Uncertainty, crisis, fear… all breed innovation.

While it’s true that in a murky economic climate there is less capital to go around, for certain industries, these complications don’t halt momentum.

That’s because the stakes are higher than simply profits.

There may be no industry where this is truer than biotech, as startups and corporations around the globe continue to develop and test new treatments for debilitating (and confounding) illnesses.

Of course, the most famous recent biotech startup success story is Moderna, which developed its Spikevax mRNA COVID vaccines in world-record time.

As a result, three early-Moderna investors were named among the 400 richest Americans, each with a multi-billion-dollar net worth.

In 2021 alone, $107.9 billion was invested into the biotech and health care industries – particularly into companies with coronavirus vaccines and therapies.

But although the attention paid to COVID has diminished in 2022, the biotech market is still expected to grow at a 15.8% clip through 2028, showing there’s plenty of opportunity for continued success.

Which is why headlines like those that made the rounds last week are particularly enticing.

Eisai and Biogen, two pharmaceutical research companies, reported promising results from a recent study that showed “highly statistically significant reduction of clinical decline” among Alzheimer’s patients. This is particularly noteworthy when considering that, up until this point, no treatment has effectively slowed the cognitive decline among those suffering.

Historically, one of the biggest impediments to biotech companies realizing their visions are regulatory. Only after pre-clinical trials, clinical trials, and the new drug application review does a drug receive FDA clearance, and this process can take years to complete.

However, the speed at which the mRNA vaccines were approved and brought to market shows that life-saving solutions can be fast-tracked.

“The company has announced that it will be filing not only with the FDA, but [also] with other countries and regulatory agencies,” Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo said. “And we hope that soon, the FDA might have an expedited review of this drug.”

In general, there is no shortage of innovation in the biotech industry as startups look to tackle big problems and set investors up for immense success. However, when FDA clearance is granted, these companies and treatments are already making waves and headlines. By that time, most of the biggest gains are no longer on the table for investors.

That’s why the biotech startup landscape offers such intriguing potential. There are hoards of early-stage biotech companies with world-changing missions, and as evidenced by the aforementioned success of Moderna, they offer life-changing returns.

So, while the short-term economic landscape remains murky, it might not be the worst idea to invest in some longer-term visions.

When it comes to biotech, the upside is unparalleled – so keep your eyes peeled for interesting startups in the space. We’ll be sure to do the same.