What BB Biotech does

BB Biotech AG is a Swiss-listed investment company founded in 1993 that provides public market investors with focused, long-term exposure to the global biotechnology sector. Headquartered at Schwertstrasse 6, 8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker: BION) with secondary trading on Xetra, the company operates as a permanent capital vehicle whose investment management is executed by Bellevue Asset Management AG. BB Biotech serves institutional investors such as pension funds and asset managers as well as private/retail investors who seek diversified access to biotech innovation without directly selecting individual biotechnology stocks.

The company's core offering is its listed equity (BION), which provides shareholders with exposure to a conviction-driven portfolio of biotechnology companies developing breakthrough therapeutics for serious diseases and unmet medical needs. Notable portfolio holdings include Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Relay Therapeutics, Revolution Medicines, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Argenx SE, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Scholar Rock, and Gilead Sciences. The investment approach combines deep scientific analysis with fundamental valuation and active portfolio management, leveraging a specialized team that blends medical expertise with investment experience built over more than 30 years. BB Biotech does not develop technology products; its core technology is explicitly 'Not applicable' as the offering is investment management rather than software or biotech R&D.

BB Biotech generates returns primarily through capital appreciation and income from its portfolio of biotechnology investments, realizing value via M&A activity, portfolio gains, and strategic exits. Disclosed FY2025 revenue was approximately CHF 726.35M, with net profit of CHF 578M representing a 660% surge from CHF 76M in 2024; NAV grew 26.5% and share price gained 53.7% in USD terms, outperforming the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. Capital is returned to shareholders via dividends (CHF 2.25/share proposed for FY2025, ~5% yield) and an authorized share buyback program of up to 10% of shares outstanding over three years. As of June 25, 2026, shares traded at CHF 47.80 versus NAV per share of CHF 53.80, a -11.2% discount that has narrowed from -15.2%. The 1-10 headcount reflects the listed entity itself; portfolio management is performed through Bellevue Asset Management. Recent capital deployment includes a $45M participation in Jade Biosciences (Dec 2025), financial backing of Mentari Therapeutics supporting its $290M placement and InMed merger (May 2026), and inclusion in the SPI ESG Index.

Name

BB Biotech

Legal name

BB Biotech AG

Website

https://bbbiotech.ch

Company type

Public

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BB Biotech AG is a Swiss-listed investment company (ticker: BION) founded in 1993 that provides public market investors with diversified exposure to a conviction-driven portfolio of global biotechnology companies, managed by Bellevue Asset Management AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Investment Management

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences Growth Equity (FSANACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals (FSABACAN)

Keywords

• Biotech investment fund
• Listed investment company
• Equity portfolio management
• Long-term biotech investing
• Biotech sector exposure

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaffhausen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: BB Biotech generates returns through capital appreciation and income from its portfolio of biotechnology company investments. The company realizes value through M&A activity, portfolio gains, and strategic exits of portfolio companies.
2. Dividend Distribution: The company returns capital to shareholders through dividend payments, with a clearly defined dividend policy. For FY2025, a dividend of CHF 2.25 per share was proposed, representing approximately 5% yield.
3. Share Buybacks: BB Biotech has authorized share buyback programs, with up to 10% of shares outstanding authorized over three years, returning capital to shareholders while managing share discount to NAV.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BB Biotech AG is a publicly listed Swiss investment company (ticker BION on SIX Swiss Exchange) that provides investors with focused, actively managed equity exposure to the biotechnology sector. It invests in publicly traded biotech companies developing breakthrough drugs for serious diseases and unmet medical needs, generating returns through capital appreciation, dividends, and share buybacks. The vehicle is managed in-house by a specialized biotech investment team with medical expertise and operates with permanent capital independent of fund flows.

Product overview

BB Biotech AG is a listed investment company with over 30 years of experience in the biotechnology sector. The company provides focused access to scientific innovation in biotechnology by investing in companies developing and commercializing breakthrough drugs that address significant unmet medical needs. As an investment company with permanent capital, BB Biotech offers equity investment opportunities in the biotech sector through its listed shares (BION) on SIX Swiss Exchange, along with dividend distributions and share buyback programs. The company does not offer technology products or software services; its core offering is investment management in the biotechnology space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BB Biotech Listed Shares (BION) Equity security listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (primary, ticker BION) and Xetra (secondary), providing investors with focused, actively managed exposure to a portfolio of publicly traded biotechnology companies developing breakthrough drugs for serious diseases and unmet medical needs.
• Annual Dividend Distribution Annual cash dividend program returning capital to shareholders of BION shares, with FY2025 proposed distribution of CHF 2.25 per share (approximately 5% yield based on volume-weighted average share price in December 2025).
• Share Buyback Program Authorized share buyback program of up to 10% of shares outstanding over a three-year period, returning capital to shareholders while managing the share price discount to NAV.
• Biotech Portfolio Management Service Active, conviction-driven management of a concentrated portfolio of publicly traded biotechnology equities, delivered by BB Biotech's in-house specialized investment team with medical and scientific expertise, supported by Bellevue Asset Management AG. Targets long-term capital appreciation through investment in companies developing breakthrough drugs for serious diseases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Share price gain of +53.7% in USD terms in 2025, outperforming the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HBM Healthcare Investments AG: Swiss-listed (SIX) investment company specializing in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors with a similar permanent-capital, publicly traded structure. Most directly comparable to BB Biotech in mandate, geography, and listed-investment-company mechanics.
• Bellevue Healthcare Trust PLC: UK-listed investment trust managed by an affiliate (Bellevue Asset Management), focused on healthcare and biotech equities. Sister vehicle under the Bellevue umbrella, making it a direct strategic and structural peer.
• Tekla Healthcare Investors: US closed-end fund focused on healthcare and biotechnology investments with a long-term horizon. Shares BB Biotech's closed-end listed structure and high-conviction healthcare/biotech mandate.
• Worldwide Healthcare Trust PLC: UK-listed investment trust specializing in global healthcare and biotechnology equities. Comparable listed structure, sector mandate, and long-term investment approach to BB Biotech.
• Polar Capital Biotechnology Fund: Open-ended fund focused on public and private biotechnology companies globally. Directly comparable investment mandate with a long-only biotech focus, though structured as open-ended rather than closed-end.

Broad incumbents

• Baker Bros. Advisors: Large US-based specialist biotech and life sciences investment manager with a long-only, high-conviction approach. A broader incumbent in biotech investing with deeper resources and a private structure.
• OrbiMed Advisors: Global healthcare-dedicated investment firm spanning public and private biotech, growth equity, and credit. Comparable biotech specialization but operating across multiple strategies rather than a single listed vehicle.

Emerging players

• RA Capital Management: Crossover biotech-focused investment firm that invests across public and private healthcare equities. Comparable high-conviction biotech approach, with growing AUM as an emerging specialist.
• Perceptive Advisors: US healthcare and biotech-focused investment firm investing across public equities and private opportunities. Comparable focus on innovative biotech with crossover-style mandate.
• Abingworth: Biotech-focused growth equity and venture firm investing in clinical-stage life sciences companies. Comparable sector specialization, though primarily private-deal oriented rather than listed equity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bb-biotech
• Xx.com/bb_biotech_ag

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BB Biotech