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By   Salehin Rais, Michael J. Signore, Maggie Brady

Health care’s next chapter: Opportunities in an era of transformation

The outlook for health care is improving, fueled by innovation across several key subsectors.

February 2026, From the Field

Key Insights
  • The outlook for health care is improving, fueled by innovation across biotech, life science tools and diagnostics, and managed care and distributors.
  • Rigorous research and a deep understanding of scientific advancements are essential for navigating the sector’s complexity.
  • We believe active management remains critical to identifying leading companies and emerging risks across the core subsectors.

Health care is firmly in a new era of innovation, driven by ongoing advancements across biotech, life science tools and diagnostics, and managed care and distributors. These developments are steadily improving the sector’s prospects, creating compelling opportunities for investors. As it emerges from post‑pandemic challenges, and despite policy uncertainty and cost pressures, the overall outlook for health care looks increasingly favorable.

"Investors in this space will need to rely on rigorous research and a deep understanding of the scientific developments shaping innovation."
Sal Rais, Portfolio Manager

During broad market and technology sector sell‑offs, health care stocks historically have provided countercyclical exposure, typically offering more attractive valuations compared with the overall market. However, the sector’s inherent complexity makes thoughtful stock selection more important than ever. Investors in this space will need to rely on rigorous research and a deep understanding of the scientific developments shaping innovation.

Direct engagement with company management can also provide valuable insight into the forces shaping the health care sector. At the recent Buy-Side Healthcare CEO Summit in Q4 2025, our team met with industry leaders to discuss the latest trends and challenges. This white paper explores key themes from those discussions and examines what may lie ahead for the sector.

Biotech and pharmaceuticals outperformed the wider market in 2025

(Fig. 1)

This line graph shows how the drug industry outperformed the wider market in 2025.

As of December 31, 2025.
Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future performance. Index performance is for illustrative purposes only and is not indicative of any specific investment. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Biotech is represented by the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. Pharma is represented by the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index. S&P 500 is the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index.
Source: T. Rowe Price calculations using data from FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

This line graph shows how the drug industry outperformed the wider market in 2025. close

Biotech and pharmaceuticals: From discovery to next‑generation therapies 

Medicines are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care. However, biotech and pharmaceutical companies face considerable research and development risks when developing new medicines, with only 10% to 15% of drugs ultimately reaching the market. Scientific progress has led to a deeper understanding of different diseases, enabling researchers to identify novel classes of medicines that can treat disorders more effectively.

At the same time, many leading large-cap pharmaceutical companies are entering the most significant patent expiry period the space has ever seen, with around USD 300 billion in mature drugs due to come off patent by 2030.1 This has accelerated mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across small- and mid-cap biotech companies throughout 2025 (see Figure 3), with around USD 138 billion in deal activity during the year.2 These developments have allowed biotech to meaningfully outperform after several years of lackluster performance.3

We expect this trend to continue. We believe there is opportunity in small- and mid‑cap biotech companies relative to large‑cap pharmaceuticals and in therapeutics such as obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and cell therapies/genetic medicines. Outcomes for biotech companies are largely binary, with significant dispersion. This requires deep scientific diligence of each company’s drug development pipeline.

