Life sciences organisations are stepping into a new phase of global growth - expanding into new markets, adapting to shifting demand, and navigating increasing complexity, all while trying to keep innovation moving at pace.
As unpredictability is now a defining feature of the pharma and life sciences sector, organisations must be more resilient and agile — ready to respond to unexpected events that now arise with growing frequency.
The life sciences sector stands at a fascinating crossroads. On one hand, these organisations are at the forefront of progress, advancing technology and science with innovations like AI-driven drug discovery and targeted biologics. On the other, it is grappling with an expanding threat landscape that encompasses everything from state-sponsored attacks to supply chain vulnerabilities, just like other...
Globally, the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector finds itself navigating a climate defined by volatility, hard‑edged economic pressure and relentlessly shifting supply chains. In fact, this is the sector hit the hardest by the majority of external trends impacting businesses and creating barriers to growth – simultaneously. Within this environment, a majority (84%) of sector leaders maintain...
In Europe, re-shoring life sciences production became a key strategic goal for governments in the wake of Covid. However, not all of these initiatives have progressed as expected. A major new report from Forvis Mazars suggests new ways to create success stories across the continent.
For much of the past year, the UK’s medicines pricing debate has cast a long shadow over the life sciences sector. The deadlock over NHS rebates – and the uncertainty surrounding the successor to VPAG – has created unease among global pharmaceutical companies already navigating an increasingly competitive international landscape.
The pandemic, geopolitical tensions and the climate emergency have revealed the vulnerabilities of Europe’s life sciences industry. Relocating pharmaceutical and medtech production is no longer a choice but a strategic necessity to safeguard sovereignty, strengthen competitiveness and ensure long-term sustainability.
According to our C-suite barometer: life sciences and pharmaceuticals sector view, an impressive 98% of industry executives forecast growth in 2025, five percentage points above the global average.
As with many industries, the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to drive transformation. The sector is using the technology to reshape drug development, improve organisational processes, support R&D and more.
In a year marked by global uncertainty, shifting regulations, and fast-moving innovation, leaders in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sector are redefining their strategic priorities.
The UK pharmaceutical and life sciences sector is braced for a busier year in terms of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), following a quiet 2024, both in terms of deal volume and value.
We’ve measured the AI preparedness of over 300 businesses in the UK. Find out the results.
As we move into 2025, we assess the key industry trends that are set to define the year ahead. Our experts explore how businesses in the pharma and life sciences sector can effectively adapt to emerging opportunities and address the challenges that lie ahead.
Forecasts are at the heart of investment management. Understanding the world as is, even perfectly, offers little value to investors, as that knowledge is “priced in” by financial markets. Forecasts, putting a price on future events, such as earnings, economic growth, inflation, etc, are where the true value lies.
As we step into 2025, the effects of the Autumn Budget 2024 will start to take shape, leaving businesses in the pharma and life sciences sector grappling with its implications. Was it a step forward or a setback? Only time will tell as the changes take effect.
In a significant decision for the pharmaceutical industry, the UK First Tier Tribunal (FTT) has ruled in favour of Boehringer Ingelheim, allowing the company to reclaim £21 million of overpaid VAT. This ruling is a major development for suppliers of branded medicines to the NHS, offering clarity on how VAT should be treated in relation to rebate payments under the UK’s voluntary price control schemes.
Recent developments suggest that the R&D tax credit regime, established almost 25 years ago to support innovative UK businesses, is facing critical challenges. Although it has played a crucial role in driving value creation in sectors like pharmaceuticals and life sciences, its effectiveness is increasingly questioned.
In the last few weeks, we have seen both the ransomware attack on the NHS in the news, and more recently, the impact caused by a software bug in an update from a cyber security firm, causing IT outages across the globe. These two incidents, added to the traditional high risks of issues such as bribery and corruption, stress the importance of third party risk management and due diligence.
Pharma and life sciences businesses, understandably, tend to focus on the science and development of ideas and the groundbreaking therapies this might lead to. However, leveraging all available resources, such as allowances and tax reliefs, is also something these companies should be considering. While leading pharmaceutical companies have large departments dedicated to this, smaller businesses in...
Pharma and life sciences companies should act now to prevent impact on drug production capabilities and business viability.
Mazars is committed to supporting the pharma and life sciences sector; helping companies to navigate disruption, embrace innovation and grow with confidence. That’s why we recently partnered with FT Live for their Global Pharma and Biotech Summit - bringing the industry together to explore the latest trends, share top expertise and drive growth.
Nigel Layton, our Global Head of Pharma & Life Sciences and UK Head of Investigations, gives his insight on anti-bribery and corruption within the pharma and life sciences sector.
The pandemic demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that the life sciences, pharma and healthcare sectors play a critical role in society. Developing, testing and manufacturing vaccines was key to beating Covid-19.
Life sciences organisations currently have great potential to thrive in the UK however, they are also facing significant challenges which, if not managed correctly, will limit this opportunity. Hear from industry experts to learn what boards must consider to successfully govern in this post-Covid era.
Clearly, Jeremy Hunt was wanting to champion the importance of the life sciences sector to the UK’s economy. It was probably singled out more times in his speech than any other sector and a few of the reforms announced today go some way to address criticism around the competitiveness of the UK corporation tax system for this sector, particularly in advance of the rise of the headline rate to 25% from...
Amidst uncertainty in the wider economy, life sciences companies need to be better prepared to de-risk investment decisions and complete transactions. Whilst this may have a short-term impact on M&A activity, we expect deal volumes to recover by the end of the year.
The tax implications arising from the paradigm shift to remote working and virtual collaboration this past year in the pharmaceutical and life science sector are complex on different levels.
Bringing new drugs to market is risky, lengthy, complex, and costly, so pharmaceutical companies are rationalising their major R&D centres worldwide to collaborate with partners. This is where international R&D tax incentives play their part.
Pharmaceuticals, as one of the largest global industries, has a significant role to play when it comes to climate change.
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