Scrip Asks

More than 100 biopharma executives and experts told Scrip their predictions for therapeutic area advances in the coming year. The recent commercial success of GLP-1s in diabetes and obesity and their potential in further disease areas fuelled excitement around the metabolic space. Expectations were also positive in neurology following the launch of Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, while the multiple opportunities to improve cancer treatment kept oncology top of the pile overall.

Some 50 experts and executives in the biopharma sector shared their views on the major trends they expect to see driving change in the clinical trials arena in 2024. Artificial intelligence applied to clinical development, greater use of remote monitoring and increased patient diversity in trials were key themes.

More than 75 industry executives and experts gazed into the crystal ball and shared with Scrip their predictions around transformative technologies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, AI was the dominant theme – but gene editing, cell therapies and new targeting modalities were also among the highlights.

Looking ahead on manufacturing and supply-related issues in 2024, respondents told Scrip to expect companies to bring their supply chains closer to home, improvements for delivery of cell and gene therapies, a focus by contract manufacturers and developers on sustainability and continued emphasis on access to critical drugs.

Biotech entrepreneurs tend to be an optimistic group, and there were many pockets of hope for 2024. However, the consensus remains that depressed valuations and paucity of fresh funds will continue to pose a challenge for the sector, and companies will need to prioritize carefully and work even harder to demonstrate and create value.

Global crises and a tough funding environment mean biopharma leadership teams need to work hard to survive, let alone thrive. Industry executives shared their predictions and advice on strategy for 2024.

The acceleration of efforts to increase diversity among clinical trial subjects is expected to continue in 2023. Furthermore, many executives hope for greater inclusivity within companies, from new recruits to leadership.

Improving human health is the raison d’etre of the biopharma sector. But what can the industry do to safeguard and improve the health of Planet Earth? Executives shared their thoughts with Scrip.

Neuroscience and oncology fuel high hopes for therapeutic R&D progress among 90-plus surveyed biopharma industry leaders.

From synthetic data to real-world data, from patient engagement to patient stratification, from combination trials to master protocols and from fully decentralized through hybrid to onsite trials, the world of clinical development is undergoing major changes. Fifty executives share their predictions around clinical trial trends for the year ahead.

The biopharma industry may not have been the fastest adopter of artificial intelligence, but its vast potential means companies of every shape and size know they cannot ignore it. Executives, advisors and investors share their predictions around the impact of AI in 2023.

The confluence of data science and molecular biology fuels expectations among biopharma industry leaders for another year of breakthrough innovation in human therapeutics. More than 70 executives and experts reveal what they are most excited about on the technology front.

Biopharma executives see value-based pricing as an increasingly important topic for the sector in 2023, while the US Inflation Reduction Act will have a major impact on portfolio strategies.

Headwinds of political instability, violent conflict, inflation and recession accompany us into 2023. Scrip surveyed industry leaders on the impacts for biopharma.

Deal-making between big pharma and biotech looks set to rise with a looming patent cliff increasing the need for the former to replenish its pipelines. Meanwhile, biotechs need partners to help them advance amid the ongoing big freeze on raising cash on public markets.

With valuations down and borrowing costs up, many industry insiders are expecting Darwinian scenes in biotech this year. Survival of the fittest is the order of the day: companies with riskier, less commercially defined propositions will struggle, while platform companies with multiple shots on strong goals will increasingly find favor in a more risk-averse environment.

Addressing health care inequities, providing a nurturing environment for employees and learning from the pandemic were among the aims expressed by executives surveyed by Scrip.  

Digital and telehealth solutions took off during COVID-19 and industry observers expect them to advance still further in the coming year. Coupling enhanced patient experience with rich opportunities to use associated data to enhance product development and health care practice, benefits should accrue to industry, health care practitioners, health systems and patients alike.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove huge shifts in clinical trial practice and the transformation is expected to continue even after the global health emergency abates. Industry leaders sharing their predictions around clinical development homed in on decentralized trials, digitization and data tools as key topics for 2022.

Evolving challenges will keep the COVID-19 pipeline active, while oncology, immunology and CNS are areas also expected to see much progress in 2022. Industry executives look forward to the year in therapeutic R&D.