In 2026, drug discovery faces a higher bar Biopharma’s recovery is real, but the data show a sector that now rewards validated biology, late-stage execution, and commercial relevance.

https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/in-2026-drug-discovery-faces-a-higher-bar-16997?utm_campaign=DDN_Newsletter_Dose&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yAVWjuXEKY32ZcNe9QydBmgJyTL4i8znpMLbjAOaQQRcBp_f_YKgfxwUnDKXf9PRoeB49U712rocMUeu57uhUykhIeg&_hsmi=405284917&utm_content=405284917&utm_source=hs_email After several years of contraction, biopharma is heading into 2026 with measurable signs of recovery. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index reached a record high in late 2025, large pharmaceutical companies committed more than $36 billion to biotech acquisitions in just two months, and late-stage clinical successes have begun translating into higher valuations.