Small- and mid-cap biotech M&A throughout 2025*

(Fig. 2) M&A accelerated last year ahead of major patent expiry period

2025 Company Acquirer Total Equity Value (USD)
December Amicus Therapeutics1 BioMarin Pharmaceutical 4.8B
December Applied Pharma Research1 Cycle Pharmaceuticals 71M
November Cidara Therapeutics Merck 9.2B
November Mersana Therapeutics DayOne 285M
October Avidity Biosciences1 Novartis 12B
October Adverum Biotechnologies Eli Lilly and Co 206M
October Avadel Pharmaceuticals1 Alkermes 2.4B
October Astria Therapeutics Biocryst Pharmaceuticals 920M
October Akero Therapeutics Novo Nordisk 5.2B
September Merus Genmab 8B
September Metsera Pfizer 9.2B
September 89bio Roche 3.5B
September Tourmaline Bio Novartis 1.4B
August scPharmaceuticals Mannkind 360M
August Y-mAbs SERB Pharmaceuticals 412M
July Verona Pharma Merck 10B
June Verve Therapeutics Eli Lilly 1.3B
June Sage Therapeutics Supernus Pharmaceuticals 795M
June CureVac BioNTech 1.3B
June Blueprint Medicines Sanofi 9.5B
May Vigil Sanofi 588M
May Inozyme BioMarin 270M
April Regulus Therapeutics Novartis 1.7B
April SpringWorks Therapeutics Merck KGaA 3.9B
March 2seventy bio Bristol Myers Squibb 286M
March Checkpoint Therapeutics Sun Pharma 415M
March Chimerix Jazz Pharmaceuticals 935M
January Intra-Cellular Therapies Johnson & Johnson 14.6B

Source: T. Rowe Price analysis. B=Billion. M=Million.
* All figures are from company press releases and are estimates. Total Equity Value includes the upfront cost (immediate cash or stock payment to shareholders of the target company assuming a 100% acquisition of fully diluted shares) plus any Contingent Value Rights (estimated, risk-adjusted value of potential future milestone payments, if included as part of a given deal). Actual values may be higher or lower. Does not reflect all biotech M&A for 2025. Excludes private company transactions.
1 As of the end of January 2026, these transactions are not yet complete.
Please refer to the Appendix at the end for sources.


The evolution of GLP-1s: Weight loss drugs continue to advance

(Fig. 3)

This graphic, with text and illustrations, shows how GLP-1 drugs have evolved.
This graphic, with text and illustrations, shows how GLP-1 drugs have evolved. close

Life science tools and diagnostics: Wave of new medicines benefits bioproduction

We believe many companies in the life sciences and diagnostics subsectors are well positioned to benefit indirectly from the potential wave of new medicines described in Figure 4. This space is filled with attractive-earnings per share potential “compounder” companies that have fallen out of favor over the last three years, as well as smaller innovative businesses in emerging diagnostic and therapeutic areas.

A key advantage of the life science tools and diagnostics space is that investors do not have to look for the biotech or drug class “winner.” The drug development innovation cycle, combined with aging demographics, is resulting in improving treatments, increased research activity, and higher prescription drug volumes. Together, these factors point to an accelerating organic growth trajectory in the near term and an industry that could grow well above gross domestic product over the long term.

Innovation drives progress across key therapeutic biotech categories

(Fig. 4)

Obesity
  • Obesity remains on track to become the largest drug category ever.
  • Next-generation therapies target greater weight loss, better muscle retention, and more convenience for patients.
  • The first oral GLP-1 small molecule is expected in 2026, offering increased flexibility for patients. Long-acting monthly injectables are progressing and will also boost convenience and extended treatment duration.
  • Amylin is emerging as a new obesity target, with fewer side effects and similar weight loss to GLP-1s and the potential for combination treatment.
  • We believe companies with the broadest range of offerings will be able to treat more patients globally and extend the duration of therapy.

Alzheimer’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s is an emerging drug category with significant long-term growth potential.
  • The biggest opportunity lies in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Blood-based diagnostic tests could help with earlier and more convenient diagnosis, while the first at-home subcutaneous treatment recently became available.
  • Long clinical trials for Alzheimer’s prevention means early winners should have a significant advantage.
Cell therapy and genetic medicines 
  • Cell therapy is expanding beyond oncology into immunology, with unprecedented efficacy across both categories.
  • Winners in cell therapy will be able to offer the safest and most effective treatments, lower manufacturing costs, and broader availability.
  • Genetic medicines are moving from rare diseases into more prevalent conditions.
  • Leaders in this field will be companies that have the technology to go after new targets (e.g. muscles, the brain) and offer convenient dosing or at-home administration.


