The Biotech Investor's Bible [Hardcover]

George Wolff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2001

A one-stop source for investing in biotech-with detailed coverage of the science, the business, the players, and the strategies for one of today's most promising (and volatile) industries
To invest in biotech is to invest in the future, and as such, investors need to learn the nuances of the science they're putting their money on. The core asset of biotech companies is knowledge, and sound investment decisions are impossible without an understanding of this complex science. That's where The Biotech Investor's Bible fits in. This much-needed, one-of-a-kind resource simplifies the complex science surrounding the business of biotech and clarifies subtle distinctions within the context of their financial repercussions. The book explains the basics of genetics, patents, and therapies; and teaches investors how to value biotech companies and their state-of-the art products and technology. The Biotech Investor's Bible offers an informative summary of the relatively short history of the industry and provides a comprehensive review of various industry sectors.
George Wolff (St. Pete Beach, FL) is a successful consultant advising clients who are investing in biotech stocks. He has assessed well over 150 biotech companies and has issued a number of valuable white papers that have charted the success of the hottest biotech companies.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Like the industry itself, the fundamentals of biotech investing are unique. Because the financial characteristics of biotechnology investments are unlike those of any other sector on the market, few analysts and investors predicted the industry's recent, dramatic gains and even fewer profited from it.

The Biotech Investor's Bible is a practical guide to the essentials of biotechnology investment. Along with the most promising investing strategies, George Wolff provides an overview of an industry that many observers expect to emerge over the next century as the largest and most important business sector in the world.

Wolff first focuses on the unique financial forces that drive biotech markets. With this approach, you'll gain a better understanding of the structure of the industry and its many processes, setting the stage for an analysis of sensible investment criteria. He then simplifies complex scientific concepts and technical terminology so you can quickly cut through industry jargon and make informed investment decisions.

To help you get in as close as pos-sible on biotech's ground floor, Wolff prepares you with:
* Guidelines and commonsense methods for picking companies
* Details on new technologies and innovations
* Advice on how to pick lesser known companies with unrealized value
* Insights on how to structure a biotech portfolio
* A breakdown of 185 major biotech companies

Today, more than five thousand companies are engaged in the development of biotechnology worldwide. The work they do will fundamentally change life in this century, and every investor has a vested interest in knowing how the next industrial revolution will affect their holdings. No sector, from oil to insurance, from mining to medicine, will remain untouched.

From the Back Cover

The complete guide to investing in the biotech industry

"Clear, never condescending, and with abundant references to biotech firms and their work in progress, The Biotech Investor's Bible is a book that had to be written. Essential for the investor, fascinating even for armchair students of the industry, it's a valuable reference, a guide to what is coming, and an irresistible read . . . it will be a definitive reference in the field."--Andrew Allentuck, globetechnology.com

"The Biotech Investor's Bible outlines sensibly and with balance the opportunities and challenges of an industry that will change our lives. A must read guide for the individual investor."--William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., Chairman, CEO, and Founder, Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Editor-in-chief, E-Biomed: The Journal of Regenerative Medicine

Investors with a practical understanding of biotechnology share a remarkable opportunity: the chance to invest in an industry on the threshold of tremendous growth. With the long-term potential to cure most major diseases and to revolutionize industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals and forestry, petrochemicals and agriculture, the possibilities for biotech--and its investors--are limitless.

The Biotech Investor's Bible provides you with the strategies and proven techniques to reduce risk and increase returns, including:
* The steps you must know in order to assess the biotech market ?
* A comprehensive look at 185 major biotech companies ?
* Guidelines to follow when planning your biotech portfolio ?
* An overview of the latest biotech therapies and breakthroughs ?
* Tips on how to find sound and promising companies in the sector ?
* An easy-to-understand introduction to the science and technology in the field ?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (May 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471412791
• ISBN-13: 978-0471412793
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #867,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review, June 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Biotech Investor's Bible (Hardcover)

