In a gloomy start to the year for the biotech sector, Vertex’s strong showing in cystic fibrosis and promising pipeline could lift the mood.

The rate at which investigational drugs were accepted onto the European Medicines Agency’s priority medicines scheme dropped in 2021. Meanwhile, more much-needed treatments that had been developed under the scheme went on to win EU marketing approval.

A slow start to the year in health care is usually tempered by announcements that build up to investor conference season. However, early 2022’s plethora of negative announcements may continue biotech’s unloved status of 2021.

Share prices for many gene-editing companies declined in 2021, but the field is burgeoning with novel approaches due to be highlighted at the J.P. Morgan meeting, and one player, Intellia, could move closer to a breakthrough in 2022.