baldwin in new york. "cnn money" starts right now. >> the world focused on ebola, but is big pharma listening? i'm poppy harlow in for christine romans. this is "cnn money." nearly 1,000 people are dead, about twice that number infected from the deadly virus in liberia, sierra leone, guinea and nigeria. the cd cds calls it the biggest and most complex ebola outbreak in history. the world health organization calls it an international health emergency, yet there's no vaccine. why not? it might come down to money. it costs millions and millions of dollars to develop new vaccines. big pharma needs a big incentive to spend that. and some health experts say that doesn't exist with ebola, a disease that breaks out sporadically. in fact, only when there's an outbreak does the real money start to rush in. check out this stock chart for

tekmira pharmaceuticals, a vancouver-based company working on an ebola treatment. investors sent shares climbing earlier this week, but when cnn's dr. sanjay gupta broke the story that the serum give on the two americans infected with ebola was actually made by a different company, shares tanked. and it could be a roller coaster ride for those shares going forward now that the fda is getting closer to allowing experimental use of tekmira's drug. clearly investors are betting on which treatment will ultimately win fda approval. but in the meantime, people are dying. dr. sanjay gupta is cnn's chief medical correspondent. he has been all over this story really for months. sanjay, let's just get right to it. do the economics of drug development play a role here in why there is no ebola vaccine? >> i think they definitely do. that was a fascinating graphic to see as well, to just see that play out over this past week. what is interest, when it comes to eeb lashgs it's not a particularly complicated virus. there are some viruses and some

diseases where it's just very hard to develop a vaccine, the scientific costs are really challenging. this ebola virus is just seven genes. human bodies are 20,000 genes just to give you some context. i think it comes down to numbers, you know, how many people would actually end up being a candidate for this vaccine. certainly as you mentioned during outbreaks the numbers would go up, but on a routine level the numbers would be a lot lower. there wouldn't be as much demand. another part of this, in order to get these things approved, you have to go through a clinical trial process, and you also need numbers, people to be in the trial, compare people who have been exposed and infected with ebola compared to those who have not. you do that with large numbers of people. that's thankfully in some cases hard to find. i think the economics play a role in many different ways. >> as you well know there are these four different experimental drugs in early stages of testing right now. ebola now on u.s. soil for the first time with those two americans being treated at

emory. does this raise the urgency? do you get the sense from the government officials, does this raise the urgency for the government and big pharma to try to fast track this to the market? are they paying more attention now? >> i think no question they're paying more attention. i don't think this was on anybody's radar even a few months ago, maybe even a couple months ago. remember, this has been going on since march. as the numbers have grown, more countries involved, there's ban lot of focus, congressional testimony about this week asking some tough questions of people who are responsible for this sort of thing. i think what is interesting now is they've got to pick the one they're going to put their resources behind and really push forth. tekmira is sort of interesting because it but further along than zmat, the drug used on the two americans. tekmira, that had been tested on some human volunteers before whereas z indian map had not. >> right. >> and they're all pretty effective. tekmira was 100% effective if

given to people within an hour of exposure and still stayed effective eve an couple days after exposure. what's interesting and i think good news is there's going to be some good options and now because of what's happening the economic part of it that may have been an on stack until the past is sort of being moved out of the way and they're sort of saying let's go and try and make sure we can make this more widely available. >> i want to play you a clip we found interesting. it's from edward r. murrow's interview about the polio vaccine. listen. >> who owns the patent of this vaccine? >> well, the people, i would say. there is no patent. this is -- could you patent the sun? >> well, you know, salk is pratzed by some as a moral champion because of that. is it realistic in this world and knowing the economics of these things and how much r&d costs even for drugs that don't end up working or making any money, is that realistic? >> you know, i get chills when i watch that. i watched that when i was a medical student. i think it is such a morally

