Georgia Showcases its Bioscience Leadership at 2008 Bio International Convention

ATLANTA, June 4, 2008 - Georgia will showcase its bioscience leadership at the 2008 Bio international convention on June 17 – 20, in San Diego, Calif. Governor Sonny Perdue will deliver remarks on June 19 and meet with state and business leaders during the convention. 'As one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation, the biosciences sector is a strategic priority for Georgia and a driving force behind our future growth,' said Governor Perdue. 'Our leadership in university-based research, strong biosciences talent, effective public-private partnerships and ease of access to international capital markets truly position Georgia as the crossroads of global health.' Georgia will host a 3,300 square-foot pavilion, which includes 28 exhibitors representing Georgia's wide breadth of bioscience companies, research institutions and state agencies. A sample of exhibitors: Companies 1. Altea Therapeutics* 2. Atlanta Center for Medical Research 3. Celtaxsys 4. ICON Medical Corp. 5. Optima Chemical 6. St Joseph's Translational Research Institute 7. Sciele Pharma 8. Solvay Pharmaceuticals 9. UCB, Inc.* 10. Zygogen Research Institutions 1. Emory* 2. Georgia Tech 3. Georgia State University 4. Medical College of Georgia 5. University of Georgia State Agencies & Other 1. Georgia Quick Start 2. Georgia Department of Economic Development 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4. Agriculture Innovation Center 5. Life Sciences Innovation Center 6. Augusta Life Sciences 7. Innovation Crescent 8. Georgia Research Alliance* 9. Georgia BIO* *Spokesperson available In addition to the pavilion, researchers from Georgia's pre-eminent institutions, including the CDC, Emory University and the University of Georgia, along with representatives from companies, will discuss key global health issues. Panels confirmed to date include: 1. Influenza Research and Surveillance: Preparing for the Next Pandemic (June 17, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Room 29A) a. Team Lead, Molecular Virology & Vaccines Branch, Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2. Lurking in the Shadows: Are You Prepared for the Next Threat? (June 17, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room 27AB)

a. Stephen A. Morse, PhD, Chair, Associate Director for Science, Division of Bioterrorism, Preparedness and Response,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention b. Ralph A. Tripp, PhD, Chair, Professor & GRA Eminent Scholar, Dept. of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia c. Rich Dluhy, PhD, Director, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, University of Georgia

3. Antibiotic-Resistant Staph Infections: Challenges and Progress (June 17, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Room 28 CD)

a. Walter A. Orenstein, MD – Chair, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics; Associate Director, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine b. Roberta B. Carey, PhD, Chief, Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention c. Henry M. Blumberg, MD, Professor of Medicine and Program Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine; Hospital Epidemiologist, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine d. Joseph M. Patti, PhD, CSO, Senior Vice President Research & Development, Inhibitex, Inc 4. Diabetes Treatment: Advances in Cell-Based Therapies (June 17, 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Room 29 CD) a. Collin J. Weber, MD – Chair, Professor of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine 5. Improved Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Through Controlled Enzyme Evolution (June 19, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Room 28 AB) a. Andreas Bommarius, PhD – Chair, Professor, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology About Georgia's Bioscience Industry: With strong talent, a spirit of collaboration and access to the world, Georgia is at the crossroads of global health. Georgia is home to the CDC, CARE, the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation and 270 bioscience companies. The state offers robust public-private partnerships in bioscience, including the Georgia Research Alliance, through which the State's six research universities collaborate to create, improve and grow science- and technology-based companies. Additionally, Georgia boasts a strong talent pool, with the nation's highest growth in market share of college-educated 25-to-34 year-olds and one of the largest state university systems in the country, graduating 44,000 students each year. For more information on Georgia's bioscience industry and its presence at BIO 2008 and 2009, visit www.georgiabiosciences.com.