What is Biotechnology?
At its simplest, biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help get better our lives and the health of our planet. We have used the biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products.
Currently, there are more than 250 biotechnology health care products and vaccines available to patients, many for previously untreatable diseases. More than 13.3 million farmers around the world use agricultural biotechnology to enhance yields, prevent damage from insects and pests and reduce farming’s impact on the environment. And more than 50 biorefineries are being built across North America to test and refine technologies to produce biofuels and chemicals from renewable biomass, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. {1}
- Reducing rates of infectious disease;
- Saving millions of children’s lives;
- Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world;
- Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects;
- Creating more precise tools for disease detection; and
- Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the developing world
During the last trading session, the activities of featured biotech stocks are as follows:
Novavax, Inc.(NASDAQ:NVAX) increased 9.48% and closed at $6.81 on a traded volume of 40.46 million shares, in comparison to5.13 million shares of average trading volume. So far this year, the stock is up over 14.84%. Novavax, recently declared that Jill Hoyt has been named Vice President, Human Resources & Administration. Ms. Hoyt joined Novavax in February 2008 as Executive Director, Human Resources & Administration and has been instrumental in the successful increase of the company. Prior to joining Novavax, Ms. Hoyt held management positions of rising responsibility in a number of companies, including 3e Technologies International, ChoicePoint, and TRW. Ms. Hoyt received her B.S. in Business Administration from Shepherd University and her M.A. in Human Resource Management from Marymount University.
Gilead Sciences, Inc.(NASDAQ:GILD) soared 3.40% and closed at $100.71 on a traded volume of 14.01 million shares, whereas its average trading volume is 19.56 million shares. In the last three months, the stock is down -0.04%. Gilead Sciences, recently declared that its corporate presentation has webcasted from the 33rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. John F. Milligan, PhD, Gilead’s President and Chief Operating Officer, provided an overview of the company at the conference on Tuesday, January 13 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time).
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.(NASDAQ:CLDX) jumped up 8.91% and closed at $20.30. The 52-week range for the stock is $0.01 and $3.90 on a traded volume of 13.70 million shares, whereas its average trading volume is 2.13 million shares. Celldex Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development, manufacture, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for human health care primarily in the United States. Its lead drug candidates include rindopepimut (CDX-110), a targeted immunotherapeutic in a pivotal Phase III study for the treatment of front-line glioblastoma and a Phase II study for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma; and Glembatumumab vedotin (CDX-011) is a targeted antibody-drug conjugate in a randomized study for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:ARNA) after opening its shares at the price of $5.18, jumped up 3.94% to close at $5.41 for the day. The stock moved on a traded volume of 9.92 million shares, in comparison to 11.42 million shares of average trading volume. Arena Pharmaceuticals, recently declared the initiation of patient dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial of ralinepag, an oral, non-prostanoid prostacyclin (IP) receptor agonist intended for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a progressive, life-threatening disorder characterized by improved pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. The improved pressure strains the heart, which can limit physical activity, result in heart failure and reduce life expectancy.
Source:https://www.bio.org/
