Texas Showcases Thriving Life Sciences Industry at World's Largest Biotechnology Event

AUSTIN, Texas, June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas will showcase its powerful biotechnology and life sciences industry to a global audience this week at the world's largest biotechnology conference, BIO International, being held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California on June 4-9.

More than 22,000 people are expected to attend this year's BIO International Convention, including more than 2,500 leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical CEOs from across the globe. Representatives from 69 countries will participate in intensive networking and educational sessions to form partnerships and advance the global industry as a whole.

"We're proud to showcase the vibrant life sciences ecosystem in Texas at the industry's most important event," said Tracye McDaniel, President and CEO of Texas Economic Development Corporation and TexasOne™. "Texas' position as a global contender in the industry is growing thanks to our highly skilled workforce, multiple top-tier medical and research institutions, first-rate transportation and logistics infrastructure and top-ranked business climate. We look forward to sharing all that Texas has to offer to this key global audience."

TexasOne™ will join the state's top life sciences and economic development leaders at the BioTexas Pavilion (Booth #7523), hosted by Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute (THBI). The Pavilion will showcase the diversity of the state's industry as well as the collaboration among leading organizations, including the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the second-largest taxpayer-funded cancer research organization in the country; Johnson & Johnson's JLABS @TMC, an incubator housed at the new Texas Medical Center accelerator (TMCx); and ten leading small businesses selected by the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

These include medical device and equipment companies, such as G-CON Manufacturing and Spot On Sciences; manufacturers, such as Castle BioSciences, Equitech-Bio and iBio CMO; experts in regenerative medicine, such as INCELL Corporation and StemBioSys; pharmaceutical wholesaler DisperSol Technologies; antibody sales and research company IGY Life Sciences USA and life science technology provider Design 1 Solutions.

"Collaboration is at the heart of Texas' healthcare and bioscience success," said Tom Kowalski, President and CEO of Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI). "Partnering with Texas' top life sciences leaders at BIO International Convention allows us the opportunity to showcase our dynamic ecosystem and to forge and expand partnerships across the industry."

With recent investments from McKesson, Galderma, Allergan and Monsanto, Texas boasts a growing, robust life sciences industry presence. More than 3,900 firms involved in life science manufacturing and R&D in the state employ more than 97,600 high-salary workers. Dozens of global biotech companies, such as Novartis, Abbott, and Medtronic have major operations in the state.

The state's companies, medical centers and institutes of higher learning continue to churn out innovations that keep Texas on the cutting edge of discovery. According to the National Institute of Health, Texas ranks No. 3 in the nation for number of clinical trials, with approximately 20,400 studies underway.

Texas is also home to the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston, which is considered the largest concentration of medical professionals and experts in the world; four NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, including the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, which ranks No.1 for cancer care by the U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Hospitals" survey; and the new Dell Medical School at UT Austin, the first medical school in nearly 50 years to be built from the ground up at a top-tier research university in the United States.

For more information about the biotechnology and life sciences industry in Texas, read the 2016 Biotechnology and Life Sciences report, or visit www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com for information on the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

SOURCE Texas Economic Development Corporation

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