Phillip K Weck, Vice President of Centocor To Speak at 9th Cytokines Conference Jan 27, 2011 In Cali

Online, December 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Phillip K. Weck, Vice President & Compound Development Team Leader at Centocor will give a featured presentation on "Anti-TNF Therapies: A Case Study of Golimumab Global Development & Life Cycle Management" at the at 9th Cytokines & Inflammation Conference to be held in San Diego, CA on January 27-28, 2011 by GTCbio.

Golimumab was the first anti-TNF approved for three indications simultaneously in 2009 and will be the first to offer both SC and IV routes of administration. Golimumab significantly improves signs and symptoms, physical function, and health-related quality of life in subjects affected by rheumatologic disorders. Treatment with golimumab also reduces the rate of progression of structural damage associated with RA and PsA. Regulatory dossiers for these indications are submitted in over 50 countries globally with approvals in approximately 38 countries.

Golimumab is currently offered in the SmartJect® auto injector and UltraSafe® pre-filled syringes. SmartJect® and monthly dosing distinguish golimumab from other anti-TNFs and provide patient friendly administration of the product.

The 9th Cytokine and Inflammation Conference will cover ever-important topics such as the TNF family, the inflammasome, chemokines, costimulation and innate immunity. In addition, timely coverage will be devoted to areas of current rapid expansion, such as the IL-17 and Th17 fields and JAK/STAT kinases, at a time when phase 2 and even phase 3 studies are being conducted and reported in these areas. Intriguing recently discovered cytokines, such as IL-25, novel alarmins and novel IL-1 family members will also be covered.

As usual, poster sessions and opportunities for networking will complement the great roster of distinguished speakers. The organizations participating are a great selection of innovative medical organizations from academia (NIH, UCLA, UCSD, Cleveland Clinic, La Jolla Institute, Virginia Commonwealth U, U Mass, City of Hope, Scripps, Barts and the London), industry (Amgen, Pfizer, MedImmune, Novartis, Centocor/Johnson and Johnson, Biogen Idec, Incyte, Genentech, Genzyme, Chemocentryx) and, last but not -by any means- least, the US FDA.

With a 50-50 mix of academic and industry authoritative experts, the conference will cover many current and relevant aspects of cytokine biology from their respective angles. If your work focuses on basic, translational or full development cytokine biology and its applicability to human health, I encourage you to attend this conference which promises to be a fertile ground for scientific exchange and collaboration.

For more information, visit www.gtcbio.com