The most traded biotech ETFs

Q: Why invest in Biotech ETFs?

Diversification : Biotech ETFs can help spread risk across many companies, from industry giants to innovative startups, providing a buffer against the failure of any single entity. Growth potential : The biotech sector is at the cutting edge of medical advancements, such as gene editing and personalised medicine, offering substantial growth prospects. Accessibility : ETFs offer an easier entry point into the biotech sector without the need for in-depth analysis of individual companies.

Invest in biotech ETFs with DEGIRO

Are you interested in biotech or do you believe a biotech ETF would be a good fit for your portfolio? Investing in ETFs is an easy way to increase the diversification of your portfolio. On our platform, you can find a wide selection of biotech ETFs.

Not every biotech ETF is the same. ETFs differ from each other in several ways, such as fund size, price, risk and underlying value. For example, they may track different companies or indices. Also, some may pay dividends and others may not.

These are the most traded biotech ETFs by our clients.

ETF name	ISIN
iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF (Acc)	IE00BYXG2H39
Invesco Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF (Acc)	IE00BQ70R696
Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF (Acc)	IE00BM8R0N95
iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF (Dist)	IE00BDZVHG35

Based on total number of trades on the DEGIRO platform from 01.01.25-31.12.25. Only ETFs with more than 100 transactions are considered. The information on this page is intended for informational purposes only and does not provide any recommendations or financial advice. Some ETFs may (temporarily) not be available on our platform due to regulatory reasons.

Investing in ETFs, accessible to everyone

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) allow you to quickly build a diversified portfolio. We offer a wide range of ETFs trading on 19 major exchanges. Whether you want to invest in local ETFs or global ETFs, investing opportunities are abundant. For more than 1000 ETFs traded on Tradegate, you only pay a €1 handling fee.

With our low fees and wide trading possibilities, we make investing in ETFs accessible to everyone. See a complete overview of our unprecedented rates here.

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€ 2

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*Currency, connectivity or external product & spread costs may apply. Find out more on our fees page. The ETF Core Selection is subject to change.

Check out the most traded ETFs

These are the most traded ETFs in 2025 included in our Core Selection based on the total number of trades on our Irish platform.

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VANGUARD S&P 500 ETF

IE00B3XXRP09

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VANGUARD FTSE ALL-WLD UCI

IE00BK5BQT80

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ISHARES CORE MSCI WORLD E

IE00B4L5Y983

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VANGUARD S&P 500 ETF

IE00BFMXXD54

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What is an ETF?

ETFs, also known as trackers, are funds that follow the performance of an index, commodity, bond or composition of products. Unlike some other funds, ETFs are bought and sold on a stock exchange. Would you like to learn more about ETFs? Read our ETF article for all you need to know.

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Biotech

Biotech is short for biotechnology and is the sector that deals with turning biology knowledge into technological applications.

Companies that operate in the biotech sector develop new or more efficient methods of making products using biological processes. Biotech solutions are used in medicine, agriculture and various other industries.

Like pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies sometimes produce drugs. However, there is a difference between the two industries: drugs from biotech companies come from living organisms, and those from pharmaceutical companies have a chemical base.

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Why invest in biotech ETFs?

Investing in biotech means investing in innovation, science and digital applications combined. Biotech companies produce many different products. You’ll find everything from COVID-19 treatments and flu vaccines to biodegradable plastic and living algae that purify water in this sector. A common denominator of all these different biotech companies is that they constantly innovate. This industry wants to find solutions for the future.

The share price of biotech companies can sometimes fluctuate considerably. This is a result of how biotech companies work. Anything can happen during the development phase. If a product turns out to be less effective or is rejected, the price can drop quickly. But once a product proves to be effective or is approved by regulators, the stock price can skyrocket. These price fluctuations can be easily hedged with ETFs. With a biotech ETF, you can invest in multiple biotech companies at the same time. This way, you can spread the risk and any price fluctuations of one company have less effect on your overall portfolio.

Biotech companies are complex and challenging due to the multitude of factors an investor must consider. ETFs that are more specific, such as biotech ETFs, compared to those that are broader, such as world ETFs, the performance will depend more on the specific sector or industry the ETF tracks.

Biotech FAQs

What are the largest Biotech ETFs?

Larger ETFs often provide more liquidity and potentially greater diversification, making them attractive to a wide range of investors. Here are some examples of ETFs based on their fund size:

iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology ETF USD Acc: As one of the largest and most well-known Biotech ETFs, IBB tracks the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, including a broad spectrum of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
Invesco Nasdaq Biotech UCITS ETF Acc: This ETF also seeks to replicate the performance of the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. It invests in a diverse range of biotech companies, including both large and small-cap stocks.
iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology ETF USD Dist: Similar to the iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology ETF (USD Acc), this ETF also aims to track the performance of the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. The main difference is that this ETF distributes its dividends to investors, instead of reinvesting them.
Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF: Focusing on companies involved in the genomics and biotechnology sectors, this ETF aims to provide investors with exposure to the advancements and innovations happening in these areas. This ETF has exposure to companies all over the world.
Global X China Biotech UCITS ETF USD Accumulating: This ETF invests in Chinese companies involved in biotechnology and aims to capture the growth potential of this sector in the Chinese market.

Why invest in Biotech ETFs?

Diversification: Biotech ETFs can help spread risk across many companies, from industry giants to innovative startups, providing a buffer against the failure of any single entity.
Growth potential: The biotech sector is at the cutting edge of medical advancements, such as gene editing and personalised medicine, offering substantial growth prospects.
Accessibility: ETFs offer an easier entry point into the biotech sector without the need for in-depth analysis of individual companies.

What is the difference between IBB and XBI?

While IBB and XBI are both prominent Biotech ETFs, they differ significantly in their approach and composition, which can influence their performance and suitability for different types of investors.

IBB is known for its market-cap-weighted index strategy, meaning the largest companies carry more weight in the ETF. This can make IBB more stable, as it's heavily influenced by well-established biotech firms.
XBI, on the other hand, uses an equal-weighting approach, giving the same importance to all companies regardless of their size. This can lead to higher volatility but also offers the potential for greater returns, especially from smaller, high-growth companies.