A Year of Change

Wow, where did the time go? Old adage or not, 2025 did indeed feel like it was on afterburners from the jump, didn’t it? Well, in any case, it’s safe to agree that much has happened in the world over the last 12 months. From geopolitical shifts and pressures globally, to the turbocharged and AI-led technology revolution, to evolving political, social, and economic issues on domestic fronts, just to name a few of the major ongoings.

When viewing through the prism of pharma and healthcare, to say 2025 has been an eventful stretch would be an understatement.

As our Annual Industry Outlook section in this month’s issue of Pharmaceutical Executive reflects, those sectors, this year, were heavily influenced—on strategic and daily operational levels—by the fast-changing landscape noted. And particularly impacted by the volatile—and often uncertain—sway of US-driven policy and regulatory reforms in healthcare. That includes mandates governing drug pricing, supply, access, product marketing, and more.

In Pharm Exec’s State of the Industry Survey, published in May, half of our decision-maker respondents were already reporting “feeling the pinch” from challenges in such areas as market access, new legislation, and costs. It’s likely that percentage is higher today.

Regardless, as a few of the KOLs interviewed in our outlook trends coverage point out, some of the changes and reforms taking shape, when stepping back a bit, could be good for the industry and spur on needed adjustments to old practices within and in engaging with consumers.

I hope you enjoy this year’s examination of the top trends, five in all, that the editors of Pharm Exec believe are impacting biopharma and the healthcare ecosystem the most heading into 2026.

And, all the change and business aside, I wish you a joyous, peaceful, and safe holiday season. We here at MJH Life Sciences and Pharm Exec thank you wholeheartedly for another great year of support.

Mike Hennessy Jr. is Chairman and CEO of MJH Life Sciences^®