In baseball, a curveball is meant to surprise. But in life sciences, curveballs have become an everyday reality for companies. Trade disputes, tariff changes, regulatory updates, and supply chain disruptions can shift a company’s trajectory overnight.
Consider the data:
- About 60% of life sciences and health care leaders in a Deloitte survey expect tariffs and pricing policies to affect businesses in the next year.
- And a Bioformatics survey found that less than a third of life science professionals feel “very confident” in their ability to stay compliant with evolving regulations.
For leaders of small and mid-sized life sciences companies, resilience can’t be bolted on after the fact. It needs to be designed into the way you run your business.
Why 2026 could test life sciences companies
Industry trends point toward more volatility. Regulatory and policy shifts are putting new pressure on margins and supply chains. Tariff risks, drug pricing reforms, and stricter oversight are reshaping the rules of engagement.
At the same time, supply chains remain fragile thanks to rising input costs, geopolitical instability, cold-chain vulnerabilities, and overreliance on single suppliers. Financial and reimbursement pressures are intensifying, as payors and governments push harder on value and affordability.
Technology trends add both promise and complexity for life sciences companies. AI and machine learning are helping reduce drug development timelines and improving clinical trial designs. Automation is reducing production costs and error rates while increasing throughput. Digital health and cloud computing are transforming engagement and decision-making. But those advances come with risks: from bias and reproducibility concerns in AI models to governance gaps and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The industry is also experiencing consolidation. Meanwhile, the war for talent continues to intensify.
Lessons from recent curveballs in life sciences
Over the past year, many companies were caught unprepared by raw material shortages, compliance changes, and cost changes. Those running on fragmented systems couldn’t react quickly, while companies with more agile systems were better positioned to respond.
According to the Deloitte survey:
- 73% of life sciences respondents have already adopted scenario-planning strategies
- 64% have taken action to secure their supply chains during global or policy disruptions.
- But just 13% in the U.S. have adjusted organizational structures, such as operating models or decision frameworks, to respond.
- And, according to Bioformatics, fewer than half of life science organizations have invested in updated training or resources despite major regulatory changes in 2025.
According to PwC, life sciences companies can expect more global uncertainty, evolving compliance requirements, and cost pressures in the next year.
Being prepared for 2026 means embracing agility over certainty. No forecast is perfect, but flexible processes and resilient systems can help you quickly respond.
Scenario planning is one way forward: stress-testing operations against “what-if” disruptions to uncover weaknesses. Just as important is cross-functional alignment, ensuring that finance, operations, and compliance are working from the same source of truth and not siloed systems that create blind spots.
But readiness is not just about processes and systems. Leaders must create a culture of resilience by encouraging transparency, training, and communication.
Life sciences playbook to prepare for 2026
Leaders who rely on legacy systems and spreadsheets risk being blindsided. Those moving to NetSuite’s cloud ERP platform, extended with advanced analytics, automation, and secure infrastructure, are building resilience into their operations.
Scenario planning and financial agility
NetSuite provides real-time financial visibility and built-in planning tools so teams can model demand, cost, or supply chain shocks. Interactive dashboards support scenario analysis and guide faster decisions.
Supply chain resilience
NetSuite’s supply chain management functionality tracks inventory, lead times, and vendor performance in one place. AI-driven forecasting and automation help companies anticipate disruptions earlier and act.
Compliance and traceability
NetSuite supports audit trails, electronic signatures, and lot/batch tracking. Automated workflows reduce error, helping companies stay ready without added workload.
Data consolidation and interoperability
NetSuite consolidates financials, manufacturing, quality, and compliance data into a single platform. Connect seamlessly to lab systems, CRM, and external partners to eliminate the inefficiencies of disconnected tools.
Cybersecurity and vendor risk
NetSuite’s cloud platform provides enterprise-grade security, regular updates, and compliance with global data standards. Centralized access controls and monitoring help reduce risk across third-party relationships.
Workforce adaptability
NetSuite’s role-based dashboards, collaboration tools, and process automation reduce manual workload and free teams to focus on higher-value activities. Employees gain better visibility and better digital experiences that support retention. Read more about how NetSuite helps life sciences companies combat talent shortages.
When intelligence becomes instinct
AI already plays a role in how life science companies operate, often through embedded tools teams use every day. It reads data, processes invoices, and predicts trends behind the scenes. The question for 2026 is not whether to use AI, but how to use it well.
Used thoughtfully, AI strengthens planning, compliance, and reporting without adding complexity. NetSuite continues to expand embedded AI across finance and operations, including generative text assistance for routine tasks, AI-assisted bill capture, predictive planning, forecasting, and audit support within Compliance 360. Each capability is built into existing workflows, allowing teams to see value quickly without the need for additional tools.
What this looks like in practice:
- Planning and budgeting: machine learning surfaces trends and accelerates forecasts with clear narrative explanations that help finance teams validate assumptions.
- Payables automation: AI-assisted invoice capture reduces manual entry and flags mismatches before approval.
- Audit readiness: Compliance 360 uses AI to summarize evidence and suggest next steps, shortening audit prep time.
- Analytics: contextual insights compare segments and highlight anomalies, turning raw data into action.
AI will not replace leadership, but it will reshape how leaders think. The advantage will belong to those who use intelligence not to move faster, but to see further.
Are you ready for the next curveball?
Are your current systems set up to help you pivot, or have they left you exposed to the next curveball?
Build a more resilient, compliant, and efficient foundation with technology designed for biotech, pharmaceutical, and life sciences companies. Learn how Sikich can support your mission and increase your resilience in 2026.
This publication contains general information only and Sikich is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or any other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should you use it as a basis for any decision, action or omission that may affect you or your business. Before making any decision, taking any action or omitting an action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. In addition, this publication may contain certain content generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) language model. You acknowledge that Sikich shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by you or any person who relies on this publication.
