What Will Drug Development Look Like in 2036? - Report - MDSpire
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What Will Drug Development Look Like in 2036?

Members of The Medicine Maker’s 2026 Power List predict how AI, new modalities, integrated data, and shifting global markets will reshape the industry

  • September 3, 2026

  • 12 min

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Clinical Report: What Will Drug Development Look Like in 2036?

Overview

The future of drug development will see the merging of small molecules and biologics, driven by advancements in AI and gene editing.

Background

The landscape of drug development is rapidly changing, with emerging technologies reshaping traditional methodologies. The integration of AI and gene therapy is expected to play a significant role in this transformation over the next decade.

Data Highlights

No numerical or trial data provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • The boundary between small molecules and biologics is expected to become obsolete.
  • AI will play a critical role in all areas of drug development, including clinical trial design and patient recruitment.
  • Gene therapy approaches are anticipated to become standard in drug development for both rare and common diseases.
  • Drug development will be more integrated and less fragmented.
  • Real-time learning systems and digital twins will enable predictive design in drug development.

Clinical Implications

The shift towards personalized medicine and AI-enhanced processes may lead to more effective treatments tailored to individual patient needs.

Conclusion

The evolution of drug development is set to be driven by technological advancements.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Dajun Yang, Ascentage Pharma Group International, 2023 -- What Will Drug Development Look Like in 2036?
  2. the medicine maker — Cutting Down the Decades in Drug Development
  3. the medicine maker — Trends and Therapeutic Areas to Watch in 2025
  4. the medicine maker — Space Age Drug Development
  5. FDA approves vepdegestrant for ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer
  6. Phase Ib Trial of Bavdegalutamide (ARV-110) in Combination with Abiraterone for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
  7. From Concept to Clinic: Vepdegestrant (ARV 471) Becomes the First Approved PROTAC Drug
  8. Trending Topics & Drug Approvals: May 2026 - Prime Therapeutics - Portal
  9. 93 | BEXOBRUTIDEG (NX‐5948), A NOVEL BTK DEGRADER, DEMONSTRATES RAPID AND DURABLE CLINICAL RESPONSES IN RELAPSED/REFRACTORY CLL: UPDATED FINDINGS FROM ONGOING PHASE 1A STUDY - Danilov - 2025 - Hematological Oncology - Wiley Online Library
  10. Ubiquitin family as novel protein partners for molecular glues | npj Drug Discovery
  11. A phase 1/2 study of MRT-2359, a highly selective oral GSPT1 molecular glue degrader (MGD), in combination with enzalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) harboring AR ligand binding domain (LBD) mutations. | Journal of Clinical Oncology

Original Source(s)

What Will Drug Development Look Like in 2036?

  • September 3, 2026

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