Under current guidelines, the typical cost savings associated with traditional generic drugs may also not be possible. On Tuesday, May 18 from 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm, representatives from the FDA, USP and the pharmaceutical industry will participate in an open discussion about the regulatory issues concerning generic biologics.

Media is invited to attend this lively discussion or schedule an interview with session moderator Dr. Robert Bell of Drug and Biotechnology Development, LLC. Stem Cell Research Takes a Turn -- "Sonic Hedgehog" may sound like the name of the popular video game, but it is also the name of a protein signal that could possibly cure Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. David Schaffer and his team at the University of California, Berkeley use this protein to stimulate adult stem cells to divide into the much-needed neurons that are lost in the disease. In this revolutionary method, the body will be able to turn its own stem cells into neural cells, a perfect tissue match is achieved and the need for embryonic stem cells is eliminated. Where current treatments focus on saving remaining neurons, this new method allows the body to make the neurons it so desperately needs and could cut back on the current yearly care costs of over $100 billion for the 4.5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's.

Dr. William Haseltine of Human Genome Sciences will be on-site and available for interviews following his presentation "The Impact of Genomics on Biotechnology." Dr. Haseltine's presentation will be the highlight of the "Future of Biotechnology" session.