Investing in firms developing life-changing medicine

Fidelity's Paul McElroy believes potential life-extending medical advancements within the health care sector may come to fruition this year, posing compelling investment opportunities.

• Significant developments in the biopharmaceutical industry may emerge by the end of 2023 as certain companies find breakthroughs and push technology advancements that help extend life expectancy or improve quality of life, says Fidelity Portfolio Manager Paul McElroy.
• "Companies are looking to treat or eradicate cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases, and they are building off technology developed at a breakneck pace during the COVID-19 pandemic to make groundbreaking therapeutic progress," says McElroy, who co-manages Fidelity Advisor^® Healthy Future Fund with Melissa Reilly.
• Launched in May 2022, the fund is a thematic equity strategy dedicated to investing in global companies that are extending and improving life expectancy, enhancing health and wellness in people's lives, and managing environmental impacts that are causing negative health outcomes.
• Among high-conviction holdings as of August 31, McElroy cites Eli Lilly, Moderna, and DexCom, all of which are developing treatments for chronic and, in some cases, rare diseases. He adds that these advances may be especially life-changing in emerging nations where health care is not as widely available.
• "Each is set to announce pivotal trial results this year and/or product commercialization in the near term," McElroy says.
• In May, Eli Lilly reported phase 3 trial data for a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, and the results showed a reduction in risk of progression to the next stage of the disease, according to McElroy.
• Meanwhile, Moderna is applying its mRNA technology to rapidly develop vaccines across several areas. McElroy notes that the company has already shown fairly strong phase 1 data for one aspect of a 3-in-1 combination vaccine to treat respiratory-related ailments. Moderna also has a personalized cancer vaccine in phase 3 trials with adjuvant melanoma patients and expansion to additional cancerous tumors.
• "Moderna's approach to cancer treatment is personalized, simple, and rapid, progressing from biopsy to cancer vaccine administration in a matter of weeks," he says.
• Medical device maker DexCom is pushing forward with its insulin-therapy solutions to transform management of Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes, which impacts roughly 11% of the U.S. population, according to the American Diabetes Association.
• McElroy notes that DexCom's latest device iteration, introduced this year, allows for real-time and continuous glucose monitoring, without finger sticks, and delivery of insights from a discreet sensor to a smartphone or smartwatch. This helps users manage glucose to avoid a hypoglycemic event, he says, adding that both Medicaid and Medicare cover the device.
• "Melissa and I focus on companies that are leading the way in the research and development of life-changing medicine, and we are excited about these and other prospects," says McElroy.