Life sciences: Beating tariff shocks with AI-driven forecasting

A looming “major” U.S. tariff on pharmaceuticals could slice AU $1.6 billion off Australia’s vaccine, plasma, and biotech exports overnight, sending share prices tumbling and forcing local manufacturers to weigh offshore production (Australian Financial Review). 

At the same time, analysts warn that higher landed costs for imported medicines would ripple straight into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, squeezing margins, inflating PBS outlays and delaying patient access to innovative therapies (mivision). 

Beyond the headlines, the implications are stark: 

• Export demand shock — U.S. buyers may pivot to cheaper sources, stranding inventory. 

• Supply-chain re-routing — plants could shift to lower-cost jurisdictions, threatening domestic jobs and R&D clusters. 

• PBS pressure — price caps collide with rising import costs, challenging reimbursement policy and cash flow. 

• Capex & workforce risk — uncertain tariffs stall investment decisions, hampering long-term growth. 

Yet disruption also creates a flashpoint for competitive advantage. Organizations that can model tariff scenarios in minutes — not weeks — will decide whether to pivot capacity, hedge currency, pre-buy raw materials or renegotiate contracts before rivals even finish copying spreadsheets. 

In this on-demand session, Keyrus, Anaplan and SUMLOOKUP show life-science and pharma leaders how to move from fragmented spreadsheets to a single, connected-planning backbone. You’ll see: 

• Driver-based scenario modelling that instantly flows through tariff changes through demand, supply and P&L. 

• Statistical and AI/ML forecasting (PlanIQ) that blends historical data, macro indicators and tariff triggers for more accurate demand signals. 

• End-to-end demo of an integrated demand-to-supply-to-finance model — including margin protection levers and PBS impact analysis. 

• Real-world wins — how a vaccine maker cut planning cycle time 40% and a biotech improved forecast accuracy 18 % after ditching siloed tools. 

Whether you manage FP&A, supply chain or commercial strategy, you’ll leave with actionable tactics — and a complimentary one-hour planning health-check — to help your organization stay resilient, compliant and growth-focused, whatever policy winds blow next.  

See how you can future-proof your planning today!