By Stephen D. Simpson -- Biotechnology is still the Wild West of the investment world: dangerous, largely misunderstood, and holding an unending allure for those seeking to make a quick fortune. Legendary gold strikes such as Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), Biogen-Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB), and Chiron (Nasdaq: CHIR) have an unending allure for those looking to seek their fortune in riskier stocks. Just as it was back in the untamed West, speculators who prepare themselves beforehand have a better chance of finding their way and staying unharmed. In particular, carefully examining a company’s research-and-development pipeline is a sound method for avoiding quite a few pitfalls. More...
