The fund was incepted in September 1997 and is managed by Franklin Advisers. The objective of this fund is to seek capital appreciation. The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms worldwide, including therapeutics, drug delivery, gene therapy and other select medical companies. The fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in equity securities of smaller capitalization companies, which are generally companies with a market capitalization of less than $1.5 billion at the time of the fund's investment, and invests a small portion of its assets in private or illiquid securities, such as late stage venture capital financings. The fund offers dividends and capital gains annually. There is no guarantee that fund would regularly pay either income dividends or capital gains distributions.