The Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceutical empire is on the cusp of another transformational phase. The company, whose name is associated with top drugs such as Eliquis and Opdivo, faces the natural life cycle of its portfolio - expiring patents, increasing generic competition and the need to find a new source of growth. It was at this point that Bristol Myers decided to take a step that could define its future for the next decade - entering the field of RNA medicine. Acquisition of the company Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion is not just an expansion of its research portfolio, but a signal that the company wants to become a technology innovator, not just a traditional revenue manager.

While the pharmaceutical sector is shifting away from traditional molecules to biologic therapies and personalized treatments, Bristol Myers is using the acquisition to create a new pillar of growth that could gradually replace patented drug revenues. Technology In vivo CAR-T a circular RNA represent a…