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BB Biotech Media release of April 23 , 2021 Interim report of BB Biotech AG as at March 31 , 2021 Successful vaccination campaigns point the way out of the corona crisis - sector re - valuation used for portfolio investments BB Biotech delivered positive results for the first quarter amid a market environment characterized by profit - taking in the healthcare sector . Its stock ended the quarter with a positive total return of 15.4 % in CHF and 14.3 % in EUR . The SARS - CoV - 2 pandemic remains the dominant theme in the healthcare sector . Bringing the pandemic under control will clearly depend on the rollout and administration of vaccines . Countries such as Israel , the US and the UK that secured early access to vaccines have experienced sharp drops in infection and hospitalization rates . Although most other countries are making slower progress with their vaccination campaigns , they are likely to eventually show similar developments . Accelerating the pace of vaccinations even more and improving the global rollout of vaccines will be important given the potential emergence of resistant mutations . With respect to general expectations of a quick end to the pandemic during the next few quarters , BB Biotech believes booster shots , possibly every year , will be necessary to keep COVID - 19 under control . US and European indices showed significant gains in the first quarter of 2021 and ended the quarter at all - time highs . The S & P 500 ( + 6.2 % in USD ) , the Dow Jones ( + 8.3 % in USD ) and the Nasdaq Composite Index ( + 3.0 % in USD ) all ended the quarter with gains . Expectations of an economic recovery produced an even stronger rebound in European markets : EuroStoxx 50 ( + 10.8 % in EUR ) , the Dax ( + 9.4 % in EUR ) and the Swiss market SPI ( + 5.2 % in CHF ) all gained considerable ground . Healthcare stocks , however , after reaching new highs in January and February of 2021 , were then sold off and Igave up most of their gains in March . The total return of the MSCI World Healthcare Index for the quarter was + 0.9 % ( in USD ) . The drug industry - generally regarded as a defensive sector – underperformed , as did the Nasdaq Biotech Index , which closed the period with a total return of -0.5 % ( in USD ) . This underperformance is attributed to a substantial asset rotation . Investors shifted assets into cyclical sectors and stocks that stand to profit from the post - pandemic recovery . BB Biotech's performance for the first quarter BB Biotech showed a positive performance for the first quarter amid this market environment . BB Biotech's stock delivered a positive total return of 15.4 % in CHF and 14.3 % in EUR . Over the same period , the portfolio's total return was + 5.5 % in CHF , + 2.9 % in EUR and -1.2 % in USD . The positive performance in CHF and EUR is attributed to the appreciation of the USD . These return calculations for BB Biotech account for payment of the dividend approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting ( AGM ) on March 18 , 2021. The net profit for the first quarter of 2021 was CHF 221 mn compared to a net loss of CHF 758 mn for the same period in 2020 . Annual General Meeting on March 18 , 2021 At the AGM , shareholders approved all agenda items and re - elected all five Board members . BB Biotech paid out the proposed dividend of CHF 3.60 per share . The Board re - reaffirms the intended continuation of the dividend policy and expects payout of the regular dividend at 5 % of the prior December's average share price in the years to come . Portfolio activity in 1Q 2021 The investment management team added two smaller cap companies to the portfolio during the first quarter of 2021 - Essa Pharma and Revolution Medicines . BB Biotech's investments in these two biotech companies increase its exposure to oncology . Meanwhile positions in Cidara and Voyager Therapeutics were closed and profits were realized in top holdings such as Neurocrine , Vertex , Alnylam , lonis and Halozyme . More profits were realized in Moderna , still the second - largest position in the portfolio , after the stock surged in February as well as in smaller positions such as Arvinas and Scholar Rock . The resulting proceeds were invested in existing positions such as Agios , Macrogenics , Black Diamond , Mersana and Relay . Profits realized earlier from investments in companies specializing in gene editing ( Crispr Therapeutics and Beam Therapeutics ) and cell - based immunotherapy ( Fate Therapeutics ) were reinvested in the same companies but at much more attractive valuation levels . BB Biotech also participated in the capital increase of Argenx and Molecular Templates . Argenx will use the proceeds of its BB Biotech AG www.bbbiotech.com Schwertstrasse 6 T +41 52 624 08 45 CH - 8200 Schaffhausen