PharmaLinea held its first-ever NutraLoop Summit this December. The virtual event featured 12 speakers from companies such as IQVIA, NHCO, Radicle Science and BeyondBrands, who provided comprehensive insights across the scientific and commercial landscapes on how to address upcoming industry trends.
“We presented this new format of a virtual event to equip brand owners with the tools, frameworks and practical know-how to act on 2026 industry trends."
"NutraLoop Summit was designed to deliver actionable, data-backed insights brand owners can apply straight into product strategy, development and go-to-market execution instead of vague predictions and generic facts obtainable online,” explained Matevž Ambrožič, PharmaLinea’s Marketing Director.
Key nutraceutical market trends for 2026 and beyond
In his keynote, Ambrožič shared five key trends for 2026. He advised brands entering the creatine market to differentiate their product beyond basic monohydrate (via source, user experience or specific positioning) owing to intense price competition.
For the cellular health category, he stressed the need for a measurable efficacy feedback loop to justify high prices and reduce churn.
Additionally, he pointed to the success of all-in-one supplements, highlighted three ingredients to watch (shatavari, colostrum and exosomes) and recommended adopting experiential marketing and routine-building strategies from beauty and fashion to embed products into consumer lifestyles.
Strategic and marketing highlights
The Marketing track featured experts from IQVIA, Pharma’5, NHCO, Headlines Promotions Inc., PharmaLinea, AB-Biotics and Free The Birds, who delivered insights on maximising market opportunities, achieving commercial success, brand building and scaling a nutraceutical business.
Amit Shukla, VP and GM, Consumer Health & MedTech Consulting Services at IQVIA, shared his global outlook: “The future of self-care is bright. However, to become (or stay) a global player, companies should not ignore NA and China besides strengthening their business across EMEA.”
Sophia Babi Berrada, Nutri’5 Business Unit Manager at Pharma’5, stressed the fundamental necessity of research: “Analyse the market deeply. Know your consumer, their needs, and what they truly want, based on data, not assumptions.”
Maud Belicchi, Head of Product Design & Portfolio Management at NHCO, detailed how data-driven pipeline design and effective life cycle management are crucial processes for sustaining a premium brand image.
A focused roundtable, featuring founders from AB-Biotics, Headlines Promotions Inc. and PharmaLinea, offered advice on scaling a nutraceutical business, emphasising the need for protecting IP, securing domains, building a valuable consumer email list and critical organisational strategies, such as hiring for complementarity and deeply trusting experts.
The track concluded with a hands-on workshop led by Lindsey Figarol (Account Director) and Matt Taylor (Design Director) of Free The Birds.
Their session focused on transforming science-led products into emotionally engaging brands through strategic storytelling and a consistent visual identity.
Scientific and regulatory insights
The Scientific track featured experts from FoodChain ID, Herbal Pharmacist Media, Radicle Science and BeyondBrands, covering essential topics including clinical substantiation, regulatory compliance and formulation science for longevity.
Jérôme Le Bloch, Head of Scientific Affairs at FoodChain ID, warned brand owners to manage risk proactively: “Anticipate regulatory risks early in development. Identify potential novel food concerns from the outset to avoid delays, redesigns, or compliance issues later in the process.”
He advised challenging manufacturer data and rigorously assessing the entire ingredient profile.
David Foreman, RPh/President at The Herbal Pharmacist, noted that botanicals are ideal for modern consumers, bridging traditional wisdom with science. He advised formulators to not only follow emerging trends but also focus on combining ingredients for synergy to reimagine nutraceutical formulations.
Pelin Thorogood, founder and Executive Chairwoman at Radicle Science, emphasised the shift in market dynamics, stating: “Proof is the new currency. Robust clinical evidence is now the primary differentiator for health and wellness products.”
She highlighted the critical role of decentralised and hybrid trials in generating real-world data and unlocking faster IP generation.
Kenn Israel, founder at BeyondBrands, detailed the "right to win" in the longevity and active ageing category.
He concluded the track by explaining that success requires the industry to transition from serving biohackers to meeting the needs of mainstream consumers by offering products that are experiential and manage objective metrics.