Research

2026 Life Sciences Industry Outlook

The 3 key trends shaping the life sciences industry in 2026

November 18, 2025

Life Sciences trends in 2026

Pricing power belongs to products that prove superiority
Affordability pressures and rising development costs are redefining value. Only therapies and devices that demonstrate measurable, payer-accepted superiority will maintain pricing power.
Rebuilding supply chains for U.S. capacity with global flexibility
Tariffs and volatility demand selective U.S. investment while maintaining trusted global networks, creating hybrid models that balance resilience, cost, and regulatory complexity.
AI adoption accelerates—human judgment becomes the edge
AI is reshaping research, manufacturing, and commercialization, but progress hinges on clean data, strong governance, and teams trained to apply human oversight where it matters most.

The Year of Disciplined Innovation 

“Life sciences is evolving through a period of intense change. Margins are tightening, affordability pressures are redefining value, and AI is transforming how research, manufacturing, and operations get done. This moment isn’t about adding more tools—it’s about using technology with precision and purpose.

The next generation of leaders will balance innovation with discipline: building resilient supply chains, stronger data foundations, and teams ready to use AI responsibly. They’ll prove both efficacy and efficiency—delivering therapies that work better, cost less, and scale faster. Those who act decisively will set a new performance standard for the industry."

Kristin Irving

Managing Partner, Life Sciences