The global clinical trials activity saw a decrease of 1% in Q1 2021, when compared with the rolling average of the last four quarters (Q1 2020 to Q4 2020), according to GlobalData.
Of the overall activity, industry sponsored trials accounted for a 51.5% share in Q1 2021, marking an increase of 3.6% in the total share when compared with the four-quarter average.
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Non-industry sponsored trials accounted for a 48.5% share of all the clinical trials globally in Q1 2021, marking a decrease of 3.6% in the overall share when compared with the four-quarter average.
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Top therapy areas for industry and non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021
Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, accounting for a 29.7% share of all trials.
This was followed by the following therapy areas: Infectious Disease with an 18.4% share, Central Nervous System with a 13.3% share, Metabolic Disorders with a 7.3% share and Cardiovascular with a 6.4% share.
In the last four quarters, Oncology held a lead over other therapy areas for industry sponsored clinical trials with a 26.2% share, followed by Infectious Disease with a 21.2% share, Central Nervous System with a 12.6% share, Respiratory with a 9.3% share, and Metabolic Disorders with a 7.8% share.
| Industry sponsored trials activity: 4-Quarter Avg. vs Q1 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapy Area | 4-Quarter Avg. | Q1 2021 | Activity |
| Oncology | 26.2% | 29.7% |  |
| Infectious Disease | 21.2% | 18.4% |  |
| Central Nervous System | 12.6% | 13.3% | |
| Metabolic Disorders | 7.8% | 7.3% | |
| Cardiovascular | 7.5% | 6.4% | |
| Respiratory | 9.3% | 5.8% | |
| Gastrointestinal | 6.4% | 5.3% | |
| Immunology | 5.1% | 5.1% | |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders | 3.5% | 3.8% | |
| Dermatology | 4.3% | 3.3% | |
| Ophthalmology | 2.7% | 3.3% | |
| Hematological Disorders | 3.0% | 3.1% | |
| Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones | 2.7% | 2.2% | |
| Genetic Disorders | 1.5% | 1.5% | |
| Women’s Health | 1.8% | 1.4% | |
| Ear Nose Throat Disorders | 1.5% | 1.0% | |
| Male Health | 0.9% | 0.7% | |
| Hormonal Disorders | 0.5% | 0.6% | |
| Mouth and Dental Disorders | 0.5% | 0.5% | |
| Nutritional Disorders | 0.4% | 0.5% | |
| Non Malignant Disorders | 0.2% | 0.0% | |
Oncology was the leading therapy area for non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, accounting for a 27.8% share of all trials.
This was followed by the following therapy areas: Central Nervous System with a 24.8% share, Infectious Disease with a 16.8% share, Cardiovascular with a 9.3% share, and Musculoskeletal Disorders with a 5.0% share.
In the last four quarters, Infectious Disease System held a lead over others for non-industry sponsored clinical trials with an average share of 23.6%, followed by Oncology with a 22.2% share, Central Nervous System with a 20.4% share, Respiratory with an 8.9% share, and Cardiovascular with an 8.3% share.
| Non-Industry sponsored trials activity: 4-Quarter Avg. vs Q1 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapy Area | 4-Quarter Avg. | Q1 2021 | Activity |
| Oncology | 22.2% | 27.8% | |
| Central Nervous System | 20.4% | 24.8% | |
| Infectious Disease | 23.6% | 16.8% | |
| Cardiovascular | 8.3% | 9.3% | |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders | 4.3% | 5.0% | |
| Gastrointestinal | 6.0% | 4.7% | |
| Respiratory | 8.9% | 4.6% | |
| Metabolic Disorders | 4.8% | 4.5% | |
| Immunology | 2.8% | 3.0% | |
| Women’s Health | 4.4% | 3.0% | |
| Hematological Disorders | 2.8% | 2.9% | |
| Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones | 2.7% | 2.5% | |
| Dermatology | 2.6% | 1.8% | |
| Mouth and Dental Disorders | 1.9% | 1.7% | |
| Ophthalmology | 1.4% | 1.7% | |
| Ear Nose Throat Disorders | 1.1% | 0.9% | |
| Hormonal Disorders | 0.6% | 0.7% | |
| Genetic Disorders | 0.5% | 0.6% | |
| Nutritional Disorders | 0.7% | 0.6% | |
| Male Health | 0.5% | 0.5% | |
| Non Malignant Disorders | 0.4% | 0.4% | |
Top regions in industry and non-industry sponsored clinical trials activity in Q1 2021
Asia-Pacific held the top position for industry sponsored clinical trials activity in Q1 2021 with a 46.7% share, compared to 53.8% in the last four quarters.
North America stood at second place with a 38.1% share in Q1 2021, over 31.6% in the last four quarters, followed by Europe with a 29.5% share in Q1 2021, as against 28.1% in the last four quarters.
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Single country studies held an 83.6% share in industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021 when compared with 84.3% of average recorded in the last four quarters. Multinational trials accounted for a 16.4% share in Q1 2021, as against the four-quarter average of 15.7%.
Asia-Pacific region held the top position in non-industry sponsored clinical trial activity in Q1 2021 with a 39.4% share, over 47.9% in the last four quarters.
North America held the second position with a 27.6% share in Q1 2021, over 17.3% in the last four quarters, followed by Europe with a 20.2% share in Q1 2021, as against 15.3% in the last four quarters.
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Single country studies held a 98.7% share for non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, compared to 98.8% in the last four quarters. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.3% share in Q1 2021, as against 1.2% in the last four quarters.
Industry and industry sponsored clinical trials by Phase in Q1 2021
Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 39.7% share for industry sponsored trials in Q1 2021, compared to 34.6% average in the last four quarters.
The share of Phase I trials stood at 30.9% in Q1 2021, as against the four-quarter average of 36.4%. Phase III trials held an 18.0% share in Q1 2021, registering an increase of 0.9% over the last four quarters average, followed by Phase IV trials with an 11.4% share in Q1 2021, as against the four-quarter average of 11.9%.
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Phase II trials outnumbered all other trials with a 49.5% share for non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q1 2021, compared to 43.9% in the last four quarters.
Phase IV trials stood at second place with a 21.4% share in Q1 2021, compared to 19.4% in the last four quarters. Phase I trials held a 14.5% share in Q1 2021, as against 16.0% in the last four quarters, followed by Phase III trials with a 14.5% share in Q1 2021 over 20.8% average recorded in the last four quarters.
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Embed this chart into your website Copy and paste the code below into your website to display the chart.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.
