The U.S. biotechnology industry includes about 1,000 companies, of all sizes, with combined annual revenues close to $50 billion. Large companies include Amgen, Biogen Idec, Genetech, Genzyme, Life Technologies and Monsanto. Because so many drugs are now developed using biotechnology, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries overlap. Demand for biotechnology products and services is driven primarily by the willingness of insurers to pay for new medical treatments. With the pending introduction of Obamacare, new uncertainties are introduced to this industry. Biotech products and treatments tend to be expensive and the drive to reduce costs through rationing will no doubt effect this industry. The profitability of individual companies depends on the discovery and effective marketing of new products. Because the market for potential products is so large, small biotech companies can co-exist successfully with large ones if they have expertise in a particular line of research. The most successful uses of biotechnology so far have been in the production of therapeutic drugs (biologics); genetically modified plants and medical diagnostic tools such as DNA testing. Biotechnology is a high risk venture. Failure may result from poor results during clinical trials, issues involving patents, competition from other companies and government regulation. Biotech companies burn cash until their product comes to market and even then if there is not widespread acceptance of the product. Investing in biotech companies is more often an act of speculation than one of investment. We screened our database for biotech companies with market capitalizations of $1.0 billion or more and some degree of balance sheet strength. Of the companies mentioned below, we especially like Biogen Idec. We recommend that you perform your own due diligence of the following companies which we find promising: Biogen Idec ( ): "Biogen Idec Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of therapies. The Company’s products address diseases such as multiple sclerosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), crohn’s disease (CD) and psoriasis. The Company has four products: AVONEX (interferon beta-1a), RITUXAN (rituximab), TYSABRI (natalizumab) and FUMADERM (dimethylfumarate and monoethylfumarate salts). AVONEX is used in the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). RITUXAN is one of the selling oncology therapeutics. In the United States, RITUXAN is approved for NHL. TYSABRI is approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. FUMADERM acts as an immunomudulator. The Company also has product candidates, such as BG-12, which is a oral fumarate; ANTI-CD80 monoclonal antibody (MAb)(galiximab); ANTI-CD23 MAb (lumiliximab); Humanized Anti-CD20 MAb (ocrelizumab), Lixivaptan, an oral compound for the potential treatment of hyponatremia, and ADENTRI, which is an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, being developed under a licensing agreement with CV Therapeutics, Inc." Covance ( ): "Covance Inc. is a drug development services company providing a range of early-stage and late-stage product development services on a worldwide basis primarily to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company also provides laboratory testing services to the chemical, agrochemical and food industries. Covance maintains offices in more than 20 countries. The services it provides constitute two segments: early development services, which include preclinical services and clinical pharmacology services, and late-stage development services, which include central laboratory, clinical development, periapproval and market access services. Covance Inc. provides product development services on a global basis to, among others, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company served in excess of 300 biopharmaceutical companies.