As the U.S. 75+ population grows, prescription drug and health care demand could rise

(Fig. 5) Annual estimated growth in total U.S. population age 75+

This bar chart shows the estimated annual growth of the total U.S. population age 75+.

YoY = Year-over-Year. E = Estimates by T. Rowe Price.
2023 data source: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Single Year of Age and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 (NC_EST2023_SYASEXN), U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Release date: June 2024. The figures are developed from a base that integrates the 2020 Census, Vintage 2020 estimates, and 2020 Demographic Analysis estimates, adding births to, subtracting deaths from, and adding net migration to, the April 1, 2020 estimates base. For additional methodology and/or current census data, visit census.gov.
2024–2034 data source: Estimates by T. Rowe Price using Census Bureau data and other historical data. See end disclosure on economic and demographic estimates for additional information.
Actual future outcomes may differ materially from estimates and data shown is subject to change.

This bar chart shows the estimated annual growth of the total U.S. population age 75+. close

Macro headwinds abating

After the spate of research activity and funding during the pandemic, the life sciences sector experienced a cyclical downturn for the first time, sparking investor confusion and uncertainty. This was coupled with turmoil in the academic and government end market. The pharmaceutical sector has also faced drug‑pricing uncertainty and the implementation of tariffs, which have weighed on research and new project activity.

In 2026 and beyond, however, the outlook looks positive. There is still significant support for academic and government research spending, while many pharmaceutical companies have made agreements with the U.S. administration on future drug pricing and tariffs. This should allow them to get back to business as usual and could even act as a tailwind to the life sciences sector as new facilities and production lines are brought online in the U.S. These agreements have instilled more confidence in the market overall, which has driven biotech valuations higher over the last 12 months. Increased biotech funding activity bodes well for research and development spending.

“...bioproduction is benefiting from the wave of new medicines...”
Mike Signore, Portfolio Manager

In life science tools and diagnostics, bioproduction (the use of living cells to product commercial products) is benefiting from the wave of new medicines—so companies in this space should be well positioned. In our view, an extended investment horizon is necessary to enable investors to fully capture the current tailwinds.

Life science tools and diagnostics sector to benefit from innovation surge as patent cliff approaches

(Fig. 6)

Innovation continues, despite muted organic growth
  • Underlying innovation has appeared to accelerate.
  • Complexity of researching, manufacturing, and delivering new medicines has continued to increase.
  • Aging demographics act as a tailwind to increasing volumes of these medicines.
  • Drug discovery process is a compelling use case for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) longer term.
Biosimilars: Loss of patent to boost drug volumes
  • The patent cliff means pharmaceutical and biotech companies will lean more on internal pipelines and pursue external opportunities.
  • A wave of generic competition will drive down prices and expand access to these medications.
  • This could result in an increase in drug volumes—an important driver for companies with exposure to bioproduction activities.
China’s biotech sector is growing
  • China has shifted from being a strong growth driver for the sector to a market that is now expected to be neutral at best over the next three to five years.
  • Activity is likely to increase as China continues to develop its own thriving biotechnology ecosystem and U.S. companies become more open to licensing drug molecules from Chinese firms.
  • Government stimulus activity looks set to continue. A stronger rebound in growth remains a plausible scenario.
Biotech funding and M&A
  • 2025 saw a noticeable uptick in M&A activity among large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, driven by clarity around future drug pricing and tariffs.
  • These companies are now focused on addressing major “loss of exclusivity” issues over the next five years.
  • This cycle of M&A is only beginning and should provide valuation support for the sector while attracting new funding. Improved funding could provide a tailwind for increased research and clinical trial activity.

Managed care: Attractive valuations and a multiyear earnings recovery, while structural long-term tailwinds remain intact

After a few tough years, we think the managed‑care space is filled with stocks that are underearning and trading at attractive relative valuations. We see opportunities across large-, mid-, and small-cap health insurers for outsized earnings growth as secular tailwinds continue and policy headwinds abate.

