Dr. Werber: I predominantly focus on mid- and large cap stocks, but I also follow a few small cap names as well.
TWST: Any specific spaces?
Dr. Werber: I particularly focus on hematology/oncology, HIV, hepatitis B and C,
diabetes, cardiology and gastrointestinal disorders.
TWST: As you look back at 2007, what were the highlights from your perspective?
Dr. Werber: I think there are a few things. Number one, large cap biotech, and
to a degree mid-cap biotech, is increasingly focusing on launching their drugs
outside the US. These companies are becoming truly global players; they're not
just domestic players. Number two, a big theme is drug safety. Not just the high
bar facing companies seeking to gain FDA approval to market products, but also
increasing instances wherein biologic drugs that were considered to be safe in
the past have now shown serious adverse events with long-term therapy or when
combined with other drugs — such as Amgen's (AMGN) Epogen and Johnson &
Johnson's (JNJ) Procrit, Amgen's Vectibix, Biogen Idec's (BIIB) Tysabri, JNJ's
Natrecor, and Adolor (ADLR)/GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Entereg. Thus, the old
saying that biologics are all safe is proving to be a myth.
Tickers included in this excerpt: AMLN, CELG, GILD
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