INSIGHTS

What does it take to build a consulting partnership that truly adapts to the realities of life sciences? In this episode of The Consulting Pulse, Spinnaker co-founder Dane Callow discusses how founder-led consulting, deep domain expertise, and senior-level engagement differentiate Spinnaker in a crowded market—helping life sciences companies navigate evolving operations, finance, and growth challenges.

Amid rapid scientific progress, familiar targets continue to capture momentum while promising alternatives struggle for visibility. A quiet cognitive bias shapes how opportunities are assessed and prioritized. For companies developing novel science, recognizing this pattern—and designing strategies that anticipate and counter it—will be essential to advancing differentiated programs in a landscape defined by precedent.

As 2025 ends, biopharma dealmaking is rebounding on new terms. Q3 saw $30.8 billion in transactions led by Merck and Genmab, signaling renewed confidence amid tighter capital and faster diligence cycles. Today, commercial clarity drives valuation as much as science. At Spinnaker, we help leadership teams translate innovation into market strategy, quantify value, and compete effectively in a shifting deal landscape.

s Q4 begins, biopharma strategic planning takes center stage. What was once a quarter for cleanup is now a critical reset period for 2026. Investor pressure, pricing reform, transparency mandates, and tariff risks are reshaping commercial priorities. For leadership teams, the challenge is clear: recalibrate forecasts, refine launch plans, and align strategy to today’s realities before competitors pull ahead.

Psychiatry is emerging as the most capital-efficient segment in CNS, attracting major biopharma investment with late-phase assets, validated endpoints, and scalable commercial models. As neurodegeneration remains high-risk, psychiatry offers near-term ROI and strategic fit across the value chain.

Should biopharma continue prioritizing IOs, or shift to TTs and next-generation approaches like ADCs, radiopharma, and cytokine-based IO?