From 2015 through 2023, managed care was one of the best-performing S&P healthcare subsectors, with enrollment growth fueled by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an aging population, pricing power, and government policy stability. However, over the last two years, managed‑care stocks have significantly underperformed.4 Health insurers faced earnings pressure following post-pandemic utilization and major government program changes across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the ACA.

As a result, industry margins for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the ACA exchanges are now breakeven or negative, and sector valuations are below historical long-term averages as the market remains unconvinced of a return to margin stability.

Investing in these stocks now requires a contrarian mindset. In our view, while it is impossible to predict the exact timing of margin improvement, break‑even or negative margins are not sustainable for this industry over the long term.

“Amid the increased complexity across biotech innovation, the specialty drug supply chain is a key area of focus.”
Maggie Brady, Investment Analyst

We believe the focus should be on the core tenets that make managed‑care stocks attractive, and those remain intact. Health insurers have typically been high return on equity businesses with pricing power and an ability to redesign benefits on an annual basis. They benefit from increasing health care spend on drugs and procedures and Americans’ need to purchase health insurance. We also think the long-term structural shift toward private sector benefit administration and away from government‑administered plans will continue.

The rise of specialty drug distribution
Amid the increased complexity across biotech innovation, the specialty drug supply chain is a key area of focus. We think the outlook is compelling for companies with market‑leading positions in specialty oncology drug distribution and dispensing.

We believe this dynamic should continue as pharmaceutical companies accelerate their focus on the specialty drug pipeline.

Specialty drugs are incredibly complex, requiring highly specific manufacturing and handling processes, intensive patient monitoring, and careful dispensing. These drugs also need to be distributed and dispensed to high-acuity patients at speed. The innovation presents a compelling opportunity for health care services companies that have market‑leading positions in specialty drug distribution via scaled physical infrastructure, manufacturer partnerships, and physician relationships.

Within specialty drug distribution, oncology is an area where drug spend is growing fast. In addition to the innovation, the patent cliff for oncology biologics and branded orals should provide an incremental tailwind to key players focused on this area of the supply chain.

Conclusion: Complex dynamics drive opportunities, but risks remain

The health care sector’s next era will likely be defined by ongoing innovation and evolving market dynamics. While each key subsector faces distinct challenges and uncertainties, these are balanced by differentiated opportunities shaped by structural trends and scientific advances. In our view, a thoughtful, active approach is essential for navigating this complex health care landscape—working to pinpoint the standout companies while keeping track of emerging risks and pressure points.

 

