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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
