D.C. Obesity Therapeutics Show to Debut

Global Business Research and Business Access are set to launch the World Obesity Congress & Expo, addressing what they said would be a $50-billion market within a decade.

The event — scheduled July 12–13 at the Hilton Washington, D.C. — is being billed as the first to focus on investing in, developing and commercializing therapeutics for the worldwide obesity marketplace.

Obesity has been a hot topic for both the public and medical community. Large pharmaceutical companies are looking for partnerships with biotech firms to speed product development for the expanding obesity therapeutics market, said Donna Mete, vice president of program development for Business Access.

This obesity event aims to bring together pharmaceutical and biotech executives to discuss opportunities, and address the medical and technological aspects of obesity as well as its financial ramifications.

According to Mete, exhibitors will include pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers of medications and techniques to treat obesity. Attendees will be senior-level pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives involved in strategic planning and licensing. Organizers declined to provide projections for number of exhibitors, net square feet or number of attendees.

Keynote presenters will be Lester Crawford, Food & Drug Administration deputy commissioner and chair of the FDA Obesity Working Group; Dr. Jose Caro, Eli Lilly & Co. vice president of endocrine research and clinical investigation; and Dr. George Yancopoulos, president of Research Labs and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Other FDA officials, financial analysts, health economists, managed care executives and research experts are also scheduled to speak.