Biopharma Executives Shifted Focus Toward Europe
US policy uncertainty has driven investment interest toward European markets, according to a new executive survey.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Biotech
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BIO-Europe has published its inaugural Biopharma C-Suite Agenda Survey 2026, capturing sentiment from 81 senior industry leaders. The results highlight a growing perception that US policy uncertainty is making Europe more attractive for building and partnering.
Why it matters
The survey underscores how macroeconomic and regulatory shifts are causing biopharma leaders to rebalance their operations between established capital markets and alternative regional hubs. This realignment comes as the industry attempts to navigate persistent investor risk aversion while projecting growth in M&A activity.
Europe currently scores 2.8 out of 5 as a dealmaking hub in the survey. While 57% of respondents anticipate AI will improve R&D productivity over the next 12-24 months, 22% believe the current impact of AI in the sector is overstated.
The players
BIO-Europe
An international organization that hosts large-scale biopharma partnering and dealmaking conferences.
The details
The survey compiled insights from 81 executives, including 50 CEOs, to assess the industry climate. Respondents identified investor risk aversion as a primary constraint for 79% of the group, while 75% anticipate an increase in M&A appetite over the next 12 months. Companies are prioritizing growth capital, with 51% of firms planning to raise funds in the near term as they monitor regional attractiveness.
Timeline
October 7, 2026: BIO-Europe published the 2026 Biopharma C-Suite Agenda Survey.
November 9-11, 2026: The BIO-Europe 2026 conference takes place in Cologne.
2026-2027: Projected period for anticipated oncology and ADC investment interest.
The Tech Race
The findings mark a departure from the historical assumption that the US remains the singular global destination for biopharma expansion. Leaders are now actively benchmarking European infrastructure against US regulatory volatility as they plan their 2026-2027 investment cycles.
Executives planning capital raises in the coming year should expect increased competition for funding as 69% of industry leaders anticipate better access to capital. The shift toward Europe may necessitate updates to corporate partnering workflows for firms currently reliant on US-centric strategies.
The takeaway
The industry is betting on a rebound in dealmaking, with 75% of leaders forecasting higher M&A activity within 12 months. Readers should monitor the upcoming November 2026 conference in Cologne for official signals on how oncology and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) investment strategies evolve.
Further reading
For more on industry trends and developments, visit our Biotech section.
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