J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference 2026: Key predictions and expected themes

JPM 2026 is expected to double‑down on AI, capital discipline, and late‑stage “de‑risked” assets, with oncology, neuro and AI‑enabled platforms at the center of the narrative.​

1. AI everywhere, but judged on ROI
Conference materials and satellite briefings flag AI‑driven R&D, diagnostics, and operationsas a defining theme, not a side track.​

VCs expect 2026 funding to favor AI that clearly cuts cost, boosts productivity, or enables new economics (e.g. payor‑facing analytics, revenue‑cycle and admin AI, ambient documentation) rather than generic “AI for X” point tools.​

2. Therapeutic focus: oncology, neuro, hematology

JPM 2026 agendas and attendee guides emphasize oncology, neuropsychiatry/neurology, and hematology as the leading therapeutic spotlight areas.​

Expect significant attention to late‑stage and commercial‑stage assets in complex cancers, schizophrenia/bipolar, neurodegeneration, and rare hematologic diseases, often paired with biomarker and companion diagnostic plays.​

3. Biotech and “TechBio” reset, not rebound

Preview pieces suggest a continued bifurcation: high‑quality, data‑rich “TechBio” platforms and validated assets re‑rate, while sub‑scale discovery stories struggle to raise on acceptable terms.​

Gene/cell therapy, precision oncology, and platform biotechs will be framed around capital efficiency, partnering, and risk‑sharing structures rather than pure “moonshot” narratives.​

4. Digital health, medtech and IPO/M&A dynamics

Digital health and medtech sessions are expected to focus on:

Profitability and unit‑economic proof for care‑delivery and virtual models.

Device‑plus‑software and wearable / monitoring platforms with real‑world data moats.​

2026 is widely framed as a “clearing event” year: a thin IPO window with a handful of scaled, profitable issuers, alongside more take‑privates, roll‑ups and strategic acquisitions, especially in AI and tech‑enabled services.​

5. Policy, regulation and trust in AI

Agendas and commentary highlight regulatory and policy panels around FDA modernization, AI/ML frameworks, privacy, and global market access as core content rather than side events.​

Expect heavy discussion of algorithmic bias, safety, explainability, and reimbursement for AI‑enabled products, as payors and regulators push for demonstrable clinical and economic value.​

6. Health system strategy and care models

Post‑2025 takeaways indicate providers coming into JPM 2026 focused on:

Shifting volume to outpatient, home‑based and lower‑cost settings.

Using AI, automation and new contracting models to manage labor, margin pressure and chronic care at scale.​

Partnerships between big tech, payors, and IDNs around data, AI and “care‑anywhere” models are expected to be key deal and JV storylines during the week.

https://www.jpmorgan.com/about-us/events-conferences/health-care-conference