Biotechnology, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

The Health Care Sector is included in an index called the XHJ. It comprises two main industry groups:

1. The first includes companies who manufacture health care equipment and supplies or provide health care related services, including distributors of health care products, providers of basic health-care services, and owners and operators of health care facilities and organizations.
2. The second group of companies are primarily involved in the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. Some of the companies that are listed in the index are;

Biota Holdings Limited (BTA) - Biota is an Australian antiviral drug discovery company that has developed a range of Influenza drugs, such as Relenza, which was licensed to Glaxo in 1990 and launched in 1999 (Biota have issued a breach of contract suit against Glaxo), they also produce a range of Flu diagnostic kits. Biota have interest in other antiviral programs for; Rhinovirus (Common Cold), Hepatitis C, RSV and HIV (AIDS).

CSL Limited (CSL) is an international pharmaceuticals company, which specialises in biologically based health care products and the supply of blood products and vaccines. It provides for plasma services, biosciences and pharmaceuticals and human vaccines. CSL’s more recently completed acquisition of Aventis Behring makes it a world leader in plasma therapeutics. CSL is involved in the sourcing, fractionating, testing and supplying of human plasma-derived products worldwide with operations in the US, Australia, Asia and Europe. Its biosciences division helps develop, manufacture and markets cell culture reagents, blood grouping reagents, research immunohematology and human diagnostics. A number of its vaccines and pharmaceutical products are for human usage including includes children's vaccines, travel vaccines, respiratory, adult and Antivenoms. One of the company's main products is Fluvax, an influenza vaccine sold in the Northern Hemisphere.

Resmed Incorporated (RMD) - develops, manufactures, and sells medical equipment for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, in the areas of diagnosis and management. It sells diagnostic and treatment devices in many countries through via its subsidiaries and independent distributors. It has operation in over 60 countries. The product range includes flow generators, diagnostic products, mask systems, headgear and other accessories. Some of their products applications include analysing sleep apnoea, levels of breathing and snoring. Its Research and Development Division also holds a significant number of US and Global patents for the company's products.