MSCI has collaborated with Royalty Pharma, the largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a leading funder of biopharmaceutical innovation, to launch new indices aimed at capturing long-term, cutting-edge themes that will disrupt the life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

The indices will measure the performance of companies focused on delivering new and innovative therapeutic treatments related to virology and oncology. Royalty Pharma will provide expertise on various medical conditions, clinical trials, transformative therapies, and technologies that may lead to breakthrough medical treatments that will assist MSCI to design a classification framework and index methodologies.

Henry Fernandez, MSCI chairman and chief executive officer, says: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on all aspects of society and has proven to be an accelerant for long-term, structural changes, particularly in the life sciences. As we have seen during this time, life sciences companies are pivotal to shaping and advancing the healthcare industry and have been critical to the development of approaches for prevention and treatment of diseases. MSCI is thrilled to partner with Royalty Pharma to design thematic indices that capture companies at the forefront of this evolving landscape and having a positive impact on the future of our world.”

The indices are planned to launch later this year.