Bridge Specialty Group holds market recognition that enables us to connect retail partners with tailored insurance solutions, and we do that through our specific practice groups including Property, Casualty, Environmental, Executive Risk, Farm & Ranch, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Personal Lines, Public Entity, Transportation and Workers’ Compensation.
As we continue to expand our products and capabilities through these practice groups, we’re excited to highlight our Life Sciences Practice Group, led by Illana Goldfinger.
Life sciences is one of the most complex—and fascinating—sectors in the insurance industry. It’s an arena defined by rapid innovation, evolving risk, global collaboration and deeply human outcomes. Our life sciences specialists understand the complex risks facing companies involved in clinical trials, biotechnology, medical product manufacturing and related disciplines. Everything from early-stage research and development through commercialization.
Illana Goldfinger’s experience and vision guides our Life Sciences Practice Group
Illana Goldfinger’s career has been shaped by deep expertise, relentless curiosity and a genuine passion for educating others about this interesting sector.
She brings decades of hands‑on experience, specialized knowledge and an unmatched global perspective to this role, making her a trusted resource for brokers, carriers and clients alike.
Her path into insurance was anything but traditional—and that’s part of what makes her such a compelling leader. She entered the industry through an administrative role at International Program Managers, where she quickly became the company’s in‑house technology expert before moving into account management and eventually life sciences specialization. Over more than 20 years—and through multiple acquisitions—Illana has continually evolved her role while remaining focused on solving complex coverage challenges.
“The fun part of insurance is getting creative,” she said. “When coverage isn’t straightforward, that’s when we dig in and look for a solution.”
That problem‑solving mindset in the life sciences market continues to define her approach today.
A strong global perspective
One of Illana’s most distinctive strengths is her long‑standing work with foreign life sciences companies and international brokers. From early in her career, she helped build and maintain relationships across Europe, Israel and beyond—connections that still drive business today.
She sees enormous strategic value in Bridge Specialty Group’s global footprint and believes it creates a powerful competitive advantage:
“What really sets us apart is our ability to be the go‑to resource for foreign life sciences companies entering the U.S. When a company has a U.S. entity, they come to me. Because we already have offices overseas, we can collaborate seamlessly with those teams and identify the right brokers to connect with. That global reach lets us support clients in a way many others simply can’t.”
This international lens allows Illana to navigate differences in regulatory frameworks, coverage availability and underwriting comfort—particularly around U.S. exposures like EPL, clinical trials and product liability that often can’t be placed in a company’s home country.
A passion for education and collaboration
Illana’s experience serves the strength of the Life Sciences practice group, and if there’s one theme that runs consistently through her work, it’s her dedication to education. She openly acknowledges that life sciences can feel unfamiliar—or even intimidating—for those not immersed in it every day, and she sees education as the key to elevating the entire distribution channel. She frequently co‑brokers accounts and joins client meetings so retail partners can confidently guide their clients, even when risks are nuanced or highly specialized. Illana shared:
“I’m deeply passionate about education, especially when it comes to life sciences. Helping others understand this space is something I genuinely enjoy,” Illana shared. “I see my role as an extension of the broker’s team—providing the expertise that helps them speak confidently and knowledgeably with their clients.”
Identifying life sciences trends in a rapidly evolving sector
Life sciences is anything but static—and Illana thrives on staying ahead of what’s next. She closely tracks emerging therapies, regulatory shifts, litigation patterns and market responses to understand how risk is evolving.
According to Illana, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for risk management and insurance in the life sciences sector. Innovation is accelerating, and so are the exposures that insurers and insureds must navigate.
Some key areas to watch in 2026 are:
- Commercialization of advanced therapies
Gene and cell therapies, precision medicine and combination products are driving heightened scrutiny around products liability, clinical trial coverage and long-tail claims. - Increased regulatory oversight
Evolving global regulations and enforcement activity are impacting policy wording, exclusions and underwriting appetite—particularly for accelerated approvals and post-market surveillance. - AI and digital health risk
AI-driven R&D, software as a medical device and data-heavy platforms are blurring traditional coverage lines, raising questions around cyber, professional liability and IP exposure. - Supply chain and manufacturing risk
Disruptions, quality issues and reliance on third-party manufacturers continue to influence recall exposure, contingent business interruption and contractual risk transfer. - Expanding liability landscape
As patient populations broaden and products become more complex, life sciences companies are seeing increased focus on limits, towers and alignment between products, professional and clinical trial coverage. - Earlier involvement of insurance and risk advisors
Insurers and brokers are being brought into the development lifecycle earlier—supporting smarter program design, cleaner submissions and more sustainable long-term coverage.
As innovation advances, insurance strategy must evolve alongside it. Proactive risk identification and thoughtful program structuring will be essential to supporting growth in 2026 and beyond. According to Illana, “Knowing which life sciences risks are emerging—and which ones are getting harder to place—is essential. It’s what allows us to act fast and support our retail brokers.”
A leader for the future of life sciences
As Bridge Specialty Group continues to grow its life sciences capabilities, Illana brings exactly what the sector demands: experience, global reach, collaboration and curiosity.
“The life sciences market never stands still, and neither can we. Staying on the cutting edge means continually learning, evolving with the market, and—after 20 years in this industry—still pushing to deliver the most forward‑thinking solutions possible,” Illana said.
Extensive expertise, combined with a genuine passion for educating brokers, is what defines both Illana’s leadership and the strength of Bridge Specialty Group’s Life Sciences Practice Group. Built on knowledge, partnership and forward thinking, the group is well positioned for continued growth and an exciting future supporting the evolving needs of the life sciences industry.
Life Sciences Practice Group offerings
Strengths
- Industry leading product knowledge and expertise
- Experienced leadership
- Claims coordination
- Coverage available in all 50 states and in foreign jurisdictions
- Admitted & non-admitted policies available
- Package and monoline coverages available
Coverage options
- Products/Completed Operations
- General Liability
- Errors & Omissions
- Clinical Trials
- Primary & Excess
- Cyber
- Management Liability
- Ocean Cargo/Inland Marine/Warehouse
- Product Recall
- Workers’ Compensation
Specialties
- Branded & Generic Pharmaceutical
- Manufacturers & Distributors
- Medical Device Manufacturers & Distributors
- Clinical Trials
- Locally Admitted Foreign Trials
- Biotechnology Companies
- Medical Technology/Software
- Developers
- Vaccines
- Nutraceuticals
- OTC Products
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Clinical Research Organizations
- Contract Manufacturing Organizations
- FDA Consultants
- Veterinary Products
For more information about the Bridge Specialty Group Life Sciences Practice Group, contact [email protected].
This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only, is intended to apply generally rather than to any specific company and presumes appropriate discretion will be exercised regarding any particular situation.
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