Global clinical trials activity decreased by 2.9% in Q2 2020, when compared with the same quarter in 2019, according to GlobalData.

Industry-sponsored trials accounted for a 46.1% share of overall activity in Q2 2020, an increase of 1.3% when compared with Q2 2019.

Non-industry-sponsored trials accounted for a 53.9% share of all clinical trials in Q2 2020, marking a decrease of 1.3% when compared with the same period in 2019.

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Q2 2020 industry-sponsored clinical trials activity by therapy areas

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2020, accounting for a 28.3% share of all trials.

This was followed by infectious disease with a 25.8% share, central nervous system with 10.8%, respiratory with 9.6% and metabolic disorders with 6.6%.

In Q2 2019, oncology led with a 27.9% share, followed by central nervous system with 14.4%, infectious disease with 10.1%, metabolic disorders with 9.4%, and cardiovascular with 8.6%.

Industry-sponsored trials: Q2 2020 vs Q2 2019
Therapy Area Q2 2019 Q2 2020 Activity
Oncology 27.9% 28.3% Increase
Infectious Disease 10.1% 25.8% Increase
Central Nervous System 14.4% 10.8% Decrease
Respiratory 5.5% 9.6% Increase
Metabolic Disorders 9.4% 6.6% Decrease
Cardiovascular 8.6% 6.0% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 7.0% 5.5% Decrease
Immunology 5.9% 4.9% Decrease
Dermatology 4.9% 4.1% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.7% 2.7% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 5.3% 2.7% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 3.6% 2.6% Decrease
Ophthalmology 3.0% 2.5% Decrease
Women’s Health 2.4% 1.7% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 1.7% 1.6% Decrease
Male Health 0.6% 1.0% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.1% 0.9% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.8% 0.4% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 0.7% 0.4% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.3% 0.2% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.7% 0.2% Decrease

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

In Q2 2020 the leading therapy area for non-industry-sponsored clinical trials was infectious disease, accounting for a 34.9% share of all trials.

This was followed by oncology with a 20.0% share, central nervous system with 16.3%, respiratory with 10.1%, and cardiovascular with 7.0%.

In Q2 2019, central nervous system held the lead in non-industry-sponsored clinical trials with a 26.0% share, followed by oncology with 19.8%, cardiovascular with 9.6%, metabolic disorders with 7.8%, and gastrointestinal with 7.7%.

Non-Industry-sponsored trials: Q2 2020 vs Q2 2019
Therapy Area Q2 2019 Q2 2020 Activity
Infectious Disease 7.3% 34.9% Increase
Oncology 19.8% 20.0% Increase
Central Nervous System 26.0% 16.3% Decrease
Respiratory 3.9% 10.1% Increase
Cardiovascular 9.6% 7.0% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 7.7% 5.4% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 7.8% 4.1% Decrease
Women’s Health 6.3% 4.0% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 5.7% 3.6% Decrease
Immunology 2.9% 2.9% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 3.3% 2.7% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 3.6% 2.2% Decrease
Dermatology 3.2% 2.1% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 2.6% 1.4% Decrease
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.4% 1.1% Decrease
Ophthalmology 2.0% 1.1% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 0.7% 0.7% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.7% 0.5% Decrease
Male Health 1.0% 0.4% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 1.2% 0.3% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.5% 0.3% Decrease

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 Q2 2020 with a 47.9% share, compared with 52.0% in Q2 2019.

North America was the second most active region with a 34.7% share in Q2 2020, up from 33.3% in Q2 2019, followed by Europe with a 28.0% share in Q2 2020, down from 29.2% in Q2 2019.

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Single country studies held an 85.4% share in industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2020, compared with 84.1% in Q2 2019. Multinational trials accounted for 14.6% in Q2 2020, against 15.9% in Q2 2019.

Regional activity for non-industry-sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific saw the most non-industry-sponsored clinical trial activity in Q2 2020 with a 41.0% share, down from 54.4% in Q2 2019.

Middle East and Africa held the second position with a 19.9% share in Q2 2020, compared with 16.1% in Q2 2019. This was followed by North America with a 19.9% share in Q2 2020, as against 16.4% in Q2 2019.

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Single country studies accounted for 98.8% share of non-industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2020, compared with 98.9% in Q2 2019. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.2% share in Q2 2020, up from 1.1% in Q2 2019.

Clinical trials by phase in Q2 2020

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 39.5% share for industry-sponsored trials in Q2 2020, compared with 33.8% in Q2 2019.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 30.0% in Q2 2020, down from 37.2% in Q2 2019. Phase III trials increased to 20.0% in Q2 2020, compared with 17.2% in Q2 2019, followed by Phase IV trials with a 10.5% share in Q2 2020, against 11.8% in Q2 2019.

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For non-industry-sponsored clinical trials, Phase II activity decreased to a 43.7% share in Q2 2020, compared with 47.7% in Q2 2019.

Phase III trials were the second most active with a 23.8% share in Q2 2020, compared with 18.7% in Q2 2019. Phase IV trials held an 18.1% share in Q2 2020, against 19.5% in Q2 2019, followed by Phase I trials with a 14.5% share in Q2 2020, over 14.1% in Q2 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.