Pharma is the powerful subsector, and medical devices/technology its smaller sibling within the huge healthcare industry. They are different enough that the two subsectors often move in opposing directions, enabling investors to stay diversified within the booming healthcare by shifting in and out of the two subsectors at appropriate times.

In a number of treatment areas, one sector can take away market share from the other. Take the huge heart disease market. While surgical interventions have become increasingly minimally invasive, pharmacological interventions, including thrombolytics, fibrinolytics, beta blockers, statins and anti-platelet treatments are covering a wider spectrum of acute coronary syndromes, sometimes eliminating the need for surgery.

In evaluating the potential of the two sectors, it must be said that there is nothing quite like getting in early on a blockbuster drug and riding it to new highs. In the meantime, smart pharma investors stay on the lookout for news about clinical trials that result in new indications for a drug, or that show a reduction in mortality, side effects, etc. Modifications in a drug that expand target populations are also good. Often these kinds of developments show up on TV commercials. Currently, through a spate of commercials you can witness the battle unfold over new indications for insomnia treatments, as drug companies address the huge and growing problem of sleeplessness in America.

But on the whole, right now Pharma is in a bit of a funk, hoping for new blockbusters, while medical devices/technology is more exciting, especially minimally invasive technologies. Substantial acceleration in FDA approval timelines since the passage of the 1997 Modernization Act, has helped the medical device industry.

As the competition among broad-based medical technical companies, like Medtech, Boston Scientific J&J and others has grown more intense, they are increasingly looking to acquire small companies with promising technologies. This has spurred a great deal of entrepreneurial growth.
Is there such a thing as a blockbuster medical device? Except for drug-eluting stents, probably not, when you compare devices to top pharmaceutical winners. But medical technology is addressing some huge markets, with big profit potential.

Take back pain. It’s the scourge of millions with a market of over $60 billion annually. Artificial disc technology is rapidly coming up with advances to treat chronic back cases. Carotid stenting, which was approved last year, is less invasive than surgery and sales of carotid stents are anticipated to grow to $1 billion within the decade-from less than $100 million today. And the annual growth rate of computer aided surgery rate is expected to increase from 10% in 2005 to more than 20% in 2009.

Aging baby boomers will aid the medical device boom. Age-related ailments combined with medicare eligibility will expand the use of pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, orthopedic implants and cochlear implants.

Medical devices/technology and pharmaceuticals provide a good way to diversify within healthcare, though you must stay current on developments in both fields. Of course, if you’re really looking for growth you might turn to an even smaller healthcare/biotech sibling- diagnostics. With approval power over payments, healthcare providers, in essence, control the money, and thus wield enormous influence over which treatments grow share. Increasingly, healthcare providers are looking at preventative measures to stave off the huge expense of treating full-blown diseases. And how do you prevent diseases? Early diagnosis. But more on that in another article.

Leon Altman is the founder of http://www.InvestingIN.com, a website that explores opportunities in sectors and themes, such as healthcare. The website offers free newsletters. To sign up for free newsletters to http://www.investingin.com/SectorLetterFind.htm

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The more I converse with people the more I understand that you really need to take an active role in your healthcare. We all assume that the Doctor we choose knows exactly what is going on with our health issues and knows best how to keep us in tip-top shape. I haven’t met anyone yet who will give me the thumbs up in this category. We need to be pro-active in what our physical, mental and emotional body needs. Part one dealt with attitude adjustments and in this I will attempt to guide you in a direction to decipher some of the physical needs.

A good honest rapport with your doctor is a must. If you have a doctor you fear or will not work with your choices of care such as nutritional supplements and/or chiropractic, you may consider the need to change doctors. Some do not believe in what supplements can do, yet behind the scenes they utilize them for themselves and their families. You can also agree to disagree and keep them to do your blood work and perform the necessary tests to help guide your success in this aging process.

The place to begin this treasure hunt of health is with your blood work. Mid Life offers a great deal of change in all aspects of your life. Finding out your baseline in all areas of body function will guide you in the necessary changes you need to make concerning diet, exercise, meds or supplements and whatever therapies would be beneficial for optimum aging performance.

What do I mean by baselines?

For bones: Dexa Scan
Colon: Colonoscopy
For Women: Mammogram and Pap smear
Blood Work: on top of the usual add C-Reactive Protein, Homocysteine, Fibrinogen, and HGBA1C, Also a complete hormone panel that includes DHEA
Teeth; Complete dental evaluation
Eyes: Complete exam and check for Cataracts, Macular Degeneration

Glaucoma.

It would be really great if you have been health conscious all along but whether you have or not the above is truly a great way to determine where you are now and what is necessary for quality of life for the next chapter of your anti-aging process. Knowing is half the battle and no matter how hard you try denial doesn’t do a positive thing for you. You need to give yourself permission to take care of yourself as well as you do others in your life. Start removing negative things from your life whether it is food, friends, stuff or inactivity. Get excited about yourself. Dress for living! Wear all those clothes that you know you look good in but only save for special occasions. Today you are special and wait no longer. Make better choices of people you want around you, foods that will taste good and offer your body a helping hand. Don’t be afraid to take an active role in yourself. Don’t wait for it to be asked of you or to be in trouble before you find out you need to alter your lifestyle. Get quiet, self evaluate and don’t think you’re above needing changes. There is always something you could improve on. Aging does funky things to everyone and knowledge along with action is the only things that can keep your changes to a minimum. In the process of aging, ignorance is not bliss. See you for Part 3 or head over to www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com for more right now!

Marge Pickering-Picone is a Nutrition Consultant for Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. and the Founder of http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com which is a website for the Baby Boomer to find reliable information for facing the changes that are fast approaching.

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Definition of ISO:

• ISO means “all sides being equal”. To date, more than
  Tags: application, Healthcare, iso9001, iso9001:2000application, Healthcare, iso9001, iso9001:2000

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