International Oncology Innovators Meeting in Hamburg

OSLO, Norway, November 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

European Cancer Cluster Partnering (ECCP) 2012

ON SUNDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, leaders in biotechnology and academic centres  will descend on Hamburg, Germany, for a conference seeking to ease the "bench to bedside" transition. The 4th annual European Cancer Cluster Partnering event brings together a diverse and international community looking to develop market-ready innovations in oncology.

This year again, the European Cancer Cluster Partnering (ECCP) event will focus on "Building partnerships to accelerate innovation in oncology" and invites leaders in drug development to attend.

INNOVATION IN ONCOLOGY

To expand its public, ECCP2012 is organised as a satellite event of the European biotech industry autumn gathering BIO-Europe®, held in Hamburg 12 - 14 November.

The opening session will be dedicated to "Driving innovation in oncology: novel partnerships, clinical trials and financial models", and pharma leaders such as Sanofi , but also to world-class academic researchers and investors will address attendees.

The opening session will be followed by a company presentation session dedicated to innovative technology platforms. "Oncology partnering needs" will be addressed by MSD to provide an actualized view about licensing and external research strategies. A selection of "oncology startups to watch" will then be presented together with personalized medicine partnering opportunities.

TOP SPEAKERS ON DRUG DEVELOPMENT

The intensive one day event promises to deliver a forum of effective discussion on the potential opportunities in drug development and showcase the emerging products that can facilitate this growth. With years of experience in the pharmacology and biotech sectors, and with extensive knowledge on business development, Dr Sven Rohmann, Burrill & Company and David T Phillips, Partner SR One (the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline) will deliver a speech on the oncology investment landscape and the role of corporate venture funds.

"ECCP 2012 will be a unique opportunity to gather and to create partnerships between biotech, pharma, investors, clinicians and translational academic centres," the organisers confirm. "Launched three years ago by the French Cancer- Bio-Santé Cluster (located in Toulouse) and the Norwegian based Oslo Cancer Cluster, ECCP will propose an innovative, compact format in 2012, but will keep its unique, convivial and effective spirit."

SATELLITE EVENT TO BIO-EUROPE®

Immediately following ECCP2012, Europe's largest partnering conference, BIO-Europe®, will be held 12-14 November and will complement the dialogue established at this cancer focused event. The ECCP community continues to grow and with more than 20 countries attending in 2011, there is real scope for international penetration at this year's event.

Welcome to ECCP2012, 11 November in Hamburg!

ABOUT ECCP

Since 2009 ECCP - European Cancer Cluster Partnering, has been established as an annual partnering arena for the international oncology community.

ECCP offers a vital networking arena for the international oncology community and is the direct result of the close collaboration between two of Europe's strongest cancer clusters, the French Cancer-Bio Santé Cluster and the Norwegian Oslo Cancer Cluster. The key goal of ECCP is building partnerships to accelerate innovation in cancer treatment.

The 3rd ECCP in 2011 attracted 445 participants from 20 countries. The delegates benefited from 640 prescheduled on-to-one meetings. 1800 formal and informal contacts were reported and almost 40% of the participants estimated two agreements as result from their attendance. 97% of the participants were very satisfied or satisfied with the program and enjoyed excellent networking.

89% stated they were planning to attend ECCP 2012.

FOR INFORMATION contact Jutta Heix, international advisor, Oslo Cancer Cluster, jh@radforsk.no.

For updated program see official website: http://www.ecc-partnering.com