Global clinical trials activity decreases 11.7% in Q1 2020

Global clinical trials activity decreased by 11.7% in Q1 2020, when compared with the same quarter in 2019, according to GlobalData.

Industry-sponsored trials accounted for a 42.3% share of overall activity in Q1 2020, an increase of 1.4% when compared with Q1 2019.

Non-industry-sponsored trials accounted for a 57.7% share of all clinical trials in Q1 2020, marking a decrease of 1.4% when compared with the same period in 2019.

Q1 2020 industry-sponsored clinical trials activity by therapy areas

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2020, accounting for a 28.3% share of all trials.

This was followed by infectious disease with a 15.4% share, central nervous system with 13.0%, respiratory with 9.9% and metabolic disorders with 7.8%.

In Q1 2019, oncology led with a 27.1% share, followed by central nervous system with 15.3%, infectious disease with 11.1%, metabolic disorders with 9.3%, and cardiovascular with 7.8%.

Industry-sponsored trials: Q1 2020 vs Q1 2019
Therapy Area	Q1 2019	Q1 2020	Activity
Oncology	27.1%	28.3%
Infectious Disease	11.1%	15.4%
Central Nervous System	15.3%	13.0%
Respiratory	6.5%	9.9%
Metabolic Disorders	9.3%	7.8%
Cardiovascular	7.8%	7.1%
Gastrointestinal	6.8%	6.6%
Immunology	6.4%	4.9%
Dermatology	6.0%	4.1%
Hematological Disorders	3.1%	3.7%
Musculoskeletal Disorders	4.1%	3.5%
Ophthalmology	2.7%	3.2%
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones	3.0%	2.3%
Women’s Health	2.2%	2.1%
Genetic Disorders	1.7%	1.5%
Ear Nose Throat Disorders	2.2%	1.4%
Mouth and Dental Disorders	0.4%	0.7%
Hormonal Disorders	0.8%	0.5%
Male Health	0.9%	0.4%
Nutritional Disorders	0.6%	0.4%
Non Malignant Disorders	0.3%	0.0%

Most active therapy areas in non-industry-sponsored clinical trials

In Q1 2020 the leading therapy area for non-industry-sponsored clinical trials was central nervous system, accounting for a 21.9% share of all trials.

This was followed infectious disease with a 19.5% share, oncology with 19.3%, respiratory with 12.8%, and cardiovascular with 8.9%.

In Q1 2019, central nervous system held the lead in non-industry-sponsored clinical trials with a 27.1% share, followed by oncology with 19.3%, cardiovascular with 9.5%, gastrointestinal with 8.5%, and metabolic disorders with 8.3%.

Non-Industry-sponsored trials: Q1 2020 vs Q1 2019
Therapy Area	Q1 2019	Q1 2020	Activity
Central Nervous System	27.1%	21.9%
Infectious Disease	7.7%	19.5%
Oncology	19.3%	19.3%
Respiratory	4.1%	12.8%
Cardiovascular	9.5%	8.9%
Gastrointestinal	8.5%	6.5%
Metabolic Disorders	8.3%	5.5%
Women’s Health	6.2%	5.1%
Musculoskeletal Disorders	5.8%	5.0%
Dermatology	3.1%	3.0%
Immunology	3.5%	3.0%
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones	3.6%	2.6%
Hematological Disorders	3.7%	2.6%
Mouth and Dental Disorders	3.2%	2.3%
Ophthalmology	1.6%	1.7%
Ear Nose Throat Disorders	1.1%	1.4%
Nutritional Disorders	1.1%	0.9%
Hormonal Disorders	0.9%	0.6%
Male Health	0.6%	0.6%
Genetic Disorders	0.8%	0.4%
Non Malignant Disorders	0.4%	0.3%

Asia-Pacific region has the most activity for industry-sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific was the most active region for industry-sponsored clinical trials activity in Q1 2020 with a 48.0% share, compared with 51.3% in Q1 2019.

North America was the second most active region with a 36.0% share in Q1 2020, up from 32.5% in Q1 2019, followed by Europe with a 29.2% share in Q1 2020, down from 30.5% in Q1 2019.

Single country studies held an 83.8% share in industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2020, compared with 84.0% in Q1 2019. Multinational trials accounted for 16.2% in Q1 2020, against 16.0% in Q1 2019.

Regional activity for non-industry-sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific saw the most non-industry-sponsored clinical trial activity in Q1 2020 with a 53.0% share, up from 52.6% in Q1 2019.

North America held the second position with a 17.2% share in Q1 2020, compared with 15.7% in Q1 2019. This was followed by Europe with a 15.2% share in Q1 2020, as against 14.6% in Q1 2019.

Single country studies accounted for 98.9% share of non-industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2020, compared with 98.2% in Q1 2019. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.1% share in Q1 2020, down from 1.8% in Q1 2019.

Clinical trials by phase in Q1 2020

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 38.8% share for industry-sponsored trials in Q1 2020, compared with 35.2% in Q1 2019.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 30.2% in Q1 2020, down from 37.2% in Q1 2019. Phase III trials increased to 17.8% in Q1 2020, compared with 14.9% in Q1 2019, followed by Phase IV trials with a 13.3% share in Q1 2020, against 12.8% in Q1 2019.

For non-industry-sponsored clinical trials, Phase II activity decreased to a 41.9% share in Q1 2020, compared with 52.4% in Q1 2019.

Phase IV trials were the second most active with a 20.6% share in Q1 2020, compared with 19.0% in Q1 2019. Phase I trials held a 19.1% share in Q1 2020, against 11.2% in Q1 2019, followed by Phase III trials with an 18.5% share in Q1 2020, over 17.4% in Q1 2019.

Methodology:
The clinical trials data used for the analyses were extracted from the Clinical Trials Database of GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center. Clinical Trials are sourced from numerous government, non-government and company clinical trial registries worldwide alongside clinical research publications, scientific conferences, company websites, SEC filings and more. The information is gathered by a combination of automation and secondary research to ensure accuracy and validity. A small number of Phase 0, Phase I/II, Phase II/III, and Phase III/IV trials were combined with Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, and Phase IV trials, respectively.