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Baruch S. Blumberg Institute Hosts 17th Annual Regional Biotechnology Conference

Two products created at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, now in human use, were inducted into the Product Wall of Fame

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (November 29, 2017) – More than 100 of the area’s life science and biotechnology leaders gathered at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center on November 17 for the 17th annual Regional Biotech Conference, organized by the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute.

This year’s event focused on angel investing, and included presentations from entrepreneurs who had solicited investors for their start up company, as well as “angels” who have invested in start ups. “Angels” are those who invest very early in the life cycle of a start up company, usually taking the greatest risk.

“Angels have come to the right place to see ideas with great promise,” said PA State Rep Marguerite Quinn. The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center is home to more than 30 companies, and has helped launch start ups that have gained more than $2 billion in value, says Timothy Block, PhD, President of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center.

Speakers at the conference included Sanjay K. Sehgal, Founder, Managing Partner & CEO of East West Capital Partners; Lillian Chiang, PhD, President and CEO, FORGE Life Sciences; Peter Young, Executive-In-Residence, Pappas Capital; and Tom Petro, Founder and Managing Partner, 1867 Capital Partners. Loren Danzig, Esq., a partner at Fox Rothschild, also joined the panel discussion. The presenting sponsor was Univest.

At the conclusion of the program, the PA Biotechnology Center recognized the first two products to be developed and FDA-approved by companies based at the Center. The products will be featured as part of the Center’s new Product Wall of Fame, unveiled at the event. Michael Daley, PhD, was honored for GenVisc 850, a product developed by his company OrthogenRx for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain. Kunwar Shailubhai, PhD, accepted recognition for Synergy Pharmaceutical’s drug TRULANCE, approved for the management of gastrointestinal disorders.

About the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute: The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute is an independent, nonprofit research institute established in 2003 by the Hepatitis B Foundation to conduct discovery research and nurture translational biotechnology in an environment conducive to interaction, collaboration and focus. It was renamed in 2013 to honor Baruch S. Blumberg, who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the hepatitis B virus and co-founded the Hepatitis B Foundation. To learn more, visit www.blumberginstitute.org.

About the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center: The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County offers state-of-the-art laboratory and office space to nonprofit research companies and biotech companies. Established by the Hepatitis B Foundation and managed by the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, the Center was funded in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The facility opened in 2006 in a formerly abandoned warehouse and has since grown to encompass 110,000 square feet on a 10-acre campus. To learn more, visit www.pabiotechbc.org.

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