"Biotech Conference: New Focus on Politics, Old Focus on Money"

The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference faces stiff competition from CES for headlines next week. But the 26th annual gathering of investors and companies is the event of 2008 in biotechnology.

More than 300 companies, ranging from public corporations like Genentech to tiny startups, will get 30 minutes each to impress the 3,500 investors there. Designed for investors, the conference has long been where the smart companies have found smart money.