The themes powering the top-performing International Biotechnology trust

The biotechnology sector has boomed since the recession, providing substantial returns for investors in specialist funds exposed to this area.

Of the eight funds defined by the Association of Investment Companies and the Investment Association as focusing on biotech, the International Biotechnology trust (IBT) is the top performer over one year, returning 61% against an average of 40%. The fund ranks second over three years. The £234m trust is managed by a team from specialist venture capitalist firm SV Life Sciences, which utilises the investment trust structure to invest in a wide range of assets, from unlisted equities to pharmaceutical giants. Carl Harald Janson (pictured), the fund’s lead manager, attributes the fund’s ...