BIO 2026, Biotech Trends, and What's Next

Sara Jane Demy, CEO of Demy-Colton, spoke to BioPharm International® at the 2026 BIO International Convention (BIO 2026), where she discusses a familiar topic that came up in many conversations on the exhibit floor: funding. According to Demy, there are encouraging signs that the investment climate may finally be improving after several challenging years for the biotechnology sector.

Is biotech entering a new era of investment and growth?

Demy reflected on nearly three decades in the industry, beginning with her work at BIO in 1998, where she helped build many of the organization's signature partnering and investor events. She said those early efforts demonstrated that business development and networking have become fundamental to the conference's continued success.

Looking ahead, Demy believes mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships are beginning to restore momentum to biotech financing. As larger transactions generate returns for venture capital firms, she expects additional capital to flow back into private biotechnology companies.

"There is more M&A happening than I would have expected," she said. "When that money goes back into the hands of venture capitalists, the anticipation is that it will free up capital to invest in privately held companies."

Despite that optimism, Demy noted that access to financing remains uneven. Companies backed by experienced leadership teams and well-known investors often have an advantage, while newer companies continue to face significant challenges raising capital.

She also pointed to renewed federal investment as another encouraging development. The return of stronger funding support through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly for smaller biotechnology companies, could provide critical relief after a period in which many organizations were forced to delay or halt clinical development because of funding uncertainty.

Demy emphasized that sustained government investment has been instrumental in establishing the US as a global biotechnology leader.

"Our federal government's investment in biotechnology should be a great source of pride," she said. "It has helped us lead the world in biotech development and in bringing new medicines and treatments to patients worldwide."

As BIO 2026 demonstrated, scientific breakthroughs continue to capture attention, but for many industry leaders, ensuring companies have access to the capital needed to advance those innovations remains just as important.

BIO 2026 occurred June 22–25 in San Diego.

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About the speaker

Sara Jane Demy is CEO of Demy-Colton, a leading biotech and life sciences events organization.