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February 19th, 2009 TBI Breakfast: Georgia comes to TBI

By: Billy Gould

This month’s TBI breakfast was a little different than most as it gave attendees a refreshing look at an emerging biotech sector in the United States, as well as a sneak peak of what visitors should look forward to seeing at the 2009 Bio International Convention in Atlanta happening May 18-21, 2009.

Carol Henderson, director of Georgia’s Department of Economic Development, gave a stirring presentation on Georgia and why the state has taken a leading position in the biotechnology community and how the state has set itself apart from other biotech sectors in the nation.

Developing talent is an industry priority in Georgia she explained adding that talent is the most important part of any biotech company. The HOPE scholarship is one way the State has attempted to address this need. It is a scholarship put in place to pay for student’s tuition if they maintain a B average throughout university. Students can choose from a wide variety of university programs, including the nation’s number two biomedical engineering program.

Secondly, Ms. Henderson spoke about Georgia’s commitment to research and discovery, and the importance of collaboration between private and public sectors. To aid in this initiative, universities receive money from the Georgia Research Alliance for collaborating with industry. The Alliance has been shown to be very successful and attracts scientists from across the world, giving them grant money to do research and chair positions at universities.

Third, Ms. Henderson spoke about the financial resources available to start up companies in Georgia; specifically, how the Biosciences Seed Fund has seeded the growth of eleven startup companies and has been crucial in the growth of the biotech sector. The Life Sciences Facility Fund and Strategic Industry Loan Fund are also contributing to growth in the scientific community.

She went on to list some of the strengths of the region. Georgia is home to the Centre for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society, important organizations for encouraging research and innovation. Additionally its coastal location is very ideal for business people coming and going. Atlanta is the home to the world’s busiest airport, and one can reach any market it the U.S.A. within two hours.

For the reasons above, Ms. Henderson encouraged companies to come to BIO 2009 and see for themselves what Georgia has to offer.

Following Ms. Henderson’s exciting talk on the Peach State, Graeme McRae, Chairman, President and CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. gave a lighthearted talk on his company, its past and why it has chosen Georgia as a location for business. When Bioniche Inc. was founded, it was interested in treating animal diseases without the use of antibiotics, and in this pursuit it acquired a small company in Georgia producing soil bacterium for cancer treatment in dogs.

Bioniche Inc. relocated some of its operations to Georgia from London On., with the help of Georgia’s Economic Development Group who provided financial and legal resources. In 1986 they applied for their first patent for the use of bacterial cell walls to treat human bladder cancer, a product currently in Phase III trials. Mr. McRae praised Georgia as a wonderful state to do business, echoing many of the same points made by Ms. Henderson.