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CHI Bulletin -- April 21, 2008 -- Vol. 14, No. 7

Submitted on: 04.22.2008
Biomedical Community Converges on State Capitol
 On Wednesday, April 9, more than 100 representatives from all sectors of the life sciences industry gathered in Sacramento as part of the annual California Life Sciences Day at the State Capitol. With more than 85 meetings with legislators, the day was a success as legislators and their staffs engaged on a wide spectrum of issues of importance to the industry. Highlights of the day included Combating Diabetes: Innovation and Information - an informative showcase displaying cutting edge technologies and various educational efforts underway in California, a luncheon with guest speaker Daniel Weintraub, political columnist for the Sacramento Bee, and a closing reception at the historic Sutter Club. CHI would like to thank the sponsors who made this a successful event: Abbott Laboratories, AdvaMed, Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, BayBio, BIO, BIOCOM, Boston Scientific, California Healthcare Institute, Celgene, Gen-Probe Inc., Genentech, Gilead Sciences, LifeScan, NVCA, Pfizer, PhRMA, and Roche.

 A Conversation on Healthcare Reform and Income Security on April 29
Approaching the 2008 election, the staggering projected costs for America's largest entitlement programs—Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security—are the country’s critical domestic issue.  On Tuesday, April 29, CHI will host a conversation featuring: George Shultz, Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, John Shoven, Director, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, co-authors of Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security & Health Care Reform, and Victor Fuchs, Stanford University Professor of Economics and of Health Research and Policy, Emeritus, as moderator.  The event will take place at the Francis C. Arrillaga Alumni Center - McCaw Hall at Stanford University from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is sponsored by Fenwick & West, LLP and event hosts are David Gollaher, president and chief executive officer, CHI, Henry Nordhoff, chairman and CEO, Gen-Probe, Incorporated, John Martin, president and CEO, Gilead Sciences, Ted Love, chairman and CEO, Nuvelo, and Philip Pizzo, dean, School of Medicine, Stanford University. There is no cost to attend. To register by April 25, contact Tiffany Taluban at (858) 551-6677 or taluban@chi.org.
New MBA Program for Executives in Life Sciences
San Diego State University and Kelley Executive Partners, an affiliate of Indiana University have combined their expertise to develop a new MBA for executives in the life sciences. The new program combines the latest academic research from a top-ranked university and a top 20 ranked business school that offers an online graduate degree for the working professional. The program is expected to begin in August 2008 and utilizes the “blended learning” concept to accelerate the process for working executives. It currently takes an average of 15 years and more than $1 billion dollars to bring a life sciences product from concept to market. Biotech, device, and pharmaceutical companies are committed to reduce the time and cost to commercialization by training executives in the “best practices” involved in clinical design, regulatory approval, and reimbursement, key areas of focus in this program. Information sessions for the MBA for Executives in Life Sciences Program will be held Saturdays, April 26 and May 17, 10:00am to 11:30am at the SDSU - College of Extended Studies room 109/111. Parking permit and directions provided upon RSVP.  To learn more, please visit the program Web site at http://sciencemba.sdsu.edu.

Events
ROI: Return on Innovation
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Gold Room at the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Please join CHI for cocktails and conversation between public policy makers and California’s biomedical industry leaders to celebrate its 15 year anniversary. This function is a widely attended event and only drinks and passed hors d'oeuvres will be served in compliance with Congressional ethics laws.

Diagnostics Working Group
Date: Thursday, May 8, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif.
 To focus on the increasing volume and complexity of policy issues facing California’s diagnostics firms, CHI is launching a new diagnostics working group. The group will provide a forum for CHI member regulatory affairs and policy staff to discuss and develop positions and activities surrounding diagnostics product regulatory approval and reimbursement, personalized medicine, and other issues of importance, including proposals to modernize the regulatory process for in vitro diagnostics, issues regarding the 510(k) process, ASR regulation, comments and related activities surrounding the Secretary’s Advisory Committee of Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) Draft Report on Oversight of Genetic Testing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Draft Guidance on In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays (IVDMIA), and other public policy initiatives of interest to the diagnostics sector. To participate or for more information, contact Todd Gillenwater, CHI vice president- public policy (gillenwater@chi.org or 202-974-6313).
Alliance for Aging Research Seventh Annual Aged to Perfection Wine Tasting and Auction
Date: Thursday, May 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: The Presidio Officer’s Club, San Francisco
Please help the Alliance for Aging Research celebrate its Seventh Annual Aged to Perfection Wine Tasting and Auction, honoring Steve Burrill with the “Alan Cranston Living Legend Award” as part of the evening’s festivities.  For more information, contact Colleen Browne (202-258-9261 or cbrowne@agingresearch.org).

The Life Sciences Venture Forum
Date: May 30
Location: Santa Clara Convention Center
CHI is proud to support the 2008 Life Sciences Venture Forum. Now 14 years strong, the Venture Forum presents companies from Larta Institute's robust pipeline, including those funded by the National Institutes of Health and the most promising university spinouts from across the U.S. The companies are carefully selected by a panel of leading investors and subject matter experts to ensure that each presenting company offers a solid and profitable business opportunity.  By special arrangement with Larta Institute, CHI members/partners/readers receive a 30% discount* off the registration fee.  Register now and use coupon code CHIVF08 to take advantage of this special offer. A few limited exhibit-only opportunities exist for early-seed stage life science companies at the Venture Forum – visit www.theventureforum.com/exhibit for more information or to register.
*30% discount expires May 16, 2008  

The Access Challenge: Building a Strong System of Care in Los Angeles County
Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles Third Annual Health Policy Summit
Date: Friday, May 9, 2008, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location:  The Center at Cathedral Plaza, Los Angeles, Calif.
Hear policy leaders address issues that impact the health of our communities.  With looming federal and state healthcare cuts, and the proposed transition of county clinics, Los Angeles County’s healthcare system is bound for transformation.  This year’s summit will explore Los Angeles' changing health policy landscape and the fixes needed for our healthcare system to survive and flourish.  Speakers will include Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, United States Congress, District 34 and Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, California State Senate, District 26.  For more information, visit http://www.ccalac.org  or contact Tim Perez (213-201-6519 or tperez@ccalac.org ).
Pursuit of Value for Medical Devices: Strategies for Collaboration
Date: Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 to 22
Location: UC-Irvine Beckman Center, Irvine, Calif.
Sponsored by the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) and California Hospital Association (CHA), this free conference will bring together leaders from hospitals, medical technology firms, physician organizations, and health insurance plans to discuss ways to improve coordination and align incentives among the principle stakeholders in the technology-intensive cardiac, orthopedic, and spine care services. For more information, please contact Michelle DeNatale, Program Manager for Medical Technology, Integrated Healthcare Association, at (510) 208-1740 or mdenatale@iha.org .

To submit your company's news or story ideas, please contact Nicole Beckstrand at beckstrand@chi.org .

CHI represents more than 250 leading academic research, biotechnology, medical device and pharmaceutical organizations in California. CHI’s mission is to advance responsible public policies that foster medical innovation and promote scientific discovery.

 

 

 



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