If there is a clear pattern emerging from the pandemic, it is that the trends that were prevalent before it began accelerated as Covid-19 developed — from the growth of online shopping to the increased digitalisation of the workplace.
The same is true in healthcare. Governments have turned to the private sector for a vaccine and the quest for scale has sped up the pace of consolidation — witness the astounding $39 billion move by Astrazeneca to buy its rival Alexion Pharmaceuticals.
Broadly, these trends have been good news for Worldwide Healthcare Trust, a £2.3 billion investment vehicle that specialises in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and the healthcare sector. Its performance has been strong and its shares, though volatile, have gained significantly in value this year.
At