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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jacob Snyder who wrote (63930)	5/21/2002 8:04:27 PM
From: Cary Salsberg	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

I started watching biotech in December, 2001. A few biotech companies have had "real products, real sales, and real profits" for a while now. I question that this makes a "real industry". As you say, "Most biotech companies aren't making profits yet, and most of them are not complete companies, lacking marketing/sales, lacking the ability to jump through the FDA hoops, lacking financing, lacking other essential skills." In fact, there are questions about the whole business model and if most of these companies will produce a successful product, first, or run out of money, first. In this environment, I wonder why you don't use your "special expertise" and build a basket of companies instead of using an index.

To: Jacob Snyder who wrote (63930)	5/23/2002 10:06:31 AM
From: willcousa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

OT Biotech - Jacob, That was a nice analysis of biotech, nanotech. Of course I agree. The trackers are the hedge against being unable to evaluate the technology and tech capability of the various players. A thought on the Luddites - The promise and potential of the technology (as in bio-based computers for example) is so pervasive that the opponents can't even begin to find all the doors they would have to close to keep the horse in the barn. On future timing - heartily agree it will take a long time to see steady profit results.