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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Missouri Biotech Caucus - Press Release by Missouri Biotech Association

For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Kelly Gillespie
573-761-7600
gillespie@mobio.org

Patrick Kelly, vice president of state government relations for the
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), congratulating Missouri
legislators on their decision to form the Biotech Caucus.

MOBIO Applauds Formation of Missouris Legislative Biotech Caucus

The Missouri General Assembly Biotechnology Caucus will help Cultivate
Homegrown Health, Education, Agribusiness and Economic Innovations

Jefferson City (February 24, 2009) - A bipartisan group of 29 Missouri
state legislators has announced its intention to form a state
biotechnology caucus. Led by Kansas City Reps. Ryan Silvey (R-38) and
Mike Talboy (D-37), caucus members will use this forum to continue to
explore the state's deep biotech base of assets and consider market
factors that affect Missouri's bioscience sector and, more broadly,
the state's ability to leverage its scientific research base in
support of global health, agriculture, environmental,
commercialization and economic development initiatives.

"Biotechnology plays a significant role in Missouri's diversified
economy and warrants a unified and dedicated review of the industry
and the opportunities it affords Missourians," said Silvey.


The Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) applauds the Missouri
legislature and its biotechnology caucus formation. "The caucus
represents an important step to engage in organized discussions and
more in-depth assessments of Missouri's biotechnology industry," said
Kelly Gillespie, MOBIO executive director. "Missouri is home to
world-class research institutions that hold the keys for unlocking
diseases and new energy sources and for driving innovation that
supports our state's agricultural heritage and positioning in today's
high-tech, globalized economy. The biotech industry deserves the
greater focus this caucus will provide and Missourians deserve a
proactive legislature working to create homegrown solutions for our
health, agriculture, environmental and economic challenges."

The 29 founding caucus members include senators Frank Barnitz, Joan
Bray, Tom Dempsey, Tim Green, Jolie Justus, David Pearce, Kurt
Schaefer and Charlie Shields and representatives Mark Bruns, Don
Calloway, Tim Flook, Doug Funderburk, Steve Hobbs, Steve Hodges, Jason
Holsman, Allen Icet, Kenny Jones, Sam Komo, Paul LeVota, Cole McNary,
Mike Parson, Darrell Pollock, Martin Rucker, Charlie Schlottach, Ryan
Silvey, Rachel Storch, Mike Talboy, Steve Tilley, and Stephen Webber.
Following the inaugural meeting, caucus members will elect their own
leadership and set their schedule for policy discussions. In both 2007
and 2008, members of the Missouri General Assembly volunteered after
the legislative session to take part in the respected BIO Benchmarking
program, a non-partisan legislative education, leadership immersion
and fact-finding tour organized by MOBIO.


"The establishment of a dedicated biotechnology caucus clearly
indicates the commitment the Missouri General Assembly has made to
ensuring that the biotechnology industry is an important component in
the state's future," said Patrick Kelly, vice president of state
government relations for the Biotechnology Industry Organization
(BIO). "Having a dedicated body of key leaders in the legislature will
be instrumental in helping to improve understanding of some of the
complex financial and regulatory burdens confronting the industry. It
also sends a clear signal to other states that Missouri is serious
about attracting, growing and developing the biotechnology industry."


Missouri joins the ranks of states like Massachusetts, Virginia,
Kansas, Iowa, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida,
which have launched biotech caucuses.

"This time is marked by a search for solutions and new ways to
stimulate our economy," said Dale Ludwig, MOBIO chairman and executive
director and CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association. "There is no
other industry better positioned to provide Missouri with real
economic benefits by way of jobs, new technologies and answers to our
food, fuel and health challenges than biotechnology."

About MOBIO
The Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) is a non-profit trade
association that serves all Missouri organizations interested in the
life sciences. MOBIO is composed of a broad cross-section of
companies, institutions of higher education, research organizations
and related firms involved in research, development and
commercialization of the life sciences human health, plant sciences,
animal health and bioenergy. MOBIO members promote economic
development in Missouri by supporting life science research and
practical applications that benefit the general population. MOBIO is
the state affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

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