(March 28 – 16:40 ET) – Maxxum Financial Services Co. is introducing the Scudder Life Sciences Fund.

The fund, modeled on the Scudder Healthcare Fund available in the United States and managed by the same portfolio team, is designed to deliver longer-term growth by investing in shares of companies developing, producing, and distributing life sciences and healthcare products and services.

According to Maxxum, the fund manages risk through diversification across industry groups such as producers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and instruments as well as bio-technology and drug discovery companies.

Like the other funds offered by Maxxum Financial Services, the new is available through intermediaries such as broker-dealers, discount brokers, and financial planners.

“Traditionally, healthcare has been seen as a defensive investment by portfolio managers, but the Scudder portfolio team sees potential for real growth across the industry in the nest few years,” said John Wood, president and CEO of Maxxum Financial Services Co.

The Life Sciences Fund strikes a good balance between more stable pharmaceutical giants and rapidly growing biotechnology companies, Wood said. “We are very pleased to be able to offer our investors access to that investment potential managed by a firm with more than 80 years’ experience,” he added.