The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the results of the semi-annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index® (Nasdaq:NBI), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, November 22, 2010.
The following five securities will be added to the Index: AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVII), Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVNR), Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:CALP), Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IRWD), and Ardea Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEA).
The Index is designed to track the performance of a set of NASDAQ-listed securities that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is re-ranked semi-annually in May and November. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including detailed eligibility criteria, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.
As a result of the re-ranking, the following security will be removed from the Index: XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA).
The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is the basis for the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology IndexSM Fund (Nasdaq:IBB), which seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. In addition, options based on the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund trade on various exchanges.
