OKBio team returns from BIO trade show, already looking forward to 2023 event

The San Diego Convention Center was booming with wall-to-wall activity last month as thousands of bioscience professionals converged for the 2022 Biotechnology Innovation Organization International Convention (BIO). Among them was a large contingent from Oklahoma who joined forces as part of the Oklahoma Biosciences Association (OKBio) exhibitor booth.

A statewide membership organization, OKBio is the voice for Oklahoma’s bioscience and life science community, promoting the industry’s growth in the state through partnership building, education and outreach, networking, policy development and publicity.

Various Oklahoma companies and organizations were represented at BIO 2022, whether through simply sponsoring the OKBio exhibitor booth or actually having a physical presence to meet face to face with potential clients and other like-minded individuals. Those Oklahoma entities included Ascend BioVentures, ARL Biopharma, Echo Investment Capital, Cytovance Biologics, Emergent Technologies, Excitant Therapeutics, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, i2E, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma State University, Moleculara Labs, Nature Technology, Pure MHC, the University of Oklahoma and Wheeler Bio.

The foot traffic throughout the exhibit hall was heavy and steady throughout the event, which boded well for the participating Oklahoma companies who were looking to promote their respective organizations throughout the duration of the event. The event also allowed them opportunities to schedule one-on-one meetings with prospective clients or potential strategic partners.

“I really wasn’t sure what to expect as far as meetings, and it’s just been incredible,” said Dr. Tom Kupiec, CEO and owner of both ARL Biopharma, a pharmaceutical testing company, and DNA Solutions, a genetics testing company. “Oklahoma’s delegation is comprised of incredible people. It’s a spirit of collaboration between the universities and between private and government entities, and it’s an exciting time to be in Oklahoma.”

Kupiec expanded on his thoughts about the importance of collaboration.

“In order to be competitive in the new scientific community, you need to be collaborative. And this venue gives an opportunity for business owners such as myself, technology transfer offices within the universities, both OU and OSU, and other universities within the state, as well as government entities and nonprofits to work together for the common good to bring biotechnology to Oklahoma,” Kupiec said.

OKBio’s director, Dr. Meredith Wilkerson, who also serves as a venture advisor for i2E, said she has attended past BIO conventions but as an OU employee. This was her first as director of OKBio.

“In this new capacity, it’s been really great to have BIO in person this year because I have gone to other state bioscience assocation booths and visited with them and to try and understand how they run their respective state bio associations – learn how they run their boards and how they impact their local bio, life sciences and biotech communities. It has also afforded me the opportunitiy to get some new ideas and start building relationships with some of the other bioscience associations,” Wilkerson said.

Dr. Henry Shin, co-founder and CEO at Excitant Therapeutics, a new spin-off company in Oklahoma that is trying to develop a drug for diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, said he made meaningful connections throughout the convention using the OKBio booth.

“This was my first time being part of OKBio,” he said. “To be part of a bigger presence helped me get more exposure for my company. Some of my new industry connections were possible only because my fellow OKBio participants were making referrals for other Oklahoma companies at the OKBio booth, to make sure that no visitors to our booth left any stones unturned.”

Shin said he appreciated the booth providing a physical space where he and other company owners could host meetings with clients, as well as many mini-sessions and workshops that happened during the BIO convention.

“I noticed a lot of people that requested meetings did not have booths of their own, so it was great to be able to offer a place here that is dedicated for me to host meetings, and I did not have to worry too much about time. Also, the convention had many panel discussions and educational sessions that shared industry trends and new insights to consider for my business. This was a great week of networking and learning.” Shin said.

Next year’s BIO convention will be in Boston June 5-8, and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, along with other OKBio members, will once again be in attendance to continue the goal of highlighting the state’s bioscience and technology sector and helping sustain its upward trajectory.

This article originally appeared in the July 2022 edition of the VeloCity newsletter.