243. Biotechnology: the innovation engine of big pharma

<p>Linden Thomson, manager of the <a href='https://www.fundcalibre.com/elite-funds/axa-framlington-biotech'>AXA Framlington Biotech</a> fund, gives an introduction to biotech, one of the fastest growing subsets of the healthcare industry. Linden explains the difference between pharmaceuticals and biotech, and outlines the themes driving the sector, including drug innovations in the area of HIV/AIDS and cystic fibrosis. She also covers the influence of US politics and geopolitical tensions in China on the sector and how the fund can often bring defensive aspects to an investor’s portfolio. <br/><br/><b>What’s covered in this episode: </b></p><ul><li>The difference between biotechnology and pharmaceuticals </li><li>Four themes driving the sector: drug innovation, lifestyle diseases, disease prevention and geographical expansion</li><li>How US politics influence drug prices</li><li>What the Inflation Reduction Act means for the wider healthcare sector </li><li>How the Inflation Reduction Act influences biopharma companies</li><li>When will biotech underperform the market?</li><li>The defensive aspects of the biotechnology sector</li><li>Why the innovative nature of the sector makes it ripe for M&amp;A activity </li></ul><p><br/><b>More about the fund: </b><br/>The <a href='https://www.fundcalibre.com/elite-funds/axa-framlington-biotech'>AXA Framlington Biotech</a> fund is a high conviction strategy which looks to tap into what is now one of the fastest growing subsets of the healthcare sector. The fund invests directly in companies that are helping us live longer by bringing new drugs to market to tackle the likes of cancer, heart disease and obesity. This sector requires a specialist, focused team with skills, experience, and a network to keep up with the changes that are taking place and that is exactly what manager Linden Thomson and her team offer.<br/> <br/>Learn more on <a href='https://www.fundcalibre.com/'>fundcalibre.com</a><br/><br/><em>Please remember, we’ve been discussing individual companies to bring i