CRB Releases Report on Life Science Industry Growth Despite Uncertainty

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 06, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- CRB, a consultancy firm specializing in life science and food & beverage facilities, has released its Horizons: Life Sciences 2026 report, which finds that manufacturers are expanding their pipelines and investing in advanced technologies despite market uncertainties. The report, based on insights from more than 400 global industry leaders, examines trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the life science industry through four key lenses: industry outlook, pipeline growth, process innovation, and the evolving relationship between people and technology.

The report highlights a clear trend of industry leaders betting on growth despite regulatory challenges, geopolitical pressures, and rising costs.

Among the report's key findings, 98% of respondents say proximity to established biopharmaceutical hubs influences facility location decisions, while 78% cite access to a skilled workforce as a top factor. This underscores the growing importance of workforce readiness in future investment strategies. Additionally, 68% of respondents expect AI, robotics, and automation to reduce the manufacturing cost of goods (COGs), signaling increasing confidence in advanced technologies as tools for improving operational efficiency and competitiveness.

However, the report also reveals that 43% of respondents have no formal plans to implement AI in regulated manufacturing environments. These results suggest that human-in-the-loop approaches, which combine AI capabilities with human oversight, may be key to broader adoption in highly regulated settings. The industry's commitment to growth and diversification is evident, with every modality tracked in the survey showing increased manufacturing interest compared to 2025. From peptides and therapeutic proteins to cell and gene therapies and ADCs, companies are expanding investments across a broad range of technologies and treatment areas.

Looking ahead, the report suggests several trends that are likely to shape the industry's trajectory in 2027 and beyond. Workforce availability is becoming as influential as geography in site selection decisions, and regulatory confidence through the adoption of human-in-the-loop AI models is expected to rise. Renewed focus on manufacturing efficiency to improve affordability and patient access is also anticipated. The continued commercialization of advanced therapies at scale is another key trend.

Big pharma is working to absorb the demand shock in peptides and proteins with substantial investments in large-scale manufacturing facilities, but capacity expansion alone won't be enough. To stay competitive, manufacturers need facilities that can revisit production and find significant ways to reduce overall cost of goods. CRB's data suggests that organizations that build trust, governance, and workforce readiness alongside technology investments may be best positioned to capture the next evolution of technological value.

The report provides a comprehensive view of the life science industry's current state and future prospects, offering valuable insights for stakeholders looking to navigate the complex landscape of innovation and growth.