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Day 1 of BIO 2025 was all about collaboration: how industry can collaborate with the U.S. government to advance biodefense, how collaboration is key to advancing AI, and how the new BIO Partnering system is setting records.
A big reason why more than 20,000 people from 72 countries come to the BIO International Convention: partnering.
With over 64,000 partnering meetings already scheduled as of Day 1, this year’s event is on track to set records and drive new collaborations. Mackensie Vernetti, BIO’s VP of Partnering, explains how the new BIO Partnering system is helping companies meet business partners.
Partnering “is all about accelerating the discovery and development of cures and treatments for patients, because the world can’t wait for the new medicines and innovation that come out of BIO International Convention,” she said.
Watch her describe the new system and why it matters:
Mackensie Vernetti, BIO’s VP of Partnering, at BIO 2025 in Boston
What is BIO Advance?
Speaking to Bio.News ahead of the events, Kelly Seagraves, Ph.D., Vice President, National Security & International Affairs of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), explained an initiative focused on accelerating U.S. innovation.
“Biotechnology is imperative for our health, economy, and national security,” she said. BIO is focused on four policy priorities called BIO Advance to move the industry forward. These are:
- Reimagining the Clinical Trial and Regulatory Framework
- Building & Strengthening Our Biotechnology Supply Chains
- Protecting Intellectual Property
- Enabling Public & Private Capital Formation
“We aim to unite industry, academics, and government leaders at both the state and federal levels. Together, we can boldly tackle these big initiatives and lift the entire biotechnology ecosystem to serve our patients,” she said – watch below:
Kelly Seagraves, Ph.D., BIO’s Vice President, National Security & International Affairs, at BIO 2025 in Boston
BIO elects Genentech’s Fritz Bittenbender as new Board chair
Also on Day 1, the BIO Board of Directors elected Fritz Bittenbender, Senior Vice President and Head of Genentech Public Affairs and Access, as Chair of the Board.
The announcement came following Board elections on Monday, June 16, during the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston, June 16 – 19, 2025.
And he’s no stranger to BIO. Before joining Genentech, Bittenbender served as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at BIO from 2012 to 2015, where he oversaw a fully integrated public affairs department, including federal and state government relations, communications, alliance development, and membership services.
At last year’s BIO International Convention in San Diego, he moderated a conversation on how the industry can improve its public image – read here.
Photo: Outgoing BIO Chair Ted W. Love, M.D., passes the gavel to incoming Chair Fritz Bittenbender of Genentech.
