Gov. Schwarzenegger opens BIO

Gov. Schwarzenegger delivered the keynote address at the 2008 Biotechnology Industry Organization’s International Convention in San Diego, the largest event in the world focusing on biotechnology. Among the facts highlighted by the governor were that one in four biotech companies in the United States are located within 35 miles of a University of California campus. In San Diego that includes more than 700 companies and their 40,000 employees.

The trolley was popular with a segment of BIO attendees, so much so that the Old Town station parking lot was full by 10:30 a.m., sending driver-riders to Fashion Valley to park. While BIO’s swaggy atmosphere was business casual, the dress was not, with suits and ties for men and suits for women. On the second day, Neugenesis Corp.‘s CEO Dorsey Stuart noted the size of the event was taking its toll. “I get a little tired going 35 miles from one room to another,” he said.

Sometimes the talk was even too smart for a smart crowd. Like when genomics genius J. Craig Venter briefly halted his presentation. “That was supposed to be a joke,” he said. “(There must be) too many venture capitalists” in the audience. Having no problem with the laugh was Sean Evans, a v.p. with GTC Biotherapeutics, which uses injections into goats to develop proteins for use in the research and manufacture of drugs. The milk of those goats and their offspring was used to develop therapeutic Atryn, a treatment for deep vein thrombosis. Evans touted the GTC process, saying each goat could “donate” at least 600 times a year. In terms of safety, he said, “we know where our donors slept last night.”