FTI sulting(US:FCN) Globenewswire·2025-12-16 12:30Core Insights - The healthcare and life sciences industry is facing a challenging political and economic environment, with a 9% decrease in optimism compared to the previous year [1][8] - Key legislation is expected to impact supply chain and drug costs, with significant concerns about out-of-pocket costs for patients and supply chain disruptions [4] - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is identified as a crucial area for investment, with 59% of respondents planning to increase their budget for AI in 2026 [5] Political and Regulatory Challenges - Industry leaders are divided on the impact of President Trump's administration, with 51% viewing it positively and 49% negatively [4] - 64% of respondents believe the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise out-of-pocket costs for patients, while 56% anticipate increased supply chain disruptions due to the Most Favored Nation policy [4] Artificial Intelligence Development & Usage - 59% of industry leaders plan to allocate more budget to AI and large-language models in 2026 [5] - AI is expected to be implemented across various functions, including internal content development (41%), internal operations (38%), and financial analysis (37%) [5] - In communications, AI is seen as offering significant opportunities in social and digital communications (63%) and media engagement (48%) [5] Cybersecurity Concerns - 47% of respondents feel their organizations are vulnerable to cyber incidents [6] - Only 60% have a crisis communications plan in place, a decrease from 68% in 2025 [6] Transactions & Capital Markets Activity - 65% of respondents expect higher M&A activity in 2026, but only 54% are optimistic about increased IPO activity, a 7% drop from 2025 [7] - The fundraising environment is anticipated to be challenging, with only 28% believing it will be easier to raise capital in 2026 [7]