What's the calendar bringing biopharma next year? Our top 5 ideas

Winter days are short and dark. December is winding down. If you're not already on a holiday break, you likely will be soon. So, it's a good time to take a minute to think about what's ahead in the new year.

That's what we do annually at FiercePharma, with a look at the trends that will be shaping the drug industry over the next 12 months. Because trends don't come in year-sized pieces, some of them aren't new--M&A, for instance.

But because change is constant, the M&A climate of 2016 won't be 2015's M&A. Nor will the pricing and payer pressure of 2016 be the same as it was this year. Sorry to say, we predict it will be just as intense, if not more so.

Read on to find out the rest of our top 5 for 2016. Mull them over. If you get a chance, let us know what trends you're watching for next year. What are your 2016 resolutions for biopharma? Give us your ideas and we'll publish the best after January 1.

After today's issue, FiercePharma and our sister pubs won't be publishing until 2016, in honor of the holidays. We'll be updating our websites with any breaking stories, however, and when we return Jan. 4, we'll bring the latest news with us. In the meantime, have a happy, healthy holiday season. -- Tracy Staton (email | Twitter)