{"id":61208,"date":"2026-01-19T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clarkstonconsulting.com\/?p=61208"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:49:43","slug":"2026-life-sciences-industry-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clarkstonconsulting.com\/insights\/2026-life-sciences-industry-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Life Sciences Industry Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2026<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Download the full 2026 Life Sciences Industry Trends Report here<\/span><\/a>. <\/strong><\/h2>\n

This free trends report outlines industry perspectives and expert advice from our team of life sciences consultants. You can view an excerpt of the report below, and if you\u2019d like to discuss any of the trends or other challenges in the life sciences space, connect with our team today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Key Life Sciences Industry Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Therapeutic innovation is accelerating, but companies are also experiencing rising global uncertainty. AI and expanded delivery models create opportunities for continued development, hinging on integration into existing workflows. Organizations that align scientific objectives with consistent operations and execution will be best positioned to sustain growth in the year ahead. The trends influencing life sciences in 2026 reflect a period of significant evolution across research, manufacturing, commercial models, and organizational strategy.<\/p>\n

Clarkston’s life sciences<\/a> consultants have highlighted the top industry trends that businesses should consider and keep top-of-mind throughout the year:<\/p>\n

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  1. Embedding AI in R&D workflows to transform processes and skills<\/li>\n
  2. Accelerating innovation in cell and gene therapy development<\/li>\n
  3. Surging demand for peptide therapies enhancing longevity<\/li>\n
  4. Restructuring supply chains for resiliency and direct access<\/li>\n
  5. Increasing M&A activity across the pharmacy sector<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Trend 1:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n
    Embedding AI in R&D workflows to transform processes and skills<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

    94% of life sciences leaders<\/span><\/a>\u00a0expect\u00a0AI to become\u00a0crucial\u00a0for building scalable operations, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0essential to train the workforce during this transition. Beyond introducing new AI tools, companies are focused on\u00a0<\/span>preparing employees to use AI responsibly<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in regular tasks.\u00a0<\/span>69% of companies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0plan\u00a0to invest in digital fluency and AI upskilling, which is a 51% increase from 2023.\u00a0This growth reflects how AI is enabling movement\u00a0from manual to machine-augmented R&D workflows.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Companies will begin by\u00a0utilizing\u00a0AI to enable simple tasks, but these capabilities can mature to\u00a0assist\u00a0entire workflows. Automation is being incorporated directly into laboratory software like\u00a0<\/span>Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Laboratory Information\u00a0Management System (LIMS)<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0If set up properly, these developments\u00a0can\u00a0<\/span>accelerate drug-discovery timelines<\/span><\/a>\u00a0due to rapid AI analysis of large datasets and predictions for drug-target interactions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    For instance,\u00a0Insilico\u00a0Medicine\u2019s\u202f<\/span>Rentosertib<\/span><\/a>, the world\u2019s first fully\u00a0<\/span>AI-discovered drug<\/span><\/a>, shows major promise for lung disease treatment.\u00a0Life sciences organizations must recognize that\u00a0AI\u00a0has crossed from theory into therapy, creating an array of opportunities to expand. In 2026,\u00a0AI\u00a0will be\u00a0embedded across the value chain, from R&D to clinical trials to operations, reshaping the way\u00a0companies\u00a0get\u00a0work\u00a0done.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In 2026, life sciences companies will experience a shift from assessing AI readiness and capabilities to integrating it as a collaborative agent across everyday workflows. AI has\u00a0remained\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>critical component in conversations<\/span><\/a>\u00a0over the past several years, but its role continues to evolve as it becomes more\u00a0closely integrated\u00a0with employee efforts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Trend 2:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n
    Accelerating innovation in cell and gene therapy development<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

    The\u00a0<\/span>cell and gene therapy (CGT)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0market is rapidly expanding, with\u00a0<\/span>4,418<\/span><\/a>\u00a0gene, cell, and RNA therapies currently in the clinical and preclinical pipeline. This includes 2,154 gene therapies, 966 non-genetically modified cell therapies, and 1,298 RNA therapies. As the pipeline grows, agility is critical, especially as scaling pressures\u00a0emerge\u00a0in both manufacturing and commercialization. The CGT solutions market in North America is expected to rise to\u00a0<\/span>$11.34 billion<\/span><\/a>, reflecting accelerating investment and development activity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Alongside this expansion, rising demand for outsourced services and advancements in manufacturing technologies are driving growth in\u00a0<\/span>CDMO capacity<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0CDMOs enable large pharmaceutical companies to\u00a0maintain\u00a0agile, decentralized supply chains, offering flexibility as manufacturing requirements become more complex and\u00a0time sensitive.\u00a0These organizations are also critical for virtual and small pharma to get their drugs to the clinic and market without having to fully scale operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In response to rising costs and operational demands, companies are increasingly\u00a0<\/span>partnering or licensing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to build CGT capacity and platforms rather than investing in standalone assets. This partnership-driven approach supports scalability while reducing financial and operational risk in the therapeutic landscape.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Scientific development continues to\u00a0progress as trial activity rises. In Q2,\u00a0<\/span>80 gene therapy trials<\/span><\/a>\u00a0were\u00a0initiated, with 64% focused on oncology indications, the highest proportion seen in the past year.\u00a0<\/span>AAV (adeno-associated virus) vectors<\/span><\/a>\u00a0continue to be\u00a0dominant\u00a0in the field, and new growth opportunities are\u00a0emerging\u00a0with next-gen capsids, tissue-specific expression systems, and RNA-editing platforms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    However,\u00a0<\/span>challenges persist<\/span><\/a>\u00a0across reimbursement, infrastructure, and geographic patient access. These barriers are becoming more visible as the market scales and as therapies move closer to commercialization.\u00a0Tariff-driven uncertainty is adding another layer of complexity;\u00a0<\/span>94%\u00a0of biotech firms<\/span><\/a>\u00a0anticipate\u00a0surging manufacturing costs due to tariffs on imports from the European Union. As a result, manufacturing may\u00a0<\/span>shift to the United States<\/span><\/a>\u00a0over time, and some biotech companies have already\u00a0initiated\u00a0domestic production because of time sensitivity and supply constraints.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Continue reading by downloading the full report below.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    Download the Full 2026 Life Sciences Industry Trends Report Here<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

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    Read last year’s Life Sciences Industry Trends Report here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n