The life sciences landscape in 2026 is being shaped by a new level of discipline. From AI moving into everyday operations to growing pressure on commercial performance, organisations are balancing innovation with execution. Here are seven key trends defining how in the industry is evolving this year.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is investing £4 million to support 23 early-stage bioscience projects. This funding is part of its 2023 Transformative Research Technologies (23TRT) fund.
Medical Affairs (MA) is increasingly becoming a key player in pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations, standing alongside Research & Development (R&D) and commercial operations. Traditionally viewed as a support function, MA now plays a crucial role in shaping corporate strategy by integrating scientific expertise, patient insights, and clinical data into decision-making processes.
Britain’s life science community is celebrating the country’s return to the EU Horizon Europe research programme, which was announced on 7 September 2023.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is inviting feedback on plans to end use of the European Commission Decision Reliance Procedure (ECDRP) to bring medicines to market.
Roadblocks from the EU, and the UK government’s determination to get a ‘fair settlement’ on associate membership, are harming international collaborative research programmes and, ultimately, patients’ access to innovative treatments and devices.
Whether you are heading off to the beach this summer or relaxing at home, this quieter period is a good time to step back and assess your business. Where do you want your biotech startup to be in a year’s time? Do you have a great product but are not sure how to commmercialise it? How do you move from the lab to the marketplace?
New biotechs and small pharma companies find it hard to take their products from discovery to market because of a lack of capital and early-stage expertise. Dr Malcolm Barratt-Johnson, PharmaMedic Consultancy’s Managing Director, says the traditional routes do not work and offers a plan to help innovators move their products forward.
What is the future for UK-based biotechnology? This article reviews the financing of, and governmental support for, the sector and considers the potential impact of new technology in the development of the life sciences.
What is the outlook for medical affairs up to 2030, and what are the advantages for pharma and biotechs from outsourcing this function to external specialists?
