Biotechnology can be a tough market for investors to break in to. The jargon is intimidating, the volatility is incredible, while there are political concerns to be cognizant of as well.
But in this edition of the Dutram Report, I take a closer look at this market, and in particular the immunotherapy world, in order to shine some light on this promising space for investors. In order to do this, I talk with Brad Loncar, the CEO of Loncar Investments, who developed a benchmark of such companies called the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy Index, which is the underlying benchmark for the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF (CNCR).
In the interview, we discuss the basics of immunotherapy, and why this technique might be a real gamechanger for the treatment of cancer. The approach looks to harness the power of someone’s immune system in order to fight disease, which may help some patients improve their quality of life while still achieving great outcomes. This only scratches the surface though, as we discuss some of the more innovative and groundbreaking treatments under development in this market too.
We also discuss how someone might go about investing in this market with stocks, and why a broad biotechnology ETF like IBB or XBI might not get you exposure to this corner of the sector. We also take a deeper look at the Loncar index, and what exactly an ‘immunotherapy stock’ means.
In particular, I note some of the large caps which find their way into the benchmark, such as Amgen (AMGN), Merck (MRK), or AstraZeneca (AZN). But we also discuss some of the more growth-oriented names that might be more in-line with investors’ initial assumptions about the market, such as KITE Pharma (KITE) or Juno Therapeutics (JUNO). These all fit into the theme in their own way though, and we dive into the key trends taking place in these companies (and others) that have business in this important market.
Lastly, I also wanted to note that Loncar has partnered with the Cancer Research Institute, and will be giving part of its fee to the charity. Loncar Investments looks to give four basis points of the fee from assets under management to the CRI on a regular basis, in an effort to help support this basic research institution. This is definitely something that could be more of a trend in the future, and especially among the many socially-conscious ETFs out there.
This was certainly an informative podcast, and I definitely learned something about this often-overlooked corner of the biotechnology world. I think you will as well, so make sure to listen to this edition of the Dutram Report for additional information. And for more news and insights into the world of ETFs, make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the Dutram Report, and check out the many other great Zacks podcasts as well!
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Is Immunotherapy the Next Hot Industry for Biotech Stock Investors?
Biotechnology can be a tough market for investors to break in to. The jargon is intimidating, the volatility is incredible, while there are political concerns to be cognizant of as well.
But in this edition of the Dutram Report, I take a closer look at this market, and in particular the immunotherapy world, in order to shine some light on this promising space for investors. In order to do this, I talk with Brad Loncar, the CEO of Loncar Investments, who developed a benchmark of such companies called the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy Index, which is the underlying benchmark for the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF (CNCR).
In the interview, we discuss the basics of immunotherapy, and why this technique might be a real gamechanger for the treatment of cancer. The approach looks to harness the power of someone’s immune system in order to fight disease, which may help some patients improve their quality of life while still achieving great outcomes. This only scratches the surface though, as we discuss some of the more innovative and groundbreaking treatments under development in this market too.
We also discuss how someone might go about investing in this market with stocks, and why a broad biotechnology ETF like IBB or XBI might not get you exposure to this corner of the sector. We also take a deeper look at the Loncar index, and what exactly an ‘immunotherapy stock’ means.
In particular, I note some of the large caps which find their way into the benchmark, such as Amgen (AMGN), Merck (MRK), or AstraZeneca (AZN). But we also discuss some of the more growth-oriented names that might be more in-line with investors’ initial assumptions about the market, such as KITE Pharma (KITE) or Juno Therapeutics (JUNO). These all fit into the theme in their own way though, and we dive into the key trends taking place in these companies (and others) that have business in this important market.
Lastly, I also wanted to note that Loncar has partnered with the Cancer Research Institute, and will be giving part of its fee to the charity. Loncar Investments looks to give four basis points of the fee from assets under management to the CRI on a regular basis, in an effort to help support this basic research institution. This is definitely something that could be more of a trend in the future, and especially among the many socially-conscious ETFs out there.
This was certainly an informative podcast, and I definitely learned something about this often-overlooked corner of the biotechnology world. I think you will as well, so make sure to listen to this edition of the Dutram Report for additional information. And for more news and insights into the world of ETFs, make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the Dutram Report, and check out the many other great Zacks podcasts as well!
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>