Epilepsy Pipeline Conference 2009 To Showcase Cutting-Edge Therapies In Development And Advances In The Treatment Of Epilepsy

Main Category: Epilepsy
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Conferences
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The Epilepsy Therapy Project today announced that more than 25 emerging companies as well as leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical investors and industry executives will gather to focus on preclinical and clinical development strategies and opportunities at the Epilepsy Pipeline Conference 2009. The one-day Epilepsy Pipeline Conference 2009 will showcase the most innovative therapeutic approaches currently in development for the treatment of epilepsy. The conference will take place Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, in conjunction with the Antiepileptic Drug Trials X (AED-X) conference.

"With more than three million patients in the US alone, epilepsy represents a huge and significantly unmet medical need. We are excited to see such a high caliber group of scientific entrepreneurs presenting the latest insights and approaches to addressing epilepsy, as well as other central nervous system disorders," said Joyce Cramer, President of Epilepsy Therapy Project. "In addition to our commitment to funding clinical research, the Epilepsy Therapy Project plays a critical role in bringing together scientific entrepreneurs with venture capital and public equity investors and pharmaceutical industry partners. Through the Epilepsy Pipeline Conference 2009 we are creating a forum to drive innovation in the discovery and development of new treatments that we hope will ultimately eradicate seizures in the next decade."

Pipeline conference attendees will hear the latest insights from research, clinical and industry leaders, supporting informed decisions about investment in epilepsy therapy development and broader central nervous system (CNS) therapeutic areas. Investors and industry business development executives are encouraged to attend.

"With well-characterized mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, functional models and defined clinical endpoints, epilepsy is gaining recognition as an excellent starting point for companies seeking to develop new CNS diagnostics and therapeutics," said Omar Amirana, MD, Partner at Oxford Bioscience Partners. "Forums such as this provide investors, research experts and industry leaders with an opportunity to understand the major scientific and clinical advances taking place in CNS and help optimize our collective investments in future therapies."

Presenting companies at the one-day conference include: Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Sepracor, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Icagen, NeuroTherapeutics Pharma, Neuropace and SierraNeuro, among others. In addition, the conference will feature a dynamic panel discussion between private and public investors as well as commercial business development executives on financing new epilepsy and CNS therapies.

Conference Highlights Will Be Available on http://professionals.epilepsy.com.

Highlights from the conference will be summarized in a webcast event on epilepsy.com, the Epilepsy Therapy Project's website for professionals and patients.

"As a clinician, I think the collaboration of investors, foundations and industry can provide the critical catalyst in supporting advances in this field," said Orrin Devinsky, MD, New York University Epilepsy Center. "Forums such as the Epilepsy Pipeline Conference 2009 have the potential to increase the pace in developing and commercializing important new treatment options. I look forward to the opportunity to be updated on the latest innovations in the pipeline with the potential to ultimately benefit patients."

The conference is organized by the Epilepsy Therapy Project and Epilepsy Study Consortium, 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations, New York University, and University of Pennsylvania. Epilepsy Therapy Project is a recognized leader in advancing new therapies for people epilepsy.

About the Epilepsy Therapy Project

The Epilepsy Therapy Project is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming the funding gaps that slow the progress of new therapies from the lab to the patient. Epilepsy Therapy Project seeks to improve incentives and encourage commercial investment in new therapies. Acting as both a catalyst and clearinghouse for innovative research and the early commercialization of new therapies, the Epilepsy Therapy Project brings together financial resources, scientific insights and business expertise from leading academic and commercial industry participants. If you are a physician or a patient, please visit our website at http://www.epilepsy.com. For more information on how to support innovative epilepsy therapies in development, please visit here.

Source
Epilepsy Therapy Project