The life sciences & health care sector enters 2026 in a mode of regulatory acceleration. AI is no longer on the horizon: it is embedded across the entire medical product lifecycles, impacting discovery to commercialization. Drug and device sponsors are equipped with critical new advantages, including faster approval pathways, modern technology, and real-world data utilization. “Most Favored Nation” proposals are reshaping the global pricing reference dynamic. M&A, licensing, and commercial transaction frameworks are being rewritten as supply chains are tested. Energy concerns are growing as AI tools test consumption constraints, and EU regulators scrutinize environmental green claims.

Our annual LSHC Horizons Guide discusses these issues and other rapidly evolving legal and regulatory paradigms.