Global clinical trials activity increased by 10.1% in Q2 2021, when compared with the same quarter in 2020, according to GlobalData.

Industry sponsored trials accounted for a 52.3% share of overall activity in Q2 2021, an increase of 7.8% when compared with Q2 2020.

Non-industry sponsored trials accounted for a 47.7% share of all clinical trials in Q2 2021, marking a decrease of 7.8% when compared with the same period in 2020.

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Q2 2021 industry sponsored clinical trials activity by therapy areas

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2021, accounting for a 31.0% share of all trials.

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This was followed by Infectious Disease with a 17.5% share, Central Nervous System with 12.9%, Cardiovascular with 7.3% and Metabolic Disorders with 6.9%.

In Q2 2020, Infectious Disease led with a 27.7% share, followed by Oncology with 24.8%, Central Nervous System with 11.8%, Respiratory with 8.8%, and Metabolic Disorders with 8.0%.

Industry sponsored trials: Q2 2021 vs Q2 2020
Therapy Area Q2 2020 Q2 2021 Activity
Oncology 24.8% 31.0% Increase
Infectious Disease 27.7% 17.5% Decrease
Central Nervous System 11.8% 12.9% Increase
Cardiovascular 7.8% 7.3% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 8.0% 6.9% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 6.1% 5.6% Decrease
Immunology 4.9% 5.0% Increase
Respiratory 8.8% 4.2% Decrease
Dermatology 4.2% 3.9% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 2.8% 3.4% Increase
Ophthalmology 2.2% 2.9% Increase
Hematological Disorders 2.4% 2.8% Increase
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.7% 2.4% Decrease
Women’s Health 1.6% 1.8% Increase
Genetic Disorders 1.0% 1.7% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.6% 0.8% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 0.5% 0.6% Increase
Male Health 1.2% 0.5% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.5% 0.4% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.2% 0.3% Increase
Non Malignant Disorders 0.2% 0.1% Decrease

Most active therapy areas in non-industry sponsored clinical trials

In Q2 2021 the leading therapy area for non-industry sponsored clinical trials was Oncology, accounting for a 27.0% share of all trials.

This was followed Central Nervous System with a 24.2% share, Infectious Disease with 17.6%, Cardiovascular with 9.8%, and Metabolic Disorders with 5.7%.

In Q2 2020, Infectious Disease held the lead in non-industry sponsored clinical trials with a 35.0% share, followed by Oncology with 19.6%, Central Nervous System with 16.0%, Respiratory with 8.4%, and Cardiovascular with 7.3%.

Non-Industry sponsored trials: Q2 2021 vs Q2 2020
Therapy Area Q2 2020 Q2 2021 Activity
Oncology 19.6% 27.0% Increase
Central Nervous System 16.0% 24.2% Increase
Infectious Disease 35.0% 17.6% Decrease
Cardiovascular 7.3% 9.8% Increase
Metabolic Disorders 4.2% 5.7% Increase
Gastrointestinal 5.3% 5.4% Increase
Musculoskeletal Disorders 3.4% 4.2% Increase
Respiratory 8.4% 3.9% Decrease
Immunology 2.3% 3.2% Increase
Women’s Health 4.1% 2.8% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.3% 2.6% Increase
Hematological Disorders 2.4% 2.2% Decrease
Dermatology 2.0% 1.9% Decrease
Ophthalmology 1.1% 1.9% Increase
Mouth and Dental Disorders 1.7% 1.6% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.3% 0.9% Increase
Nutritional Disorders 0.4% 0.9% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.2% 0.7% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 0.4% 0.6% Increase
Male Health 0.3% 0.4% Increase
Non Malignant Disorders 0.4% 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 2021 with a 47.5% share, compared with 57.4% in Q2 2020.

North America was the second most active region with a 37.7% share in Q2 2021, up from 26.6% in Q2 2020, followed by Europe with a 29.9% share in Q2 2021, up from 25.1% in Q2 2020.

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Single country studies held an 82.2% share in industry sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2021, compared with 87.2% in Q2 2020. Multinational trials accounted for 17.8% in Q2 2021, against 12.8% in Q2 2020.

Regional activity for non-industry sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific saw the most non-industry sponsored clinical trial activity in Q2 2021 with a 46.8% share, up from 44.5% in Q2 2020.

North America held the second position with a 23.7% share in Q2 2021, compared with 13.5% in Q2 2020. This was followed by Europe with a 19.2% share in Q2 2021, as against 16.4% in Q2 2020.

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Single country studies accounted for 98.7% share of non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q2 2021, compared with 98.8% in Q2 2020. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.3% share in Q2 2021, up from 1.2% in Q2 2020.

Clinical trials by phase in Q2 2021

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 41.4% share for industry sponsored trials in Q2 2021, compared with 33.8% in Q2 2020.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 28.2% in Q2 2021, down from 37.6% in Q2 2020. Phase III trials increased to 18.3% in Q2 2021, compared with 17.8% in Q2 2020, followed by Phase IV trials with a 12.1% share in Q2 2021, against 10.8% in Q2 2020.

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For non-industry sponsored clinical trials, Phase II activity decreased to a 47.9% share in Q2 2021, compared with 41.0% in Q2 2020.

Phase IV trials were the second most active with a 21.3% share in Q2 2021, compared with 18.4% in Q2 2020. Phase III trials held a 16.5% share in Q2 2021, against 26.2% in Q2 2020, followed by Phase I trials with a 14.3% share in Q2 2021, over 14.3% in Q2 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.