department of Development and organized with the support of MichBio, Michigan’s BioOhio equivalent. Use of the conference center was graciously donated by the University of Toledo.
“This career fair was just one example of how BioOhio is helping Ohio bioscience companies meet their workforce needs,” said BioOhio Senior Program Director Bill Tacon. “In addition to matching available talent with Ohio openings, we are also working with the Ohio’s educational feeder system, including high schools, community colleges, career centers, and universities to ensure the appropriate curricula and training modules are in place to respond to Ohio’s bioscience industry growth.”
BioOhio members save big money
Through its partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the international organization that represents the biotechnology industry, BioOhio offers its members the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of cash-saving BIO Business Solutions programs. More and more members are using the special discounts from respected vendors like Business Wire for news release distribution, BioSurplus for pre-owned lab equipment, VWR for lab supplies, the Chubb Group for insurance and risk management, Wachovia for employee benefits solutions, Office Depot for office supplies, and more. If you’re already a member, it’s worth a couple minutes to check out the program at www.biobusinessolutions.com/oh.asp. And if your organization isn’t a BioOhio member yet, did we mention the saving money part?
Speaking of new members… we welcome the following members who have come on board in 2007:
- STERIS
- Corporate College, division of Cuyahoga Community College
- Lexamed
- Pfizer
- Sky Insurance
- Sparton Medical
- Amgen
- CleveX
- CardioInsight Technologies Inc.
- PharmaForce
- CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services
- Lakeland Community College
- The Anson Group
- Superior Scientific
- Activaero America, Inc.
- ImprovEdge, LLC
- Columbus State Community College
- Knowbase Networks
- Drug Discovery News
- Cleveland Medical Devices
- ButlerTech
- Carter Burgess
- HighBridge Associates
- InVasc Therapeutics
- Simbionix
- AxioMed Spine Corporation
- Hylant Group
- ICON Medical
- Errol Singh, MD
- Judith Benatar
- Christopher J. Ciolli
- Vandana Rajakumar
- Neil Patel
- Andrea Arnett
- Abbie Laugtug
View full member list.
To learn more about the advantages of becoming a member, check out our Member Benefits page.
Bioscience events in Ohio
Save-the-Date for the 2007 BioOhio Annual Conference — Nov. 12-13. The 2007 statewide bioscience conference will be held in Dublin for the first time. This year’s theme is “Diagnostics & Devices,” and conference speakers and panel sessions will break down the growth of these bioscience disciplines as well as their convergence with pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.
Join us for Cincinnati-area BioOhio Happy Hour networking at Slatt’s Pub in Blue Ash on June 14, 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Help celebrate our new name, network with area colleagues and resources, and take home a BioOhio memento. Call or e-mail Mollie Hannon: 614/675-3686, x1004 or mhannon@bioohio.com to RSVP.
OCCBIO '07: Ohio Collaborative Conference on Bioinformatics — July 9-11, 2007
To be held on Miami University’s Oxford campus, the second annual Ohio Collaborative Bioinformatics Conference (OCCBIO) will provide an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of approaches, research findings, and experiences in the domain of computational approaches to biology-related problems. For additional details: www.occbio.org/2007.
For details on these and other Ohio bioscience events: www/bioohio.com/programs/events.asp.
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