Immunotherapy Showing Potential Promise - Immunotherapy ETF

Noah Kiedrowski - INO.com Contributor - Biotech


Introduction

Immunotherapy has emerged as a new potential frontier in treating a variety of diseases. Immunotherapy has risen to national attention via being showcased on the front cover of Time magazine in 2016 (Figure 1). Now, immunotherapy has been thrust into the forefront as an emerging and exciting therapeutic area that has experienced massive growth in terms of potential pipeline candidates across all capitalization biotech companies. Immunotherapy ushers in a new class of potentially promising therapies by harnessing the body’s immune system to recognize and eradicate debilitating diseases, specifically cancer and chronic viral infections. This immunotherapy approach may inevitably result in a paradigm shift from traditional medical intervention. Immunotherapy possesses holistic attributes by harnessing the body’s immune system to contend with or in some cases prevent disease. In addition to the holistic aspects, immunotherapy has been shown to have a favorable side effect profile and best-in-class efficacy across many different disease states. These therapies may provide a powerful technology to contend with a host of diseases, and in a future state, may potentially serve as a preventative technology similar to a traditional vaccine. Immunotherapy has evolved into many different classifications with differing modalities over the past several years, which has given rise to a growing number mid and small-cap biotechnology companies with potential investment opportunities via an immunotherapy ETF. In late 2015,Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy launched the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF (NASDAQ:CNCR) and provided investors with an opportunity to invest in this unique cohort.

Time Magazine Immunotherapy Cover
Figure 1 - TIME magazine cover showcasing immunotherapy and its potential in treating disease

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TIME Magazine Showcases Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy ETF Now Trading

Noah Kiedrowski - INO.com Contributor - Biotech


Introduction

Immunotherapy has garnered national attention recently by being showcased on the front cover of Time magazine. Immunotherapy has been an emerging and exciting therapeutic area that has experienced massive growth in terms of research and development expenditures and the sheer number of clinical trials. Immunotherapy ushers in a new class of potentially promising therapies by harnessing the body’s immune system to recognize and eradicate debilitating diseases, specifically cancer and chronic viral infections. This immunotherapy approach may inevitably result in a paradigm shift from traditional medical intervention. Immunotherapy possesses holistic attributes by harnessing the body’s immune system to contend with or in some cases prevent disease. In addition to the holistic aspects, immunotherapy has been shown to have a favorable side effect profile and best-in-class efficacy across many different disease states. These therapies may provide powerful technology to contend with a host of diseases, and in a future state, may potentially serve as a preventative technology similar to a traditional vaccine. Immunotherapy has evolved into many different classifications with differing modalities over the past few years, which has given rise to a growing number small-cap biotechnology companies with potential investment opportunities via an immunotherapy ETF. In late 2015, Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF launched (NASDAQ:CNCR) and provides investors with an opportunity to invest in this unique cohort. Continue reading "TIME Magazine Showcases Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy ETF Now Trading"

Will Political Headwinds For Biotech Subside In 2016?

Noah Kiedrowski - INO.com Contributor - Biotech


As the political cycle unfolded throughout 2015, the entire healthcare cohort posted shape declines, this was particularly true for the biotechnology sector. Using the iShares Biotechnology Index ETF (ticker IBB) as a proxy for the biotechnology sector, this cohort fell from $401 in July to $284 in September or alternatively a 29% decline. This shape decline coincided with heated political rhetoric aimed at the collective cohort of healthcare and more specifically biotech related companies. This cynical sentiment by political frontrunners was largely rooted in the pricing of drugs. As candidate threats via legislative action geared towards reining in the costs of drugs unfolded, these actions negatively reverberated through healthcare and biotech stocks alike. The political posturing surrounding potential plans to reign in drug costs are now largely priced into many stocks within the healthcare umbrella. I contend that after the recent sell-off the biotech cohort looks attractive at these levels. Once the political cycle is complete in 2016, these stocks will likely benefit from the mere absence of political headwinds. Additionally, as the candidate pools thin out many remaining candidates gradually move towards the middle to appease a broader audience. Taken together along with the difficulty of enacting any legislative action to regulate the industry this may represent a buying opportunity that’s been presented by extraneous political events. Continue reading "Will Political Headwinds For Biotech Subside In 2016?"

6 Ways To Play The Biotech Industry Moving Forward

Matt Thalman - INO.com Contributor - ETFs


In September Biotech stocks got hammered. Most market participants blamed the massive decline on Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. On September 21, Clinton tweeted "Price gouging like this in the specialty drug market is outrageous. Tomorrow I'll lay out a plan to take it on." Clinton was referring to a drug called Daraprim, a 65-year-old drug, which recently saw its price increase from $13.50 per pill to $750.

While there are arguments for and against why Daraprim and other drugs increase in price, an industry-wide reform on how prices are set would likely hurt nearly every company in the biotech space. And that was what Clinton essentially proposed last month. With uncertainty surrounding the industry, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NBI) fell by more than 15% just in September compared to a decline of just 4.4% for the S&P 500 during the month. Continue reading "6 Ways To Play The Biotech Industry Moving Forward"