powerful statement. i don't know the answer to that question, poppy. maybe you know better than i do. it fend, i guess, how much people want to profit off of misery, you know, in some ways. i hate to be so blunt about it, but that's ultimately what it is. no doubt you need money to be able to do the trials and all that and obviously you want to be able to continue to incentivize companies to do that, but, you know, are they supposed to get rich off of people being saved from ebola? i don't know. i come down on the side of salk on this one. >> yeah. it was fascinating to go back and listen to that after so many years. looking at the suffering that is going on mainly in west africa but also on our shores now, in europe with that priest in spain infected, appreciate the insight and expertise, sanjay. >> thanks for having me. the ebola epidemic isn't stopping u.s. companies from setting their sights on african markets. i want to bring in zain asher. you spent the week at a well-timed african summit in

washington. the president was there. he spoke about it. you spoke with the ceos of some of the biggest companies in the world about doing business in africa right now. >> yeah, absolutely. so ebola is not going to be a deterrent when it comes to investing in ebola. not only does the continent have massive growth potential but also out of a content that has a billion people, the number of ebola cases are relatively small, about 2,000 cases total. the ceos i spoke with said, listen, the international community should, of course, rally together to help those countries but their investment in africa is much more about the long term. take a listen. >> just listening to some people who are medical experts, you can get a really good hold on this thing if you have enough personnel in the field to educate people to know what to do. once people realize that this goes back under control, then investment typically does return and life goes on. >> for us, those kind of negative headlines do not deter

us at all. if we look, we've been in over 52 countries in africa for a very long time. >> certainly africa's finding their way. most countries are there emerging nicely. and i think at this point in time the americans better wake up all of us and do all we can to make sure we're invested there, we're partners there, there's great business opportunities. this is the beginning of some very big steps going forward that will far outlast any other day-to-day headlines in my opinion. i'm very optimistic about it. >> ebola was cheerily a topic of conversation at the summit. i interviewed several african presidents. it was on the forefront of their agenda. but, you know, just africa is the world's next big growth market. it's got the fastest growing middle class in the world and they can actually provide a market for american goolds. that was what the focus was. >> and it was so interesting to hear president obama speak at or right after the summit talking about the fact that, you know, when he was there, i believe it was last year, talked about the fact when you heard from people it wasn't just that they wanted

aid, it was that they wanted economic partnerships and there's so much opportunity there, really interesting insight. thank you, zain. we appreciate it. coming up here on "cnn money," you've gotten pretty used to those up arrows on your 401(k), right? but is wall street's gravity-defying performance finally coming to an end? man: [ laughs ] those look like baby steps now. but they were some pretty good moves. and the best move of all? having the right partner at my side. it's so much better that way. [ male announcer ] have the right partner at your side. consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. go long.

are the bears waking up from

hibernation? a month ago the bulls were celebrating dow 17,000. three weeks later, the s&p 500 got within nine points of 2,000. it seemed like nothing, not geopolitical jilters, not even a plane shot out of the sky could stop the markets' relentless march higher. then like a switch, something changed and the selling started. the major inld seize gave up all of their gains for july. the first monthly decline for the s&p 500 since january.dicesf their gains for july. the first monthly decline for the s&p 500 since january. the dow no longer positive for the year. volatility is back. take a look at the cnn money fear and greed index now in extreme fear. is it time to head for the exits or is it time to go shopping for bargains? ned riley is the founder and ceo of riley asset management. thanks for being with us. we appreciate it. >> my pleasure, poppy. >> so i know you're a big, big bull and sort of long-term bull here, but what has happened? has anything fundamental changed?

>> not in my judgment. basically we're in the summer months, people are on the beach instead of on the highways and in wall street. so the basic bottom line is this is a low-volume correction in my judgment, and corrections i don't even pay attention to other than for opportunity. and i see opportunity out there right now. >> where do you see that opportunity most? >> well, mostly in the high-tech area, i.e., the old technology stocks. i don't like the new kid on the block. paying way too much for them. but the old kids on the block are coming around very nicely. i see enterprise spending starting to pick up. i see these companies well positioned to take advantage of what we see as extremely strong growth and enterprise spending over the next two to three years. i also see that the fed is right online. i think they have been perfect in their execution of plan. i think that yellin has been saying the right things. in my judgment, when she starts pointing out long-term steady

