Global clinical trials activity increased by 9% in Q1 2021, when compared with the same quarter in 2020, according to GlobalData.

Industry sponsored trials accounted for a 51.4% share of overall activity in Q1 2021, an increase of 11.2% when compared with Q1 2020.

Non-industry sponsored trials accounted for a 48.6% share of all clinical trials in Q1 2021, marking a decrease of 11.2% when compared with the same period in 2020.

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Q1 2021 industry sponsored clinical trials activity by therapy areas

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, accounting for a 29.6% share of all trials.

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This was followed by Infectious Disease with an 18.4% share, Central Nervous System with 13.4%, Metabolic Disorders with 7.4% and Cardiovascular with 6.4%.

In Q1 2020, Oncology led with a 25.4% share, followed by Infectious Disease with 16.9%, Central Nervous System with 13.7%, Respiratory with 10.6%, and Cardiovascular with 8.4%.

Industry sponsored trials: Q1 2021 vs Q1 2020
Therapy Area Q1 2020 Q1 2021 Activity
Oncology 25.4% 29.6% Increase
Infectious Disease 16.9% 18.4% Increase
Central Nervous System 13.7% 13.4% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 7.7% 7.4% Decrease
Cardiovascular 8.4% 6.4% Decrease
Respiratory 10.6% 5.8% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 6.7% 5.3% Decrease
Immunology 5.1% 5.0% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 3.7% 3.9% Increase
Dermatology 4.3% 3.3% Decrease
Ophthalmology 2.9% 3.3% Increase
Hematological Disorders 3.6% 3.1% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.6% 2.2% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 1.3% 1.5% Increase
Women’s Health 2.4% 1.4% Decrease
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.8% 1.0% Decrease
Male Health 0.6% 0.8% Increase
Hormonal Disorders 0.6% 0.7% Increase
Mouth and Dental Disorders 0.8% 0.5% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.7% 0.5% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.1% 0.0% Decrease

 

Most active therapy areas in non-industry sponsored clinical trials

In Q1 2021 the leading therapy area for non-industry sponsored clinical trials was Oncology, accounting for a 27.9% share of all trials.

This was followed Central Nervous System with a 24.7% share, Infectious Disease with 16.7%, Cardiovascular with 9.2%, and Musculoskeletal Disorders with 5.0%.

In Q1 2020, Central Nervous System held the lead in non-industry sponsored clinical trials with a 21.9% share, followed by Infectious Disease with 20.2%, Oncology with 17.9%, Respiratory with 11.7%, and Cardiovascular with 8.8%.

Non-Industry sponsored trials: Q1 2021 vs Q1 2020
Therapy Area Q1 2020 Q1 2021 Activity
Oncology 17.9% 27.9% Increase
Central Nervous System 21.9% 24.7% Increase
Infectious Disease 20.2% 16.7% Decrease
Cardiovascular 8.8% 9.2% Increase
Musculoskeletal Disorders 5.0% 5.0% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 6.3% 4.6% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 5.8% 4.6% Decrease
Respiratory 11.7% 4.5% Decrease
Immunology 2.9% 3.1% Increase
Women’s Health 5.2% 3.0% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 2.7% 2.9% Increase
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.7% 2.5% Decrease
Dermatology 3.3% 1.8% Decrease
Ophthalmology 1.8% 1.8% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 2.5% 1.7% Decrease
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.4% 0.9% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.5% 0.7% Increase
Genetic Disorders 0.5% 0.6% Increase
Nutritional Disorders 0.7% 0.6% Decrease
Male Health 0.7% 0.5% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.3% 0.4% Increase

 

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 2021 with a 46.8% share, compared with 52.1% in Q1 2020.

North America was the second most active region with a 38.2% share in Q1 2021, up from 32.6% in Q1 2020, followed by Europe with a 29.4% share in Q1 2021, down from 30.5% in Q1 2020.

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Single country studies held an 83.5% share in industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, compared with 83.5% in Q1 2020. Multinational trials accounted for 16.5% in Q1 2021, against 16.5% in Q1 2020.

Regional activity for non-industry sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific saw the most non-industry sponsored clinical trial activity in Q1 2021 with a 39.4% share, down from 51.7% in Q1 2020.

North America held the second position with a 27.6% share in Q1 2021, compared with 14.6% in Q1 2020. This was followed by Europe with a 20.3% share in Q1 2021, as against 15.5% in Q1 2020.

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Single country studies accounted for 98.8% share of non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, compared with 99.1% in Q1 2020. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.2% share in Q1 2021, up from 0.9% in Q1 2020.

Clinical trials by phase in Q1 2021

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 39.5% share for industry sponsored trials in Q1 2021, compared with 35.8% in Q1 2020.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 31.0% in Q1 2021, down from 32.9% in Q1 2020. Phase III trials increased to 18.1% in Q1 2021, compared with 16.6% in Q1 2020, followed by Phase IV trials with an 11.4% share in Q1 2021, against 14.7% in Q1 2020.

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For non-industry sponsored clinical trials, Phase II activity decreased to a 49.6% share in Q1 2021, compared with 41.5% in Q1 2020.

Phase IV trials were the second most active with a 21.5% share in Q1 2021, compared with 20.7% in Q1 2020. Phase I trials held a 14.5% share in Q1 2021, against 18.4% in Q1 2020, followed by Phase III trials with a 14.4% share in Q1 2021, over 19.5% in Q1 2020.

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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.