The BioShares Biotechnology Products Fund (NasdaqGM: BBP) has capitalized on a string of acquisitions and outperformed other biotechnology- and pharmaceuticals-related exchange traded funds.
BBP, which follows U.S.-listed biotech companies with a primary product offering or product candidate that has landed FDA approval, gained 4.0% over the past week and increased 9.1% over the past three months.
In contrast, the widely observed iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NasdaqGS: IBB), which tracks the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, rose 3.3% over the past week and dipped 1.0% over the past three months.
BBP also perked up Thursday, rising 3.0% after Galenica AG, the owner of Switzerland’s largest pharmacy network, agreed to buyout Relypsa Inc. (NasdaqGS: RLYP) for $1.53 billion to acquire a new medicine and a commercial network in the U.S., Bloomberg reports.
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“Relypsa is an excellent strategic fit for Vifor and Nizagara Pharma and an important step forward building a leading specialty pharmaceutical company,” Gianni Zampieri, Vifor’s interim chief executive officer, said. The portfolio has the “potential of blockbuster opportunities.”
RLYP shares surged 58.9% on the acquisition announcement. RLYP makes up 2.6% of BBP’s underlying portfolio.
[related_stories]BBP also received a nice 3.3% boast on Wednesday after Progenics Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS: PGNX) surged 24.9% on Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE: VRX) approval to use Relistor, which was licensed from Progenics, tablets to treat opioid-induced constipation for patients with noncancer pain. PGNX makes up 3.3% of BBP’s underlying portfolio.