I read the first few pages of this book and realized it is more of a business- and economics-oriented book than I originally thought. I decided not to finish it since I am more interested in reading about these things from a detailed scientific perspective. With a medicinal chemistry background, I think I'd be better-equipped to review that sort of book than a business book when I have little interest in business and little knowledge of the "standards" for "business writing." I suppose if you are an investor or an economist some of this might be of interest to you.

Andrew Craig's "Future of Biotech" provides an overview of some of the current and emerging biotechnologies that are shaping industry, primarily in the healthcare field. I think Craig does a fine job of explaining concepts and technologies in a clear way, despite all of the jargon in the fields. I do have a biological science background however, so I might have had an easier time with it than some; but anyone with a genuine interest in ever-evolving field of biotechnology should give this a read! I think Craig is very insightful when he discusses how the biotechnology field is growing exponentially rather then linearly - something not many folks might realize! It is very interesting to engage with biotechnology from not just a pure science standpoint, but to also consider larger impacts on society and the economy. This book has made me excited to see what future developments are waiting around the corner!

I had no idea that our science and technology was advanced enough to start making so many inroads that will save and change so many lives!

This book is a great overview of the current state of biotechnology and the various societal and technological factors acting upon it, providing a prospective outlook of the future improvements in the field and what effects they may have on our lives.

It is definietly an interesting book. As someone that has a background in biotech my perspective is that it was very broad in what it discussed. Which makes it perfect for people that have an idea of what biotech is but want to learn more. It felt like I was going through Biotech 101 the first week of college. There were still parts of it I think are usefull, for example the comparison between US based companies and those outside the US and how each has their own struggles. That was something I found interesting. I also enjoyed the fact that it mentions AI (Artificial Inteligence) and ML (Machine Learning) which are very popular subjects nowadays.

The book had some strong points. Craig is a big supporter of biotech and addresses some of the concerns people have. He also does a good job of explaining the relevant financial markets and regulations. I did find Craig overly optimistic based on exponential advances, but at least he is honest about it. On the other hand, although Craig writes openly that he is a fan of biotech, I felt that the tone of the book was more of a sales spiel than a source of information. I also found that the middle section of the book, about Medicine 3.0 was out of place and I skipped a lot of it. The final section of the book, on the science behind biotech was good, covering a lot of areas, but very, very briefly, was good but again the chapter on longevity added nothing to the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Nicholas Brealey US for the advance reader copy.

An interesting book, it took me a while to read as it was one I dipped in and out in between other books of rather than reading all in one go. I did enjoy it though and it as thought provoking.

Andrew Craig, the author of Our Future is Biotech, has spent his entire career in finance. His interest in biotechnology grew over six years when he was a partner in an investment bank specializing in biotechnology and life sciences. He developed a comprehensive understanding of the field through diligent research and communication with the biotech community.
Andrew strongly advocates biotechnology, and his enthusiasm shows throughout the book. He envisions the development of the biotech industries to be exponential rather than linear. The interaction of many different technologies feeds this exponential growth. Andrew’s view of biotechnology goes beyond biology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital manufacturing.
Andrew describes several significant challenges facing the biotech industry. As a person closely associated with finance, Andrew spends considerable time discussing investments in biotech. Investments are going quite well, but individuals can work with financial advisors. Another challenge is the public perception of biotech. People tend to have negative views about things they do not understand, and the press may reinforce these beliefs. A primary goal of the book is to help the reader better understand biotech. A third challenge is implementation by the medical community. There is a multitude of factors that explain why medicine may be reluctant to adopt a new technology. However, specialized medical centers exist that can rapidly apply biotechnology.
Andrew describes modern medicine as “sick care” rather than “health care.” He envisions a future called “Medicine 3.0,” which is more directed toward determining the root causes of illnesses rather than treating symptoms. Due to the extraordinary complexities involved, biotech can have a prominent role in this new vision.
Modern medicine has brought many tools to conquer disease, including antimicrobials, vaccines, and small-molecule drugs. A wide range of biotech-related treatments has resulted from a greater understanding of how the immune system and DNA/genes work. These new treatments have been called “miracles” as they provide advanced treatments for previously incurable diseases. Robust new diagnostic procedures have been developed using other advanced technologies, including big data, computing power, and gene sequencing.
However, after achieving these successes, “diseases of modernity” have appeared, including increased incidence of allergies and autoimmune diseases. Actions such as excessive antibiotic use and strict sanitation have resulted in a dysfunctional microbiome (the essential microbial population of the gut). Biotech is uniquely suited to analyze the microbiome.
Andrew has placed these new developments in political and social contexts, including their high costs and regulatory difficulties. He stresses that patients should act as partners for their health through diet, exercise, and meditation.
Andrew expands on the applications of biotech, including environmental issues.
Overall, the book presents an impressive case for embracing biotech for the future.

Thank you NetGalley for a prerelease of Our Future is Biotech.

Andrew Craig does an exceptional job outlining the value biotech companies have to offer. You don’t need a STEM degree to understand this book. if you have an interest in biotech, go get your copy!

Going to be very interesting to come back to this book in 20-30 years and see what's changed. I loved his style of writing and everything was very clear and engaging!

I am a scientist that works on the intersection between the microbiome and behavior. The premise of this book intrigued me for its boldness. The claims that Craig makes throughout the book are definitely founded in current research, yet perhaps a bit too optimistic in their nature. While I fully support his call to action to fund more biotech research, I do think that his proposed timeline for how quickly these developments will occur should be considered with some caution. The overall book is well-written, compelling and definitely an interesting read for those that are still new to both science and finance. I appreciate the author’s attempts to calm the public and advocate for more faith in scientific institutions. However, I will caution the reader to be critical of the treatment of “diseases of modernity” as this type of terminology is a slippery slope towards eugenics. I am grateful for the author and publisher’s permission to read this early and I look forward to seeing it hit the shelves.

I will hold off from publishing the review online until the book is published in case changes are made. I am a fan of the author and read his previous work on 'owning the world'. I whole-heartedly agree with the author's biotech thesis but this felt less accessible to the average retail investor than the previous work and occasionally veered into 'guru' territory giving credence to podcasters who posit ideas but aren't peer-reviewed or go outside their professional knowledge/remit. It also did not sufficiently emphasise just how volatile the biotech sector and companies can fail in phase 2 trials for example or sudden negative publicity about side-effects even if the drug comes to market etc. Therefore, the author should have emphasised more than he did, that the capital at risk involved is perhaps greater than other sectors or where retail investors might expect a 'set it and forget it' type biotech portfolio. The history of medicine could also have been more concise but I did like the section setting out the context of the anti-biotic resistance that is a far bigger problem than most laypeople are currently aware of.

The book is excellently written and has broadened my understanding of various technologies and concepts that were previously unknown to me. As someone who enjoys reading about science and biotechnology, I found it to be very informative. I highly recommend it to anyone who shares similar interests. The book is easy to comprehend and effectively communicates complex scientific topics. I am grateful for the opportunity to access this book and extend my appreciation to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author.