The strategy concentrates on companies developing therapeutics for diseases affecting large numbers of people and who need improved treatment options, such as Alzheimer's and cancer.

T Rowe Price, the US investment house, has unveiled its first exclusive distribution partnership with UBS Global Wealth Management in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Under the partnership, the strategy will be available exclusively through UBS to private wealth clients allowing them timely access to T Rowe Price’s investment expertise in the health science sector as the pandemic accelerates innovations and breakthroughs, it said in a statement yesterday.

The strategy, which covers health sciences companies, has $19.3 billion asset under management, dating back to its inception in 1995.

“The diverse and dynamic health sciences sector is amid a transformative period of innovation, creating significant investment opportunities across a broad array of companies in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. We focus on identifying innovative companies that are developing game-changing medical therapies, as well as those offering quality and cost-effective healthcare services that can lead to long-term value creation for investors,” Dr Ziad Bakri, portfolio manager of the strategy, said. “A distinct focus of the strategy is companies which develop therapeutics for diseases that affect large patient populations and need improved treatment options, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.”

Based in the firm’s US headquarters in Baltimore, Dr Bakri is supported by an in-house research team with medical and scientific backgrounds, including several who have Ph.Ds.

T Rowe Price has $1.61 trillion in assets under management as of 30 September 2021.