303: Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast - The biotech sector (01 Nov 2025)

In this edition of the Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast, Jonathan Davis, editor of the Investment Trusts Handbook and winner of the AIC Best Broadcast Journalist Award for two years running (2024 and 2025), takes a look at the biotech sector and speaks to Woody Stileman, London officer manager at RTW Biotech, managers of RTW Biotech Opportunities (RTW); Geoffrey Hsu, manager of Biotech Growth Trust (IBT); and Ailsa Craig, co-manager of International Biotechnology Trust (BIOG). These conversations were recorded on Thursday 30 October 2025. Section Timestamps: 0:00:24 - Introduction 0:02:47 - Woody Stileman - RTW Biotech (RTW) 0:03:13 - - Why have biotech trusts been out of favour? 0:08:39 - - The involvement of AI 0:10:45 - - Appointments to the US Health Department and FDA 0:13:44 - - Drug pricing 0:18:33 - - RTW’s private holdings and the IPO drought 0:22:13 - - The trust’s discount 0:29:24 - - Risks in biotech 0:31:16 - A short break 0:32:22 - Geoffrey Hsu - Biotech Growth Trust (BIOG) 0:32:37 - - Explaining the biotech resurgence 0:40:25 - - Risks from an accelerated pipeline 0:41:42 - - The selling points of BIOG 0:44:32 - - Investing in China 0:47:18 - - UK interest in the sector 0:48:34 - Ailsa Craig - International Biotechnology Trust (IBT) 0:48:56 - - Looking at the changing fortunes of the biotechnology sector 0:54:26 - - The IBT difference to other trusts in the sector 0:57:09 - - The impact of the US drive to reduce drug prices 0:59:31 - - New drugs originating from biotech 1:03:26 - - Playing the China theme 1:04:53 - - Best use of capital 1:06:01 - - Capability of returns and position in the cycle 1:07:44 - - The change of management house 1:09:08 - Close If you enjoy the weekly podcast, you may also find value in joining The Money Makers Circle. This is a membership scheme that offers listeners to the podcast an opportunity, in return for a modest monthly or annual subscription, to receive additional premium content, including interviews, performance data, links to third party research, market/portfolio reviews and regular comments from the editor. A subscription costs £12 a month or £120 for one year. This week, as well as the usual features, the Circle features a profile of Seraphim Space Investment Trust (SSIT). Future profiles include Scottish American (SAIN) and Impax Environmental Markets (IEM). Our new expanded weekly subscriber email includes a comprehensive summary of all the latest news plus the week's biggest share price, NAV and discount movements. Subscribe and you will never miss any important developments from the sector. For more information please visit https://money-makers.co/circle. Membership helps to cover the cost of producing the weekly investment trust podcast, which will continue to be free for the foreseeable future. We are very grateful for your continued support and the enthusiastic response to our more than 300 podcasts since launch. You can find more information, including relevant disclosures, at www.money-makers.co. Please note that this podcast is provided for educational purposes only and nothing you hear should be considered as investment advice. Our podcasts are also available on the Association of Investment Companies website, www.theaic.co.uk. Produced by Ben Gamblin - www.bgprofessional.co.uk