Is it the Right Time to Buy Biotechnology Investments?
July has been a good month for biotech investors. Share prices in the biotech sector as measured by the NYSE Biotechnology Index are up 24% compared to the 6.6% gain for the S&P 500. Earlier in the month, Amgen (AMGN) reported better-than-expected results from a trial of its experimental bone-protecting drug denosumab in patients with advanced breast cancer. Amgen’s shares vaulted 16% on the news.
In the week just ended, the momentum in biotech shares has continued further. While a host of favorable clinical trial results was the bigger driver, a large buyout announcement added the icing to the cake.
Clinical Trial Results
Bringing back memories of the dotcom era, shares of Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) rose nearly 300% to .50 a share after the company reported favorable results for its experimental lupus drug Benlysta. Targacept (TRGT) shares more than doubled to .25 a share after its depression drug candidate met its goals in a mid-stage trial. Onyx Pharmaceutical (ONXX) reported encouraging results for its breast cancer treatment Nexavar to push its shares higher by 21%. Shares of Celgene (CELG) jumped nearly 16% after the company announced significant improvement in progression-free survival of patients taking Revlimid as a first-line treatment for multiple myeloma.
Buyout
Continuing the trend of major pharma-biotech mergers, as in Roche (RHHBY.PK)-Genentech, and Eli Lilly (LLY)-ImClone, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) announced it is buying Medarax (MEDX) for a share. The Medarex takeover implies a net price tag of over billion. Medarax shares jumped nearly 90% on the announcement.
Is it too Late to Board the Biotech Bandwagon?
Given strong gains in biotech shares in recent weeks, it is logical to ask if it is too late to get on the biotech bandwagon. I believe the answer, generally speaking, is no. Notwithstanding uncertainties surrounding health care reform, the fundamentals for biotech companies are reasonably favorable. Yet, one needs to take appropriate care in getting the timing right and in choosing proper investment vehicles.
Fundamentals
Several factors favor the long-term growth of biotech companies. These include an aging population, rising incidence of cancer and other degenerative diseases, and growing recognition that biotech products offer the best solutions for management of these diseases.
Several biotech drugs like Roche’s Avastin and Amgen’s Enbrel have the potential of becoming major blockbuster drugs by 2014. Biotech companies are seeking to expand uses of their approved drugs to treat more diseases. And, unlike drugs made by major pharmaceutical companies, biotech drugs
