Deloitte Survey Highlights Life Sciences Leaders’ Growth Optimism

Life sciences executives report they are demonstrating strong confidence in their own company performance and remain focused on executing disciplined growth strategies despite continued wariness of external conditions, according to the "Deloitte 2026 Mid-year Life Sciences Outlook."

Sixty-two percent of leaders say their company outlook has improved, while only 9% feel better about the global economy. That gap suggests that life sciences companies are likely banking on execution even as they remain uncertain about external factors.

Key takeaways

• Company confidence is outpacing macro confidence: 62% of executives are more confident in their company's outlook, versus 9% who are more optimistic about the global economy.
• R&D remains the top spend, while AI and digital are gaining pace: AI and digital investments are now growing at the same rate as R&D.
• AI deployment is outpacing value outcomes: 71% report progress on AI deployment over the past six months, but only 45% report measurable performance gains.
• Partnerships are accelerating AI and innovation: 61% of leaders cite partnerships as especially important for accessing AI capabilities, and 45% emphasize partnerships for innovation and pipeline development.
• Investment posture balances growth and risk: About half (49%) of executives describe their approach as balanced, while 36% are taking a more growth-oriented approach compared to six months ago.
• Risk profiles differ by sector: Biopharma leaders cite policy and reimbursement as the biggest risks, while medtech leaders point to macroeconomic conditions and care delivery dynamics.