The biotech sector is renowned for the boom-or-bust potential of its most polarizing stocks, but one thing's for sure: Biotech's biggest hits are rivaled by few stocks on the market for their ability to deliver massive rewards to investors. The markets have picked up strongly in 2013, but even the S&P 500's (^GSPC -0.46%) record-setting run has looked downright meek next to a few of biotech's top stocks this year.

Just which picks are setting the sector on fire? Motley Fool contributor Dan Carroll takes you through three of biotech's best performers this year, and tells you whether these high-flying successes can keep surging through the second half of 2013.