Download the full 2026 Life Sciences Industry Trends Report here.

This free industry 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’d like to discuss any of the above trends or other challenges in the life sciences space, connect with our team today.

Key Life Sciences Industry Trends

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.

Clarkston’s life sciences consultants have highlighted the top industry trends that businesses should consider and keep top-of-mind throughout the year:

1. Embedding AI in R&D workflows to transform processes and skills
2. Accelerating innovation in cell and gene therapy development
3. Surging demand for peptide therapies enhancing longevity
4. Restructuring supply chains for resiliency and direct access
5. Increasing M&A activity across the pharmacy sector

Trend 1: 

Embedding AI in R&D workflows to transform processes and skills

94% of life sciences leaders expect AI to become crucial for building scalable operations, and it’s essential to train the workforce during this transition. Beyond introducing new AI tools, companies are focused on preparing employees to use AI responsibly in regular tasks. 69% of companies plan to invest in digital fluency and AI upskilling, which is a 51% increase from 2023. This growth reflects how AI is enabling movement from manual to machine-augmented R&D workflows. 

Companies will begin by utilizing AI to enable simple tasks, but these capabilities can mature to assist entire workflows. Automation is being incorporated directly into laboratory software like Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). If set up properly, these developments can accelerate drug-discovery timelines due to rapid AI analysis of large datasets and predictions for drug-target interactions. 

For instance, Insilico Medicine’s Rentosertib, the world’s first fully AI-discovered drug, shows major promise for lung disease treatment. Life sciences organizations must recognize that AI has crossed from theory into therapy, creating an array of opportunities to expand. In 2026, AI will be embedded across the value chain, from R&D to clinical trials to operations, reshaping the way companies get work done. 

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 remained a critical component in conversations over the past several years, but its role continues to evolve as it becomes more closely integrated with employee efforts. 

Trend 2: 

Accelerating innovation in cell and gene therapy development

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) market is rapidly expanding, with 4,418 gene, 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 emerge in both manufacturing and commercialization. The CGT solutions market in North America is expected to rise to $11.34 billion, reflecting accelerating investment and development activity. 

Alongside this expansion, rising demand for outsourced services and advancements in manufacturing technologies are driving growth in CDMO capacity. CDMOs enable large pharmaceutical companies to maintain agile, decentralized supply chains, offering flexibility as manufacturing requirements become more complex and time sensitive. These organizations are also critical for virtual and small pharma to get their drugs to the clinic and market without having to fully scale operations. 

In response to rising costs and operational demands, companies are increasingly partnering or licensing to 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.  

Scientific development continues to progress as trial activity rises. In Q2, 80 gene therapy trials were initiated, with 64% focused on oncology indications, the highest proportion seen in the past year. AAV (adeno-associated virus) vectors continue to be dominant in the field, and new growth opportunities are emerging with next-gen capsids, tissue-specific expression systems, and RNA-editing platforms. 

However, challenges persist across reimbursement, infrastructure, and geographic patient access. These barriers are becoming more visible as the market scales and as therapies move closer to commercialization. Tariff-driven uncertainty is adding another layer of complexity; 94% of biotech firms anticipate surging manufacturing costs due to tariffs on imports from the European Union. As a result, manufacturing may shift to the United States over time, and some biotech companies have already initiated domestic production because of time sensitivity and supply constraints.

Continue reading by downloading the full report below.

Download the Full 2026 Life Sciences Industry Trends Report Here

Read last year’s Life Sciences Industry Trends Report here.

Contributions from Hannah Yang