The accompanying table [click to enlarge] includes the Top 10 Rated companies among a total of 64 and statistics for the ETF Innovators [ETFI] Cosmetic and Reconstructive Medicine [CRM] Index, which includes companies with market caps over $100M engaged in cosmetic medicine products, regenerative medicine + stem cells, orthopedic repair, joint replacements, and cardiovascular (heart + blood vessels) treatments.
The Top 10 Rated companies are dominated by those focusing on cardiovascular treatments, including VNUS Medical Technologies (VNUS), Thoratec (THOR), Edwards Lifesciences (EW), Vascular Solutions (VASC), ATS Medical (ATSI), and Abiomed (ABMD).
Over the past year, the Top 40 Rated companies in the CRM Index fared better than the Healthcare Sector SPDR (XLV), iShares Nasdaq Biotech ETF (IBB), and the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY) – thanks in part to a major surge in six stem cell and regenerative medicine companies highlighted below with their one-month stock price return and current market cap:
Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR) up 10.9% to $603M
Cytori Therapeutics (CYTX) up 87.6% to $110M
RTI Biologics (RTIX) up 48.5% to $157M
Integra LifeSciences (IART) up 15.4% to $967M
StemCells (STEM) up 20.6% to $122M
Geron (GERN) up 45% to $367M
The new administration is viewed as favorable for increased spending on basic scientific research (including stem cells) and, more importantly, companies such as Pfizer (PFE), Roche (RHHBY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Novartis (NVS), and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are starting business segments focused on regenerative medicine through direct investments and partnerships as a new frontier for R&D to bolster their pipelines.
$16.55 (12/20/08)
