Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals.

Edward P. Owens, the manager since the fund's inception in 1984, says he holds about 70 stocks, spread among health services companies, medical products, major pharmaceuticals, specialty pharmaceuticals and international companies.

Mr. Cole said that Altana would be recruiting employees for its specialty pharmaceuticals division and for a a division that would be set up to market products emerging from research.

Gentiva provides specialty pharmaceuticals and home health care.

Par Pharmaceutical develops, manufactures and markets generic and branded specialty pharmaceuticals.

"Our strategy is to become a significant player in specialty pharmaceuticals, with a focus on neurology, and now, on acute care and pain products, which is what Neurex does for us."

Last year the company reported a second-quarter profit of $151.3 million, or $5.79 a share after the sale of its specialty pharmaceuticals business.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) is a Swedish pharmaceutical company, based in Stockholm, Sweden, with a product portfolio consisting of some 60 orphan and specialty pharmaceuticals.

"We have for some time believed that Schering was the ideal partner for moving into specialty pharmaceuticals," Arthur Higgins, the chief executive of Bayer's health care division, said in a telephone interview.

So-called specialty pharmaceuticals (such as TNF inhibitors) also use coupons as a marketing tactic.