growth, not boom/bust conditions, to me she's bought my enthusiasm and excitement for the markets going forward. >> but do you think the overall economic health looking that the country still struggling with an unemployment rate that is too high? you still got a lot of big question marks in this country even though things have markedly improved. also so much fear and tension globally when you do look at the geopolitical situation. do you think that supports stocks at these levels? >> well, i do, poppy, but you bring out a good point here. but during every major bull market you had the wall of worry that's constantly being built and then bricks taken out. the ukraine situation obviously is a problem. we've got a situation in argentina about its debt, portuguese banks. we start to worry about these things. but that wall of worry is actual lay support as far as i'm concerned. it's creating the fear that's actually preventing people from

getting too enthusiastic, too overly excited about what's going on in the marketplace. if you look historically, when the enthusiasm abound, then people usually start piling into the market. and when you hear that final phrase, and i've heard it before at talks, equities are the only place to be long term, then i've got to run for the hills. but i haven't heard it yet from anybody saying equities are the preferred investment for the next five years and that's where you'll get your highest return and that's what i really believe. >> you know, we've seen little pullbacks recently, but in terms of long-term, we haven't seen a real correction since 2011. the knee-jerk reaction on the street seems to be buy on these dips that we're seeing. is that what we're going the see again in the near term in the next few weeks? >> i think so although i'm not a prognosticator of what the weather's going to do tonight, what the market's going to do the next two weeks. that might be beyond me. but the point is simple, that these corrections and then the

buybacks, i don't think people actual long-term investors are participating in this. i think this is, again, going back to the new kid on the block, they've got their little sand boxings out there with the teslas in them and the facebooks and the rest of the companies. but the major market averages clearly are doing quite well. i got to let you go, but quickly i have to ask you, average person, what do you do with the market right now? do you get in, do you pull out? >> no, i don't pull out. i've wanted people to go into this market. i really feel they should have 65% to 70% in equities. the average mutual fund participation by household is only 28% in equities. and they've got 54% in government bonds, which they're going to realize lose munl over time and not gain. so i would be in this market. i put money in as stocks come down that are looking good to you. >> ned riley, appreciate it. thanks for being with us. >> my pleasure, poppy. forget spending all that

time visiting college campuses, you can tour usc, texas a&m, michigan, yale, your pick, on in a matter of minutes. how, next. my abdominal pain and cramps end our night before it even starts? what if i eat the wrong thing? what if? what if i suddenly have to go? what if? but what if the most important question is the one you're not asking? what if the underlying cause of your symptoms is damaging inflammation? for help getting the answers you need, talk to your doctor and visit crohnsandcolitisadvocates.com to connect with a patient advocate from abbvie for one-to-one support and education. get reait's crabfest atk, dip. red lobster! the years largest variety of crab. like new crab lover's trio! or try new jumbo lump crab over wood-grilled salmon. crabfest is now. but only for a limited time. so hurry in, and sea food differently! for over 19 million people. [ alex ] transamerica helped provide a lifetime of retirement income. so i can focus on what matters most. [ female announcer ] everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real.

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for efficiency. or just for fun. this is the human element at work. dow. take a college tour without taking a step on campus. it is possible with facebook's new toy. i want to bring in lori seegal, who's tested out this technology. how does it work? >> hey, poppy. it's completely different than when i was looking for schools. this is a virtual reality headset. it's a complete immersion into this technology. what these guys are hoping is

that it'll completely transform the way that students look for colleges. check it out. >> check out the ceiling, the paintings. >> and so this is all exactly how it's like? >> reporter: a college tour without even stepping outside. >> so now i'm at a beautiful courtyard at yale. >> reporter: that's me wearing oculus, a virtual reality headset that made headlines after facebook bought it for $2 billion earlier this year. now a company called youvisit is using it for virtual college tours. >> you have markers in these locations, a yellow marker to your left. if you make it right in front of you, that will transfer you to the next location. >> reporter: right now it's tracking my eye movements. i'm looking down to get a gallery of places i want to visit and anytime i want to go somewhere, i just look at it and i'm transported. so i'm going to go to the stadium because i don't want to get in the way of this young lady doing her homework. it's virtual reality making

