Looking for the Next Big Biopharma Stock? These 4 Letters Are 1 Big Clue Where to Find It
If you've invested in biopharma anytime recently, you've probably heard the acronym NASH. It stands for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a liver disease characterized by fat accumulating on the liver. While it doesn't always progress, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, and eventually, liver failure, so treating it is key to preventing much worse conditions from forming. But there aren't any approved medicines for it yet.
Numerous drug developers, including and Gilead Sciences, have tried their hand at developing therapies for the condition, only to fail in late-stage clinical trials, or when they've petitioned regulators for approval. But with a handful of programs in phase 3 trials, and a slew of others in earlier-stage investigations, it's only a matter of time before one of the players crosses the finish line. So let's take a look at the landscape for NASH medicines to see how big a market it'll be, and which competitors are the closest to making money.
NASH affects around 35 million people in the U.S., and as many as 37% of people globally could have a precursor condition that eventually becomes NASH in some cases. It generally affects people with other illnesses like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, with age and genetics being additional risk factors. Importantly, it may be underdiagnosed, as it's typically difficult to make a diagnosis without an invasive test.
Source Fool.com
