We may be standing at the beginning of the biggest biotechnology shift any of us have ever seen. The pace of change coming over the next few years could surprise all of us. Thanks to our growing ability to map the human genome, edit genes, create personalized treatments using mRNA, and harness the power of artificial intelligence, medical progress is speeding up faster than at any time in history.

Looking back, the way we used to treat many diseases, including cancer, may soon feel dated. A wave of breakthroughs is arriving all at once, and together they have the potential to transform healthcare from the ground up.

One of the most promising changes is the ability to spot serious illnesses far earlier than we ever could before. Detecting conditions early, sometimes even before symptoms appear, opens the door to treatments that are more effective, more precise, and far less taxing on the body.  It also would make treatments more affordable making it a win for patients, caregivers, and the insurance companies.

Here are a few examples of what’s happening right now:

  • Grail Inc. is developing a simple blood test that may be able to detect dozens of cancers early, long before they show up on scans. Their large NHS-Galleri study in the United Kingdom—following more than 140,000 people, is expected to wrap up in 2026. If successful, it could shift cancer screening from waiting for symptoms to catching problems proactively.
  • Personalis focuses on detecting cancer recurrence much earlier than traditional imaging. Their test, now covered by Medicare, can identify signs of returning cancer months or even years before a CT or MRI scan shows anything.

Other companies are tackling big problems in their own ways:

  • Delcath Systems is developing a way to deliver high-dose chemotherapy directly into the liver and then remove the drug before it circulates through the rest of the body—potentially reducing side effects.
    • ClearPoint Neuro uses real-time MRI during surgery to deliver medications straight into the brain for conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease. This approach may allow treatments to bypass the blood–brain barrier and target the problem more precisely.
    • Twist Bioscience has created an advanced technology that “prints” DNA, helping scientists develop new treatments more quickly and at a lower cost.
    • Tempus AI is using artificial intelligence to help doctors and researchers sort through vast amounts of medical data, giving them clearer insights and better tools for decision-making.

For decades, futurists have talked about dramatic improvements in life expectancy and quality of life, but now, those predictions finally seem within reach. As our population ages, with tremendous wealth concentrated among older Americans, it’s likely we’ll see enormous investment flowing into these technologies. While the path forward may be bumpy, these innovations could eventually force major updates to how the FDA and the broader healthcare system operate.

For the sake of transparency I am personally invested in several of these companies. If you’re curious about how these developments could fit into an investment strategy too, feel free to reach out to me at ajpickert@stewcap.com. Biotechnology investments are by their nature very volatile and risky, but with the right approach, it may offer opportunities for exciting returns.

(Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The advice is general in nature and not intended for specific situations)