Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.<\/p>\n
Biotech is starting to sound less like medicine and more like software, and SpaceX <\/strong>and Tesla CEO Elon Musk<\/strong><\/a> thinks that shift could become one of the biggest technological opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n “There’s probably a lot of opportunity in synthetic medicine. These days you can basically create custom RNA,” Musk said at the Forbes Innovators 250 Celebration<\/a> in May. “And I think we’re going from a situation where medicine has been analog, where we kind of just find drugs by accident most of the time, like finding sticks in the forest \u2014 \u2018this stick seems like a useful club’ type of thing. It’s quite primitive how we’ve found medication in the past.”<\/p>\n Musk said advances in synthetic RNA are pushing medicine toward something far more “digital.”<\/p>\n “Since we can now construct synthetic RNA, you can effectively think of the future of medicine as being digital,” he said. “If you just know what to program into that synthetic RNA strand, you can basically, I think, cure almost anything.”<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n That sounds wildly futuristic until realizing parts of the technology already exist in real-world medicine.<\/p>\n Scientists can now synthesize custom RNA molecules designed to tell cells exactly what to do \u2014 produce proteins, suppress harmful genes, or trigger immune responses \u2014 without permanently altering DNA. Many therapies use modified messenger RNA, or mRNA, while others rely on small interfering RNA, known as siRNA, to silence specific genes linked to disease.<\/p>\n Covid Vaccines Quietly Changed Biotech Forever <\/p>\n The biotech industry’s giant proof-of-concept moment arrived during the Covid pandemic.<\/p>\n Vaccines like Spikevax and Comirnaty showed researchers<\/a> that RNA-based therapies could be designed, manufactured, and deployed at speeds traditional pharmaceutical pipelines struggled to match.<\/p>\n That success accelerated development pipelines across biotech.<\/p>\n Researchers are now testing RNA-based therapies<\/a> for cancer, HIV, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cystic fibrosis, and several rare inherited disorders. Delivery technologies like lipid nanoparticles<\/a> help guide therapies into cells, while chemical modifications improve stability and reduce unwanted immune reactions.<\/p>\n One approved example<\/a> already on the market is Leqvio, an siRNA therapy that suppresses the PCSK9 gene in the liver and can lower cholesterol levels dramatically with just one or two doses annually.<\/p>\n Trending: Wall Street Ignored This AI Stock \u2014 Could Intel’s RAD Be the Next Big Player<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists Are Increasingly Designing Medicine Instead Of Discovering It <\/p>\n The broader shift Musk was describing is what excites so many researchers and investors.<\/p>\n For decades, pharmaceutical development often relied on screening compounds and hoping scientists accidentally discovered<\/a> something useful. RNA therapeutics increasingly allow researchers to engineer biological instructions with highly specific intended outcomes already in mind.<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence is also speeding up development<\/a> by helping optimize RNA sequences faster than traditional methods allowed. Researchers are experimenting with self-amplifying RNA, circular RNA, and personalized cancer vaccines designed around a patient’s specific tumor profile.<\/p>\n One of the most closely watched projects, Moderna and Merck’s<\/a> melanoma vaccine candidate mRNA-4157, has shown recurrence-free survival benefits in clinical trials when paired with immunotherapy.<\/p>\n By mid-2025, more than 500 mRNA-related clinical studies<\/a> were underway globally across infectious disease, oncology, cardiovascular medicine, and rare disease research.<\/p>\n The rapid convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology is one reason some investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional tech stocks and toward earlier-stage companies building next-generation platforms. Interest has grown in private and pre-IPO opportunities tied to immersive computing<\/a>, AI infrastructure, and emerging software technologies as investors search for what could become the next wave of disruptive innovation.<\/p>\n See Also: The Difference Between a Fragmented Plan and an Integrated One Often Comes Down to Structure \u2014 See How PCM Encore Brings Investment, Tax, and Estate Planning Into Alignment.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists Say The Technology Is Real \u2014 But So Are The Limits <\/p>\n Even researchers bullish on RNA medicine caution that major scientific hurdles remain.<\/p>\n Delivery continues to be one of the biggest challenges. Current systems work especially well in organs like the liver, but targeting tissues such as the brain, heart, and muscles safely and efficiently remains much harder.<\/p>\n Many RNA therapies are also intentionally temporary, which improves safety but often requires repeat treatments. Researchers are still studying long-term immune effects, manufacturing consistency, and off-target reactions.<\/p>\n Experts also caution that while the technology is advancing rapidly, full “cure almost anything” territory remains far away for many diseases<\/a>, especially complex conditions involving multiple biological systems.<\/p>\n Still, the pace of progress has been unusually fast compared with traditional drug development.<\/p>\n Instead of spending years hunting through compounds hoping something works, scientists are increasingly building biological tools intentionally <\/a>\u2014 moving medicine away from “finding sticks in the forest” and closer to something that behaves a lot more like programmable code.<\/p>\n Read Next: Evaluation-based funding models used in professional trading are now being adopted by retail traders seeking access to funded futures accounts\u2014see how traders qualify<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market<\/strong> <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Rad AI<\/strong><\/p>\n RAD Intel is an AI-driven marketing platform helping brands improve campaign performance by turning complex data into actionable insights for content, influencer strategy, and ROI optimization.<\/a><\/strong> Positioned within the multi-hundred-billion-dollar digital marketing industry, the company works with global brands across sectors to improve targeting precision and creative performance using its analytics and AI tools. With strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise contracts, and a Nasdaq ticker reserved under $RADI, RAD Intel is opening access to its Regulation A+ offering, giving investors exposure to the growing intersection of AI, marketing, and creator economy infrastructure.<\/p>\n Arrived<\/strong><\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/strong><\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Lightstone<\/strong><\/p>\n Lightstone DIRECT gives accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily real estate opportunities backed by a vertically integrated operator with more than $12 billion in assets under management and a 40-year track record.<\/a><\/strong> With more than 25,000 multifamily units nationwide \u2014 including significant exposure to low-supply Midwest markets where rent growth has remained resilient \u2014 Lightstone is positioning investors to benefit from tightening housing supply, strong occupancy trends, and long-term rental demand. Through Lightstone DIRECT, individuals can co-invest alongside the firm, which commits at least 20% to each deal, offering exposure to professionally managed multifamily assets designed to generate durable income and long-term appreciation beyond the traditional stock market.<\/p>\n AdviserMatch<\/strong><\/p>\n AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.<\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief<\/strong><\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions<\/a><\/strong>. <\/strong>Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.<\/p>\n Finance Advisors<\/strong><\/p>\n Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency\u2014factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.<\/p>\n Immersed<\/strong><\/p>\n Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments.<\/a> <\/strong>Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n This article Elon Musk Says We Used To Find Medicine Like Random Sticks In The Woods \u2014 Now We Can Program It Like An App And Basically ‘Cure Almost Anything’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Biotech…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":999781,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4315],"tags":[53600,248488,277361,295,81874,105,4326,139348,11926,277360,51276,277359,16,15],"class_list":["post-999780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-ai-company","tag-biotech-industry","tag-circular-rna","tag-elon-musk","tag-future-of-medicine","tag-health","tag-medication","tag-messenger-rna","tag-rna","tag-rna-sequences","tag-rna-therapeutics","tag-small-interfering-rna","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116678795558288883","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/999780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=999780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/999780\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/999781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=999780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=999780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=999780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}