college more of a reality. >> our mission from the day we started the company is making the campus visit more attainable to students. >> reporter: oculus isn't widely available yet, and even when it is, most people aren't going to have a $350 headset at home. but you can start seeing these devices at college fairs and recruitment events. >> we're not replacing the actual visit. we're making the kids excited about doing the actual visit. >> reporter: so this is what it's like to either be a cheerleader, a football player, or in the band. if you're not an athlete, this might be the closest you're going to come to the football field. we tested it out with some professional critics. our intern goes to syracuse. >> this is the carrier dome at syracuse university. and it actually feels like i'm back in the student section. >> this looks like a school technology, but the best way to experience a school and know this is the place you want to study is to vi and meet the people, not just look at an empty dining hall in virtual reali reality. >> reporter: but it does enable you to fly across the country

from the ivy leagues to the big ten in the blink of an eye. i definitely got a little dizzy with these headsets but they say the technology is only getting ber better. what's interesting about virtual reality is all the things we'll be usinging it for the future. this is only the beginning. >> very cool, though i'm picturing all these people at these college fairs walking around a little dizzy in those. we veal to see what happens. cool technology. laurie, thank you. coming up here on "cnn money," an american success story. >> i've been through being homeless. been through a lot. it's not just give up, an obstacle comes by you. jump over it. keep moving. >> wait until you hear her story. from a homeless shelter to georgetown university, one student's amazing journey next. when healthcare changes. when frustration and paperwork decrease. when healthcare becomes simpler.

so let's do it. let's simplify healthcare. let's close the gap between people and care.

this is a woyeah!esitating on a life-changing decision. at university of phoenix,

we- we know going back to school is a big decision. that's why we offer many first year students with limited to no college experience a risk-free period. so you can commit to your education with confidence. get started at phoenix.edu surprise you. the number of homeless students in american public schools is at an all-time high. 1.2 million students in the united states were homeless during the 2011-2012 academic year. that is up 10% from the previous school year. but we want you to meet this

student. not only is she a straight-a student who became valedictorian of her washington, d.c., class, she's also been homeless for five years. just a few weeks ago she left a shelter and moved to georgetown university where she'll attend on a full scholarship. we went to see her on her moving day. >> it was just, like, from house to house to house and then school to school and hotel to hotel and finally we came to the shelter. one thing i can truly tell you i hate, it is being in this room. you don't have a refrigerator, you don't have your own bathroom. i come from a track meet and i need to take a shower and the shower's extremely cold, freezing cold. when i think about being here and i think about moving on to a better life and think about what i can accomplish, i know that my goal is to go to college, graduate, go to med school, then get a residency then become certified.

that's my dream. >> love you. >> i love you, too, baby. >> i had a breakdown, just, like, thinking about i'm about to leave, go on campus and my family's still going to be here. and it's, like, you know, what can i do. you know, my mom doesn't have a job. i just felt like nothing's more important more than just do what you have to do to make it okay because i'm leaving, we're not leaving together. i feel like i've been given a big blessing. my only job is to keep up my grades in school. as long as i do, that i keep my scholarship. i don't know what people think when they think about homeless people. i think they're all dirty and stuff like that. we're normal people. we just don't have a home. and we just go through difficult circumstances because of that. but you have to keep going in life. >> we spend a lot of time on this show talking about problems in education so, today let's

celebrate a success. thanks so much for joining us this weekend. we're here every saturday at 2:30 p.m. eastern. set your dvr so you won't miss the money news that matters most to you. check us out on the web anytime at cnnmoney and follow us on twitter. have a great rest of your weekend. i'm brooke baldwin in new york. let's begin in iraq where the u.s. military made a second emergency airdrop today delivering precious food and water to thousands of terrified people trapped on this mountaintop in northern iraq. we have this video, and you can now finally see the people, the men, the women, the children, all these families on top of this mountain stranded. it's called mt. siar