NLS SwedenBIO

SwedenBIO’s International Director, Marjo Puumalainen, shares her insights on emerging life science trends based on her many interactions from across the industry, including at JPM. The Nordic life science industry, she notes, is well positioned to take full advantage of several of these trends.  

SwedenBIO recently released our new Swedish Drug Discovery and Development Pipeline Report 2026 at NLSDays in Gothenburg. This fourteenth edition once again shows that Swedish drug development remains on a stable trajectory. Fluctuations in the number of drug-developing companies and in the number or type of projects are minimal compared to our report from three years ago.

Many times in life, as in politics and business, bad events lead to painful change and, eventually, a better situation. While the Trump administration’s erratic tariff war has rattled the European life science industry, it might ultimately be the calamity that brings about a more resilient industry in the end.

One of the most compelling trends in the life science sector today is the evolving role of data in decision-making processes. Life science companies are harnessing big data in ways that were once unimaginable, driven by technological advancements like AI, machine learning, and digital transformation. But as we look beyond 2025, it’s crucial to ask: How can these vast data resources be used to create actionable insights that lead to real-world impact? 

As always, J.P. Morgan (JPM) kicks off the year as the key event for life science executives to exchange insights and predict the direction of the industry.

The life science innovation gap between the EU and its global competitors continues to widen while the number of EU regulations affecting the industry is rising. Are we heading in the right direction?