Q3 2026 Highlights – Partnership for the U.S. Life Science Ecosystem (PULSE)

Sep 30, 2026 | Blog Post

PULSE continues to spotlight the unique and fundamental role of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other collaborations in supporting America’s innovative life sciences ecosystem. Read below for recent PULSE updates and commentaries.

Innovations Advanced by M&A

PULSE highlighted examples that show how M&A can connect promising treatments with the resources and expertise needed to bring them to patients at scale.

M&A, High-Risk Science and Rare Disease Innovation

Recent PULSE commentaries emphasized the importance of a predictable M&A environment to sustaining investment in high-risk science – particularly amid declining biotechnology funding and the challenges inherent in rare disease innovation.

Policies that Support the Life Sciences Ecosystem

PULSE provided comments to Senate Finance Committee Democratic staff on policy options support high-risk, early-stage life sciences innovation.

PULSE emphasized that M&A and other collaborations are a critical way that small and early-stage life sciences companies can bridge the “valley of death” – connecting their promising discoveries with the investment, expertise and infrastructure needed to bring new medicines to patients. The call to action: Congress must consider the value of M&A and other partnerships in advancing medicines to patients and encouraging continued investments in the science of tomorrow.

Looking Ahead

Earlier this year, PULSE submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), focused on ensuring that potential updates to the agencies’ Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification requirements or guidelines on collaborations among competitors preserve the critical role of M&A and other collaborations in the life sciences.

Read our comments below.

Looking ahead, PULSE is watching for next steps from the FTC and DOJ in these areas. PULSE looks forward to continued advocacy so that these competition policies avoid creating unnecessary costs, delays or barriers for innovative life sciences companies.

To learn more about PULSE, please visit www.pulseforinnovation.org.