The rate of innovation in biotech right now is stunning.

And there’s something on the horizon that could change the very concept of what it means to take a drug.

On October 2, Novartis (NVS) agreed to pay Abogen Biosciences, a private company in Suzhou, China, $575 million up front for an exclusive worldwide license to ABO2203. It also took options on Abogen’s other programs. If Novartis exercises every option and every milestone is hit, Abogen can collect up to about $7.2 billion more, plus royalties.

This could turn into a major investment for Novartis. So what did Novartis buy?

ABO2203 is a strand of messenger RNA (“mRNA”) – which is the same kind of molecule in the COVID vaccines. Except, in this application, it is wrapped in a tiny bubble of fat. Once injected, it winds up in the patient’s liver. And when it gets there, something incredible happens: it teaches the liver cells how to build a sophisticated medicine, a T-cell engager.

Let me explain this in plain English.