Quick Execution with Operational Integrity

The pharmaceutical industry experienced a complicated 2025, with challenges arising in a variety of areas including supply chain security and market demand. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States, geopolitical unrest, and fast-moving technology created a web of complexity that required the right talent, investments in technology, and embracing innovation.

Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, takes a look back at the past year and gives his opinion on which trends will carry over from 2025 into 2026.

PharmTech: Which trends did you see or experience in 2025 that you believe impacted the pharmaceutical industry the most?

Beckwith (Lindus Health): In 2025, we witnessed a fundamental shift: pharma finally began treating clinical operations as a strategic advantage rather than a necessary evil. AI emerged as a true differentiator in accelerating development timelines by streamlining administrative workflows, enhancing protocol design, improving site selection, and enabling precision patient matching at scale.

At the same time, the convergence of decentralized trial infrastructure and real-world data unlocked entirely new operational models. Sponsors can recruit patients nationwide through telemedicine, capture continuous data via connected devices, and integrate EHR [electronic health records] insights directly into trial databases with unprecedented ease.

In an environment where competitors often pursue similar therapeutic targets, success is no longer defined solely by marginal differences in the science. It hinges on who can execute faster while maintaining rigorous scientific and operational integrity.

What strategies are most effective in attracting and retaining top talent, especially as technological advancements shift frontline and technical roles?

It goes beyond compensation. It starts by creating an environment where people can do meaningful work with a tangible impact. When teams understand how their work contributes to better research or improved patient outcomes, engagement and retention naturally improve. Talented individuals also crave autonomy in the workplace. Small, empowered teams and room to experiment help people feel trusted and motivated.

How does the industry plan to maintain competitive advantage as patent cliffs, rising generic-drug competition, and pricing reforms intensify margin pressures?

Maintaining competitive advantage requires shifting from a model driven primarily by commercial exclusivity to one grounded in operational excellence and innovation throughout the development lifecycle. As patent cliffs and pricing reforms reduce the buffer that once protected returns, companies are increasingly focusing on improving the efficiency and predictability of R&D. This includes adopting technologies that shorten development timelines, redesigning trial processes to reduce operational waste, and making earlier, clearer decisions about which programs deserve continued investment.

Competitive advantage is also retained through obtaining real-world evidence, developing patient-centric delivery models like direct-to-consumer programs and companion apps that present a drug product as part of a holistic experience or treatment for a patient. Companies are also looking upstream by strengthening pipelines through strategic partnerships. The companies that adapt to these pressures will be those that prioritize efficiency, evidence generation, and patient relevance.

Which trends do you see driving innovation and drug development in 2026?

Looking ahead to next year, AI will continue to move from experimentation to practical integration, particularly in protocol generation and design, patient stratification, and decision support. We’ve already seen transformational improvements across the industry with advanced technologies. I believe there will also be increasing pressure for evidence that reflects real clinical use, especially as payers and regulators become more value focused. This is driving innovation in continuous data collection, long-term follow-up, and integrated evidence strategies that span from early clinical development through post-market evaluation.

About Meri Beckwith

Meri Beckwith is the Co-CEO of Lindus Health, an end-to-end, full-service contract research organization running radically faster, more reliable clinical trials for life science pioneers. Beckwith was previously a venture capital investor and partner to biotech and digital health companies. He took part in the COVID-19 vaccine trial as a volunteer where he saw how trial outcomes could be improved by focusing on patient experience, ultimately leading to the formation of Lindus Health.