At last a book that makes some sense of the biotech sector! The author, George Wolff has a very straightforward approach, starting with the big picture of the industry's development and then getting down to specifics about market behavior such as the reasons for the sector's incredible volatility. Wolff's analysis involves breaking the sector down in Four Tiers. Each behaves somewhat differently with the lowest Tier being both the riskiest and the cheapest to buy into. Tier One encompasses the well-known majors such as Amgen, which are relatively safe but less exciting plays. I think Wolff has set out a framework of understanding that allows investors to discriminate among the companies to find a reasonable balance of growth potential and security. Most of the book is strictly about investment analysis but the second part of it (Book 2) tries to decode the scientific background. I like his analogy, comparing the workings of DNA and cellular machinery to the innards of a computer. It's a clear enough explanation to convince me that I finally understand this abstract stuff. All in all, a good, illuminating read for people like me who are interested in the industry and where it's going. The investment advice is sensible and has a reasonable tone....not a "get rich quick book." I know there's another book on the market that looks strictly at the medical side of the biotech business. I like the fact the Wolff has gone beyond that to look at the ways the industry can affect a lot of other major sectors such as energy, chemicals, textiles and so on. Wolff believes biotech is going to become the biggest industry in the world and now that I see where the industry is headed, I think he's right.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biotech - What every serious investror must know., June 10, 2001

By 

Paul V. Herzfeld (Seminole, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Biotech Investor's Bible (Hardcover)

I highly recommend this important book! You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard about the great advances made recently in genetics and biotechnology. The potential for a cure to cancer, the ability to fix previously incurable diseases, and many other medical advancements are becoming closer to reality because of biotechnology. But where could an investor go to educate himself on the many issues facing this industry? Nowhere. Until now. Investors who can sort through the myriad of scientific, corporate and government issues relating to this industry will be have a great advantage over the rest of us. George Wolff's highly readable primer gives its readers this advantage.

As an investment advisor, I know the great potential of biotech. All you need to do is look at the multi-hundred billion dollar market capitalization of the Mercks and Pfizers to know that success in drug development holds the key to untold riches. But which companies will get there? How do you as an investor approach this very complex field?

George Wolff's Biotech Investor's Bible thoughtfully lays out the key issues an investor must be familiar with. Product pipelines, alliances with major drug companies, strategies companies use to speed up FDA trials, valuation techniques, and a myriad of other important issues are thoroughly explained by Wolff in plain English.

A huge run-up in biotech stock prices in early 2000 was sparked by the expectation that the human genome would be mapped. The bubble burst in March 2000, leaving many of the hottest stocks broken and battered. The theoretical excitement however, has given way now to a market that is focused on the companies that have an aggregate of several hundred drugs in various stages of FDA trials. Many of these stocks have recovered and in some cases gone on to new highs. Wolff provides not only the overview of the industry you need, but also the means to determine which individual companies show the greatest promise.

Without this book and its comprehensive explanation of biotech investing, I would never attempt to participate in this market. But you should ask yourself: can you afford not to? With the tech sector in a shambles, with the stock market stagnating in general, what will bring on the next high-growth trend? A strong case for biotech is made by the author. The fast pace of research, the growing base of scientific knowledge in the field, and the several current winners like Amgen which sports a $65 billion market capitalization, all clearly point to the future development of many new, effective treatments which will be brought forth at an ever-increasing rate for decades to come. I for one plan to stay informed and involved with my investment dollars.

You truly would omit this book from your reading list at your own financial peril.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't invest in Biotechs without reading this book, June 12, 2001

By 

"susaninstpete" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Biotech Investor's Bible (Hardcover)

Like most people, I have read with interest many of the articles written in the last year about new biotech medical breakthrus, human genome project updates and the wild stock market performance of so many of these dynamic companies -- read, but not really understood. I was even tempted to invest in these cutting-edge technologies, but had no idea where to begin to research this specialized field. Until now... The Biotech Investor's Bible was a surprisingly easy and compelling read and loaded with an amazing amount of useful research material and background information. As a non-scientist, I was relieved by how clearly and even entertainingly Mr. Wolff writes about these companies and about the investment process. His enthusiasm is contagious. I found the "8 questions to ask yourself before investing" and the extensive information on how to use the internet to do research on this sector especially helpful. Understanding the difference in the three phases of clinical trials and how and where the results are reported is not only useful information for anyone evaluating investment opportunities, but for anyone wanting to keep abreast of promising new medical treatments. The first half of the book focuses on investment opportunites in this field of the future and the second half more on the science behind the headlines and the biotech companies. To my surprise, while I didn't fully understand everything about the science, I couldn't put the book down. I'm confident I now know more about this field than my financial advisor and look forward to applying what I've learned to diversify my stock portfolio.