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WASHINGTON(BUSINESS WIRE) Thought leaders from dozens of biotech and pharmaceutical corporations from across the globe will gather June 19 20 to discuss innovations and regulations pertaining to Orphan Diseases, at the 2012 Orphan Disease Forum, as part of the 2012 BIO International Convention in Boston, MA.

The forum is co-organized by Centric Health Resources and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and is hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

We are pleased to partner with NORD and Centric on this two-day forum to raise awareness for rare diseases and to improve the health of patients with debilitating and life-threatening diseases,? said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. Thought leaders at the forefront of the international drug marketplace use this forum to advance therapies and cures for impacted patients.?

Industry consultants, biotech, pharmaceutical and venture capital companies and health benefits managers attend this two-day forum, as part of the BIO International Convention, the largest global gathering for the biotechnology industry. The forum and the Convention offer networking and partnering opportunities with policymakers, scientists, CEOs and newsmakers, and hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations.

Forum agenda highlights include:

Are We Heading into a Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Market of Orphan and Narrow Indications?
Industry experts will discuss the changing orphan drug environment. Perhaps the conditions are right for a new strategy: getting early market FDA approval with efficient initial funding, then later broadening the indications.
Tuesday, June 19, 8:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m.
Speakers: Emil D. Kakkis, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ultragenyx, Inc., Edward Mathers, Partner, New Enterprise Associates, Inc., David Savello, PhD, Senior Vice President, Development Operations, XenoPort, Inc. and Ron Smith, Vice President, Strategic Development, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2012 BIO International Convention.

For more information: Visit http://www.bio.org

BIO is pleased to recognize the leadership provided by the 2012 Orphan Disease Forum sponsors. The sponsors include: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme, a Sanofi Company and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company.