Appendix

Source information for Fig. 2

  • biomarin.com/news/press-releases/biomarin-to-acquire-amicus-therapeutics-for-4-8-billion-expanding-position-as-a-leader-in-rare-diseases-accelerating-revenue-growth-and-strengthening-financial-outlook/
  • appliedtherapeutics.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/cycle-pharmaceuticals-acquire-applied-therapeutics
  • merck.com/news/merck-to-acquire-cidara-therapeutics-inc-diversifying-its-portfolio-to-include-late-phase-antiviral-agent/
  • ir.mersana.com/news-releases/news-release-details/day-one-biopharmaceuticals-acquire-mersana-therapeutics
  • novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-agrees-acquire-avidity-biosciences-innovator-rna-therapeutics-strengthening-its-late-stage-neuroscience-pipeline
  • investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-and-adverum-announce-expiration-and-completion-adverum
  • investors.avadel.com/news-releases/news-release-details/alkermes-plc-announces-increased-offer-acquire-avadel
  • ir.biocryst.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biocryst-acquire-astria-therapeutics-strengthening-presence-hae
  • akerotx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pr251209-akero-closing.pdf
  • ir.genmab.com/news-releases/news-release-details/genmab-acquire-merus-expanding-late-stage-pipeline-and
  • pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-completes-acquisition-metsera
  • ir.89bio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/89bio-inc-announces-agreement-be-acquired-roche
  • ir.tourmalinebio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tourmaline-bio-enters-agreement-be-acquired-novartis-ag
  • investors.mannkindcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/mannkind-acquire-scpharmaceuticals-accelerating-revenue-growth
  • ir.ymabs.com/news-releases/news-release-details/serb-pharmaceuticals-agrees-acquire-y-mabs-therapeutics-0
  • merck.com/news/merck-to-acquire-verona-pharma-expanding-its-portfolio-to-include-ohtuvayre-ensifentrine-a-first-in-class-copd-maintenance-treatment-for-adults-and-expected-to-drive-growth-into-the-next-dec/
  • investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-acquire-verve-therapeutics-advance-one-time-treatments
  • ir.supernus.com/news-releases/news-release-details/supernus-pharmaceuticals-acquire-sage-therapeutics-strengthening
  • curevac.com/en/biontech-announces-strategic-transaction-to-acquire-curevac-in-public-exchange-offer/
  • sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2025/2025-06-02-05-00-00-3091541
  • sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2025/2025-05-21-23-15-31-3086232
  • biomarin.com/news/press-releases/biomarin-strengthens-enzyme-therapy-business-with-acquisition-of-inozyme-pharma/
  • novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-acquire-regulus-therapeutics-and-farabursen-investigational-microrna-inhibitor-treat-adpkd-most-common-genetic-cause-renal-failure
  • news.springworkstx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/merck-kgaa-darmstadt-germany-acquire-springworks-therapeutics
  • reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bristol-myers-acquires-cell-therapy-partner-2seventy-bio-about-286-million-2025-03-11/
  • fortressbiotech.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/692/sun-pharma-to-acquire-checkpoint-therapeutics
  • investor.jazzpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jazz-pharmaceuticals-completes-acquisition-chimerix
  • investor.jnj.com/investor-news/news-details/2025/Johnson--Johnson-Strengthens-Neuroscience-Leadership-with-Acquisition-of-Intra-Cellular-Therapies-Inc/default.aspx
Salehin Rais Investment Analyst Michael J. Signore Co-Portfolio Manager Maggie Brady Investment Analyst

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Mar 09, 2026

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1 Evaluate, “Portfolio Tactics to Scale the $300bn Patent Cliff,” October 13, 2025.

2 J.P. Morgan, biopharma and medtech activity in Q4 2025, as of January 7, 2026.

3 Based on the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. As of January 2026. Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results.

4 FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

T. Rowe Price cautions that economic or demographic estimates and forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those anticipated in estimates and forward‑looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Estimated information presented herein is shown for illustrative, informational purposes only. Any historical data used as a basis for analysis are based on information gathered by T. Rowe Price and from third-party sources and have not been verified. Forecasts are based on subjective estimates about market environments that may never occur. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. T. Rowe Price assumes no duty to, and does not undertake to, update forward-looking statements.

Risk Considerations: Health sciences firms are often dependent on government funding and regulation and are vulnerable to product liability lawsuits and competition from low‑cost generic product. Focusing investments in specific industries or sectors make investments more susceptible to adverse developments affecting those industries and sectors than a more broadly diversified investment.

Small and mid-cap stocks have generally been more volatile in price than large-cap stocks. International investments can be riskier than U.S. investments due to the adverse effects of currency exchange rates, differences in market structure and liquidity, as well as specific country, regional, and economic developments. These risks are generally greater for investments in emerging markets. Active investing may have higher costs than passive investing and may underperform the broad market or passive peers with similar objectives.

Additional Disclosures

For U.S. investors, visit troweprice.com/glossary for definitions of financial terms.

Financial data and analytics provider FactSet. Copyright 2026 FactSet. All Rights Reserved.

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Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal.

Information presented has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness. The views contained herein are those of the author(s), are as of February 2026, are subject to change, and may differ from the views of other T. Rowe Price Group companies and/or associates. Under no circumstances should the material, in whole or in part, be copied or redistributed without consent from T. Rowe Price.

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