Biogen (BIIB, Financial) is a market leader in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). In addition to their current treatments, Biogen has been heavily investing in research into Alzheimer’s drugs with two drugs, Aducanumab and E2609, currently in phase three trials.
According to analytics company GlobalData, the Alzheimer’s market is expected to grow to over $15 billion over the next decade. Biogen’s free cash flow for 2018 appears likely to exceed $4 billion. Zimmer Biomet Holdings (ZBH) 18.21% According to AARP, 10,000 baby boomers in the US turn 65 every single day. The demographics for Zimmer Biomet medical devices are improving. Zimmer Biomet is a leader in hip, shoulder, elbow and knee replacements as well as producing vital devices for heart and spinal surgery. Their free cash flow is over $1 billion annually. Merck & Co. (MRK) 17.80% Merck’s signature drug, Keytruda, is an immunotherapy that is currently approved to treat seven types of cancer. Keytruda works by blocking the PD-1 pathway that cancerous cells use to hide from the body’s T cells and then letting the patient’s own immune system destroy the cancer. Keytruda was recently approved in China for adults with unrespectable or metastatic melanoma. In addition to Keytruda, Merck has a strong pipeline that includes nineteen drugs in phase 3 trials and three drugs that have already passed phase 3 trials and are awaiting FDA approval.
From Jeff Auxier (Trades, Portfolio)'s third-quarter 2018 shareholder commentary.
