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​Video: Underappreciating the Scientific Process​

Sanjiv Talwar, M.D., Ph.D.;

Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager, Senior Analyst and Head of Healthcare

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In this video, Alger Portfolio Manager and Head of Healthcare Sanjiv Talwar, discusses the investment impact of tracking pioneering scientific breakthroughs.
Note: ​As of 4/17/23, Merck & Co. has indicated their intention to acquire Prometheus Biosciences in third quarter, 2023. ​
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​​SANJIV TALWAR​: Hi, I’m Sanjiv Talwar, head of healthcare at Alger.
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With nearly 10% of U.S. stock market capitalization based in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, we believe that understanding the scientific and clinical data that drives these industries is critical to making successful investment decisions. Historically, scientific breakthroughs have driven the largest market cap creation in biotech and pharma. Despite this, we find that most scientific breakthroughs are not sufficiently researched or appreciated. And the market inefficiency around this presents great opportunities for science driven investors, like the healthcare team at Alger.

Let’s highlight two recent examples.

First, there is Prometheus Biosciences, an emerging biotech focused on developing innovative therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases, particularly Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.  

We’ve followed the scientific research upon which Prometheus was founded since the early 2000s, when its founders worked at Cedars Sinai Hospital. Over the past 15 years, they’ve advanced their research which was unique in identifying a new IBD therapy and the use of genetics to pre-qualify patients for effective treatment by their drugs. And these advances were overlooked by most investors until Prometheus reported successful clinical trial data in December 2022. 

Another example of a pioneering scientific breakthrough is Apellis, an emerging biotech focused on advancing a new therapy to treat geographic atrophy. Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of age-related retinal degeneration, and one of the most common causes of blindness, impacting nearly five million people globally. This new therapy revolves around inhibiting overactivity in a part of the immune system called the complement pathway. The drug dampens inflammation and degeneration in a wide swath of serious diseases. But despite substantial scientific evidence of this novel therapy working, much of the market chose to overlook its potential.

Biotech and pharmaceutical holdings like these are building their businesses on the back of scientific breakthroughs, which we believe will enable much better outcomes for patients. And that’s exactly the type of positive lifecycle change that we invest in at Alger.​ ​
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In this video, Alger Portfolio Manager and Head of Healthcare Sanjiv Talwar, discusses the investment impact of tracking pioneering scientific breakthroughs.

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The views expressed are the views of Fred Alger Management, LLC (FAM) and its affiliates as of April 2023. These views are subject to change at any time and may not represent the views of all portfolio management teams. These views should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the future performance of the markets, any security or any funds managed by FAM. These views are not meant to provide investment advice and should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell securities. Holdings and sector allocations are subject to change. 

Risk Disclosures: Investing in the stock market involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks as their prices tend to be higher in relation to their companies’ earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political, and economic developments. Local, regional or global events such as environmental or natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar public health threats, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on investments. A significant portion of assets will be invested in healthcare companies, which may be significantly affected by competition, innovation, regulation, and product obsolescence, and may be more volatile than the securities of other companies. A significant portion of assets may be invested in securities of companies in related industries, and may be similarly affected by economic, political, or market events and conditions and may be more vulnerable to unfavorable sector developments. Investing in companies of small capitalizations involves the risk that such issuers may have limited product lines or financial resources, lack management depth, or have limited liquidity. Private placements are offerings of a company’s securities not registered with the SEC and not offered to the public, for which limited information may be available. Such investments are generally considered to be illiquid. Foreign securities involve special risks including currency fluctuations, inefficient trading, political and economic instability, and increased volatility. Active trading may increase transaction costs, brokerage commissions, and taxes, which can lower the return on investment. At times, the Portfolio may hold a large cash position, which may underperform relative to equity securities.

Alger pays compensation to third party marketers to sell various strategies to prospective investors.

The following positions represented the noted percentages of Alger’s firm-wide assets as of 1/31/23: Prometheus Biosciences, Inc. 0.75%; Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 0.05%; Merck & Co., Inc., 0.03%.

Portfolio holdings may change and stocks of companies noted may or may not be held by one or more Alger portfolios from time to time. Investors should not consider references to individual securities as an endorsement or recommendation to purchase or sell such securities. Transactions in such securities may be made which seemingly contradict the references to them for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, liquidity to meet redemptions or overall portfolio rebalancing.

Important Information for US Investors: This material must be accompanied by the most recent fund fact sheet(s) if used in connection with the sale of mutual fund and ETF shares. Fred Alger & Company, LLC serves as distributor of the Alger mutual funds.

Important Information for UK and EU Investors: This material is directed at investment professionals and qualified investors (as defined by MiFID/FCA regulations). It is for information purposes only and has been prepared and is made available for the benefit investors. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorised or permitted, or to anyone who would be an unlawful recipient, and is only intended for use by original recipients and addressees. The original recipient is solely responsible for any actions in further distributing this material and should be satisfied in doing so that there is no breach of local legislation or regulation.

Certain products may be subject to restrictions with regard to certain persons or in certain countries under national regulations applicable to such persons or countries.

Alger Management, Ltd. (company house number 8634056, domiciled at 78 Brook Street, London W1K 5EF, UK) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, for the distribution of regulated financial products and services. FAM and/or Weatherbie Capital, LLC, U.S. registered investment advisors, serve as sub-portfolio manager to financial products distributed by Alger Management, Ltd.

Alger Group Holdings, LLC (parent company of FAM and Alger Management, Ltd.), FAM, and Fred Alger & Company, LLC are not an authorized persons for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (“FSMA”) and this material has not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21(2)(b) of the FSMA.

Important information for Investors in Israel: This material is provided in Israel only to investors of the type listed in the first schedule of the Securities Law, 1968 (the "Securities Law") and the Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management Law, 1995. The Fund units will not be sold to investors who are not of the type listed in the first schedule of the Securities Law.

Before investing, carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses. For a prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information or for the Fund’s most recent month-end performance data, visit www.alger.com, call (800) 992-3863 or consult your financial advisor. Read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. Distributor: Fred Alger & Company, LLC. NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT BANK GUARANTEED. MAY LOSE VALUE.

Fred Alger & Company, LLC 100 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10004 / 800.223.3810 / www.alger.com


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