In order to accelerate the growth of biotech industry, the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), India's apex biotechnology industry body, will organise a meeting of leading companies in the life sciences and investment sector at Mumbai on November 1 and 2, 2007.

The meet will be focused on 'Indian Biotech's foray into innovation and drug discovery'. The objective of ABLE-BioInvest 2007 is to enable both; the life science and investment sector to explore and identify possibilities for investing. The gathering includes life science companies, institutional investors and investment banks. Companies such as ICICI Venture, Kotak Mahindra, Novartis Venture Fund, Evolvence, APIDC-VC, Nadathur Holdings, Burrill & Co., Silicon Valley Bank and Capvent will participate in the conference.

Distinguished speakers from around the world will share their experiences and knowledge. According to a release, the list of speakers include G V Prasad, vice chairman and CEO, Dr Reddy's, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon, Dr Rashmi Barbhaiya, managing director and CEO, Advinus Therapeutics and Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, managing director, sanofi-aventis.

The seminar will focus on topics such as Global Biotech and The India Opportunity, Global R&D Alliances - Lessons for India, Key Technologies and Trends, Biotech Investing, India's Evolving Role in Drug Discovery Research and Development and The Opportunities for Investment and investors perspective on drug discovery research and development in India.

For further information: www.ablebioinvest.org