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Special membership rates for SMEs: € 2500

NEW !!!!
First-year EuropaBio membership fee includes a free video-clip on Channel Bf worth €500
Channel Bf is new video-based communication service offering biotech companies the opportunity to efficiently present their business to candidate investors and corporate partners
www.channelbf.com
 

European Commission: DG Enterprise publishes draft report on Orphan Medicinal Products for consultation
On February 8^th the European Commission published the draft General Report on the experience acquired as a result of the application of Regulation 141/2000 on Orphan Medicinal Products, for consultation (1^st 5-year review report). The Joint EuropaBio/EBE Task Force on Orphan Drugs is in the process of developing a response to the draft report by the deadline of March 8^th.

European Commission: 1^st meetings of the Pharmaceutical Forum Working Groups EuropaBio nominees on the Pharmaceutical Forum Working Groups on Information to Patients, Pricing and Relative Effectiveness took part in the first meetings of the Working Groups this month. Notes on the outcomes of the meetings as well as related documentation and calendars of upcoming meetings can be found on our dedicated members only website.The EuropaBio mirror Task Force is currently working on position papers for the three topics and would welcome the involvement of other Members.

Advanced Therapies: EuropaBio strategy and survey on Advanced Therapy products
Following the key messages developed in January on the proposed Regulation for Advanced Therapies now awaiting 1^st reading in the European Parliament, the EuropaBio Working Group is defining a series of actions to respond to the Parliament’s needs over the coming weeks: development of a set of suggested changes, development of amendments and contacts with the main institutional players. For more information, please contact: a.vandeputte@europabio.org
As input to the Austrian Presidency, EuropaBio devised and issued a survey to members on existing products and products in development in the field of advanced therapies. The survey also seeks to better understand the impact of the draft regulation foreseen by companies.

Monthly breakfast meeting: with the Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Kyprianou, Health and Consumer Protection 
On 17^th February 2006 EuropaBio members participated in a 2 hour informal breakfast meeting with Philippe Brunet, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Kyprianou, Health and Consumer Protection.  Issues touched upon were: EuropaBio’s Healthcare Manifesto, Pharmaceutical Forum, Cells and Tissues Directive/Advanced Therapies proposed regulation, Orphan Medicinal Products, Financial perspectives for the Commission, DG SanCo health communication campaign. A detailed report including actions is available under “events/activities” on memberes only website. If you are a EuropaBio member and want to participate in the EuropaBio Healthcare Monthly Breakfast meetings please contact n.moll@europabio.org.

EuropaBio meets Member States on biotech strategy
EuropaBio and National Association representatives met Member States to review the EU Biotech Strategy and prepare the Mid Term Review. Industry pleaded for coherence of policy for all biotech colours and re-presented the Policy Day messages to the group. The group has formed four working groups to feed into the review and appointed chairs: Regulatory (UK), bioeconomy (Finland), Finance (Austria) and communications groups (Germany). The YIC status is now being pushed by Austria and there seems to be a commitment emerging from Member States' Ministries to more publicly support the GM regulations against groups that are negatively campaigning against GMOs. EuropaBio will work in the Member State communication group to tackle this issue, the association will co-chair the finance group with Austria, support the UK in managing the Regulatory group, and the Finns who are running the bioeconomy group. All these groups will report back to the full network in March 22.

Commission publishes results of consultation on state aid
Broad support for relaxing state aid rules and giving more tax relief or subsidies to companies if they invest in R and D, using the YIC as a benchmark reference, and / or if they contribute to better environmental processes, less waste. There was also support for the Commission's intention to publish a general Block Exemption Regulation and to increase the level of de minimis aid (aid at a level considered to be of minor importance and therefore not covered by competition rules). Under current provisions, total de minimis aid cannot exceed euro 100,000 over a period of three years. More than a third of responses received on this point call on the Commission to raise the threshold to between euro 120,000 and 300,000. The Regulation is due to be adopted by the end of the year.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/144&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Speakers Plaza - Register your profile online!

Would you like to be considered to present at one of our upcoming conferences? Do you want to take the opportunity to share ideas with other colleagues involved in your sector? Do you have expertise in specific fields and would like to share your experience and knowledge? Then fill in our electronic form to submit your application.
http://www.europabio.org/speakers.asp

EuropaBio Job PLAZA – Post your vacancies Free-of-Charge
The EuropaBio Life Science Jobs in Europe database offers the possibility of posting job vacancies in the European biotech industry. The database is open to all European biotech companies; there is no registration or login required. 
Surf to and post at: http://www.europabio.org/jobs.htm
 

9-12 April 2006 -BIO Annual International Convention, Chicago, USA
All events will take place at the McCormick Place Convention Center unless noted otherwise. The McCormick Place Convention Center is located at 2301 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL.
http://www.europabio.org/events/April9_06.htm

8 May 2006 - 11th Biotech & Finance Forum
Supported by the European Commission and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology the Forum continues to facilitate networking between Europe’s private fast-growing biotech companies and investors and corporate contacts all looking for partnerships and possibilities of cooperation.
http://www.europabio.org/events/May8_2006.htm

14-17 May 2006 – SciPharm 2006, Edinburgh, UK
This event is the second meeting in the series covering all aspects of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.  The conference will examine the latest advances in drug discovery and development through three science based tracks.  The fourth track, where science meets business will focus on promoting the flow of ideas and products between small and large players in the industry and the routes for turning research into products.http://www.europabio.org/events/May14_2006.htm 

15-19 May 2006 - ACHEMA 2006 - World Forum for the Process Industries
With some 4,000 exhibitors from all countries, over 200,000 visitors from 100 countries and 40,000 executives from upper management - no other event epitomises the claim to be a worldwide platform for the process industries more than ACHEMA.
http://www.europabio.org/events/May15_2006.htm

Calendar of all other upcoming events in the biotech sector – click here
http://www.europabio.org/ev_calendar.htm

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If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please send a message to: a.cornea@europabio.org

All password protected documents are available to EuropaBio members only. If you want to become a EuropaBio member please visit the EuropaBio membership page at: http://www.europabio.org/eu_join.htm