Other than running out of money, what economic risk do Intellia Therapeutics, (NASDAQ: NTLA) CRISPR Therapeutics, (NASDAQ: CRSP) Bluebird Bio, (NASDAQ: BLUE) and a bunch of other cutting-edge gene-editing biotechs have in common? There are a bunch of valid answers to that question, but here's a big clue regarding the one I'm thinking of: Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) infamously fell victim to this risk, much to its detriment. 

Still stumped? Let's take a walk down memory lane and explore how creating an extremely effective medicine can result in disaster for investors even as it massively improves patients' lives. 

Gilead's treatment for hepatitis C, called Sovaldi, launched in 2013 to widespread acclaim, thanks to its ability to permanently cure as many as 95% of the patients who took it for just three months. Its stock more than doubled that year, and tens of thousands of patients flocked to start treatment to cure their chronic condition. In 2014, the company raked in more than $10 billion in sales, and it soon launched an even more effective therapy called Harvoni in 2015. But by the end of 2016, sales of both medicines were crashing, and the stock fell by 31%. Neither management nor Wall Street analysts had any expectations of a rebound.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com