The Australian biotechnology sector has produced massive winners such as the $140 billion blood products giant, CSL, but is also notorious for its unnerving volatility and costly clinical trials.

The ASX has 171 companies in the healthcare sub-sector, 85 in the pharmaceuticals sub-sector and 39 in a biotech sub-sector. Aside from gems like CSL, it is a space with a reputation for rollercoaster returns and outlandish claims about “breakthroughs” that never materialise.