Top Stocks with Groundbreaking Potential in the DNS Manipulation and Gene-Editing Markets

Bill Gates has known investments in the gene-editing industry.

Genetic Engineering is the field of science that manipulates DNA in order to change the gene expression. This technology is revolutionary as gene-editing and gene therapy could help people suffering from genetic disorders, as well as making humans more healthy. Applications include alleviating autoimmune disease, treatment of neurodegenerative disease, and other genetic disorders.

The field is expanding quickly, with more and more companies investing heavily into genetic engineering, especially the CRISPR/Cas9 System. CRISPR technology is considered the foremost precision gene editing tool.

Here are the top companies in the field:

👨‍⚕️ Healthcare

Agilent Technologies (A-N)
This company is a spin-off from Hewlett-Packard, which broke away in 1999. At the time, their IPO was the largest in history in Silicon Valley. They announced on June 18, 2019 the opening of a production facility in Colorado to produce nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Agilent Technologies (A-N) — Stockchase

He likes this for their US dividend fund. They will benefit from the urgency to build labs to find a vaccine for COVID-19. An interesting market to be involved in. The space is very oligopolistic and the the company owns a 20% marketshare. Its balance sheet is under-levered he feels and a large amount of…

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Biogen IDEC Inc. (BIIB-Q)
A biotechnology company that focuses on treatments for neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. They recently experienced a sell-off following news that they shut down a previously promising drug for Alzheimer’s. They acquired Nightstar Therapeutics this year, who focus on adeno-associated virus based gene-therapies.

Biogen IDEC Inc. (BIIB-Q) — Stockchase

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly BIIB has been on a roller-coaster. When the FDA announced a priority review of a new Alzheimer's drug, it stock soared to $360. When the review failed to approve the drug in the first go-round, the stock plunged to under $250 -- so it goes with drug manufacturers. Its MS…

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Charles River Labs Intl (CRL-N)
A preclinical and clinical laboratory company for pharmaceutical and biotech firms. They are also a contractor that offers research and development outsourcing services. They offer a genetically engineered animal models and services, as well as CRISPR/Cas9 System research.

Charles River Labs Intl (CRL-N) — Stockchase

(A Top Pick May 30/19, Up 44%) A contract research organization who partners with major pharma companies for drug testing and clinical testing. This is the second company in this space that has done well for them. He would stick with it.

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Novartis AG (NVS-N)
One of the largest pharmaceutical companies based out of Switzerland. They are working on a drug called Kymriah that has the ability to reprogram a patient’s own immune cells.

Novartis AG (NVS-N) — Stockchase

A joint pharmaceutical company that has two businesses: branded and generic. The generic side will be very interesting post-covid when countries will be indebted and must provide cost-effective health care. The product pipeline looks reasonable. 6% dividend growth in the past 10 years. A safe steady growth opportunity. (Analysts’ price target is $102.00)

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN-Q)
A biotechnology company that has multiple key drugs, including Eylea for macular degeneration. They have one of the largest human DNA sequencing project that will help with drug discovery and development.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN-Q) — Stockchase

Buy it under $500. It hasn't been in the news lately. They have a great Covid drug, but aren't making enough of it.

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Sanofi-Aventis (SNY-N)
A french pharmaceutical company out of Paris that is the fifth largest in sales. They recently announced an over one billion dollar research deal with Denali Therapeutics for treatments for neurological and systemic inflammatory diseases.

Sanofi-Aventis (SNY-N) — Stockchase

A French pharma. He bought this not for its vaccine, but because it's a well-run pharma, not facing patent expirations, and has good growth and returns in the future. He doesn't know where their vaccine stands now, but if it works, it will certainly boost the stock. Has strong dividend and earnings growth.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO-N)
A biotechnology and pharmaceutical lab equipment company. They are paying down debt and have made some acquisitions that will grow well over the next couple of years.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO-N) — Stockchase

PCR - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction A way to play the vaccine trade? Yes. This is far more than a PCR company. They are a premier medical device company run by a fine CEO.

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United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR-Q)
An American biotechnology company. Their primary drug therapy is for pulmonary disease. They acquired SteadyMed Therapeutics, a competitor with whom they were locked in a legal dispute with, last year.

United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR-Q) — Stockchase

United Therapeutic (UTHR-Q) or Allergan (AGN-N)? This is a tough one because they are 2 very different companies. Allergan is a much larger company and more broadly-based, however, this one is a very fine company. Its primary drug therapy is dealing with pulmonary disease. The risk of owning this is that one drug represents a…

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Illumina Inc. (ILMN-Q)
One of the only companies that can do high volume DNA sequencing. They have brought down the cost of genetic sequencing to retail levels. They are becoming more available outside of research for commercial use in clinics.

Illumina Inc. (ILMN-Q) — Stockchase

(A Top Pick Sep 12/19, Up 6%) The sector is interesting, though he sold Illumina, because the holding got too big. They supply testing machines for mines, which creates recurring revenues. Stick with it.

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Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD-Q)
An American biopharmaceutical company that is doing research on treating cancer using DNA targets to control it. They also released great results for a HIV treatment.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD-Q) — Stockchase

It is a healthcare name recently valued by investors. She likes to see a more visible pipeline in companies she buys. But this is a reasonable investment in this space.

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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY-N)
They got hit due to problems with the Celegene acquisition. Some shareholders like it, others don’t. They have an innovative pipeline and their drugs using genetic technology has performed well, as well as the biotech that will come under their wing from Celegene.

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY-N) — Stockchase

It was up nearly 4% today during JPMorgan's healthcare conference. BMY delivered good news. Management announced strong early revenue goals for new products, including three new drugs that could hit $4 billion in sales this decade. Their strong pipeline of drugs was bulked by buying Celgene and MyoKardia. They also announced a bullish free cash-flow…

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Roche Holding (RHHBY-OTC)
A Swiss multinational healthcare company. They acquired a biotech firm that does research and development for all their future products. They have some promising drugs for multiple sclerosis and cancer treatment.

Roche Holding (RHHBY-OTC) — Stockchase

(A Top Pick October 31/17 Up 10%) A steady business that pays a good dividend. You should make 10% a year return. There is a good pipeline of drug projects yet to come. Yield 3.5%

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CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP-Q)
One of the smaller companies developing transformative gene medications. Their gene-editing tool is used to splice DNA that has the potential of curing diseases such as Huntington’s Chorea and cancer.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP-Q) — Stockchase

A small company that develops transformative gene medications. They are a small fish in a big sea. A recent transaction with a pharma company allows them to scale out their product, but it is still early. (Analysts’ price target is $58.05)

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