Business decisions &
5 Observations
Real Estate Conseqences
The following summarises key strategies companies across the Asia Pacific use in response to the growing challenges in the market.
APAC Life Sciences Insights
© 2026 CBRE, Inc.
Landscape continues to remain dynamic
Location strategy in flux
3 Observations
Landscape continues to remain dynamic
© 2026 CBRE, Inc.
APAC Life Sciences Insights
Business decisions & real estate consequences
Outsourcing to CDO/CMO accelerates as companies protect capital and shorten time to market
M&A activity continues to reshape portfolios
Duality in investment tracks to serve US and China demand
"Plus 1" strategies much talked-about but evidence is more anecdotal than structural
Continued push for cost rationalisation as a standing mandate
Tap a point on the line
Outsourcing to CDO/CMO accelerates as companies protect capital and shorten time to market
"Plus 1" strategies much talked-about but evidence is more anecdotal than structural
M&A activity continues to reshape portfolios
Continued push for cost rationalisation as a standing mandate
Duality in investment tracks to serve US and China demand
Location strategy in flux
© 2026 CBRE, Inc.
APAC Life Sciences Insights
Different talent pool (Al supporting & accelerating R&D) drives alternative locations regionally
War for talent drives alternative locations locally
Search for regional alternatives through near- and offshoring, where viability rests on balancing cost savings against talent compatibility:
Combining market intel and pipeline data from
CBRE clients, aggregated and anonymised.
These observations are based on conversations with stakeholders from various Life Science companies across the Asia Pacific and as evidenced by transaction volumes per transaction type over the last two years alongside pipeline for 2026-2028.
Search for regional alternatives through near- and offshoring, where viability rests on balancing cost savings against talent compatibility:
War for talent drives alternative locations locally
Different talent pool (Al supporting & accelerating R&D) drives alternative locations regionally
"Make Side" remains more conservative than "Administrative side"
i.
Flexibility has shifted from a "nice to have" previously, to a "must have" now
ii.
Make Side
Administrative Side
More conservative
More open to alternatives
Tap to flip
NOW
Must have
PREVIOUSLY
Nice to have
NOW
Must have
PREVIOUSLY
Nice to have