Clarivate Identifies Five Medtech Trends Set to Redefine Growth Opportunities in 2026
New Medtech Trends to Watch report highlights market shifts, care delivery changes and competitive dynamics poised to reshape medtech strategy
London, U.K. May 13, 2026. Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced the release of its annual Medtech Trends to Watch 2026 report, identifying five major trends expected to influence medtech growth, investment and competitive positioning in 2026. The report highlights the expansion of outpatient care, the accelerating impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies, pricing disruption in Mainland China and the rise of platform-based competition.
As medtech companies navigate rising cost pressures, shifting care pathways and increasing demands for operational resilience, the report highlights the speed and scale of change across the industry. Drawing on Clarivate expertise in market intelligence, policy and competitive analysis, Medtech Trends to Watch 2026 supports commercial, product and investment decision-making by identifying where disruption is accelerating and where new opportunities are emerging.
Andrew Lee, Vice President, Medtech, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Clarivate said: ”In 2026, medtech leaders will need to navigate a more complex operating environment, where shifts in care delivery, pricing pressure and platform-based competition are reshaping how companies grow, compete and differentiate. Drawing on Clarivate proprietary datasets and analytics, paired with our in-house medtech expertise, Medtech Trends to Watch 2026 helps customers identify the forces most likely to influence demand, investment priorities and competitive positioning, so they can make smarter decisions in a rapidly changing market.”
The five Medtech Trends to Watch in 2026, include:
- Mainland China’s sixth round of national Volume‑Based Procurement (VBP) marks a new phase in medical device pricing pressure—accelerating price compression, favoring domestic competitors and reshaping global competitive dynamics across multiple device categories.
- Ongoing expansion of outpatient and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) care, reinforced in the U.S. by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) updates, continues to shift procedures away from inpatient settings, reflecting a broader global move toward lower‑acuity sites of care.
- Evolving global trade and geopolitical dynamics, including tariffs, supply chain disruption and regional manufacturing shifts, are increasing cost and operational complexity in 2026, pushing medtech companies to rethink production, sourcing and long-term resilience.
- Rapid adoption of GLP‑1 therapies is reshaping obesity and care pathways, influencing patient behavior and procedural demand as pharmaceutical uptake continues to outpace bariatric surgery volumes in key markets.
- Platform‑based competition enabled by robotics, advanced imaging and digital workflows is accelerating the shift from standalone products to integrated solutions that strengthen customer loyalty and redefine differentiation in medtech.
Access the full Medtech Trends to Watch 2026 report from Clarivate.
For more Medtech Trends to Watch and other Medtech updates and analyses throughout the year, visit the Medtech Resource Center and follow Clarivate for Life Sciences & Healthcare on LinkedIn and X. Join the conversation, using #MedtechTrendsToWatch2026.
To learn more about how Clarivate helps medtech companies evaluate market shifts, refine commercialization strategies and answer complex business questions using actionable insights across the R&D and commercialization lifecycle, visit Medtech Intelligence Solutions.
Methodology
To identify this year’s Medtech Trends to Watch, Clarivate drew from the expertise of over 40 analysts, covering over 80 medical device markets across more than 50 countries globally, and integrated MedTech intelligence datasets that span the R&D and commercialization life cycle, along with other industry sources, including company press releases, financial filings and peer-reviewed publications. Clarivate proprietary data and solutions used include Medtech 360, commercial analytics (DRG Commercial Analytics 360 and EU Procedure Finder), tracking tools (Marketrack/PriceTrack), and Cortellis Competitive Intelligence and Cortellis Deals Intelligence and other real-world data analyses, including claims data and government data analytics.
About Clarivate
Clarivate is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com
Media Contact:
Luna Ivkovic
External Communications, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Clarivate
