The global clinical trials activity saw an increase of 1.2% in Q3 2020, when compared with the rolling average of the last four quarters (Q3 2019 to Q2 2020), according to GlobalData.

Of the overall activity, industry sponsored trials accounted for a 51.5% share in Q3 2020, marking an increase of 5.8% in the total share when compared with the four-quarter average.

Non-industry sponsored trials accounted for a 48.5% share of all the clinical trials globally in Q3 2020, marking a decrease of 5.8% 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 Q3 2020

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2020, accounting for a 27.8% share of all trials.

This was followed by the following therapy areas: Infectious Disease with a 20.6% share, Central Nervous System with a 12.9% share, Respiratory with a 7.4% share and Gastrointestinal with a 6.9% share.

In the last four quarters, Oncology held a lead over other therapy areas for industry sponsored clinical trials with a 27.2% share, followed by Infectious Disease with a 16.4% share, Central Nervous System with a 13.7% share, Respiratory with an 8.4% share, and Metabolic Disorders with an 8.1% share.

Industry sponsored trials activity: 4-Quarter Avg. vs Q3 2020
Therapy Area 4-Quarter Avg. Q3 2020 Activity
Oncology 27.2% 27.8% Increase
Infectious Disease 16.4% 20.6% Increase
Central Nervous System 13.7% 12.9% Decrease
Respiratory 8.4% 7.4% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 7.0% 6.9% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 8.1% 6.9% Decrease
Cardiovascular 7.7% 6.7% Decrease
Dermatology 4.7% 4.3% Decrease
Immunology 5.4% 4.3% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 3.8% 3.5% Decrease
Ophthalmology 2.8% 3.0% Increase
Hematological Disorders 2.8% 2.7% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 2.8% 2.4% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 1.5% 2.0% Increase
Women’s Health 2.1% 1.6% Decrease
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.6% 1.1% Decrease
Male Health 0.9% 0.7% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.5% 0.4% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 0.7% 0.4% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.5% 0.2% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.2% 0.1% Decrease

Oncology was the leading therapy area for non-industry-sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2020, accounting for a 24.9% share of all trials.

This was followed by the following therapy areas: Infectious Disease with a 22.4% share, Central Nervous System with a 20.4% share, Cardiovascular with an 8.0% share, and Respiratory with a 6.2% share.

In the last four quarters, Central Nervous System held a lead over others for non-industry sponsored clinical trials with an average share of 22.4%, followed by Oncology with a 19.9% share, Infectious Disease with an 18.0% share, Cardiovascular with an 8.3% share, and Respiratory with an 8.0% share.

Non-Industry sponsored trials activity: 4-Quarter Avg. vs Q3 2020
Therapy Area 4-Quarter Avg. Q3 2020 Activity
Oncology 19.9% 24.9% Increase
Infectious Disease 18.0% 22.4% Increase
Central Nervous System 22.4% 20.4% Decrease
Cardiovascular 8.3% 8.0% Decrease
Respiratory 8.0% 6.2% Decrease
Gastrointestinal 6.6% 5.0% Decrease
Women’s Health 5.0% 4.4% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 5.8% 4.1% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 5.1% 4.1% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 2.9% 3.4% Increase
Immunology 3.3% 3.1% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 3.3% 2.9% Decrease
Dermatology 3.3% 2.3% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 2.3% 1.9% Decrease
Ophthalmology 1.8% 1.2% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.7% 0.9% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.3% 0.8% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 0.6% 0.6% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.7% 0.6% Decrease
Male Health 0.7% 0.5% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.4% 0.4% Decrease

Top regions in industry and non-industry sponsored clinical trials activity in Q3 2020

Asia-Pacific held the top position for industry sponsored clinical trials activity in Q3 2020 with a 47.2% share, compared to 53.0% in the last four quarters.

North America stood at second place with a 38.2% share in Q3 2020, over 31.6% in the last four quarters, followed by Europe with a 29.5% share in Q3 2020, as against 28.4% in the last four quarters.

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Single country studies held an 82.8% share in industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2020 when compared with 84.5% of average recorded in the last four quarters. Multinational trials accounted for a 17.2% share in Q3 2020, as against the four-quarter average of 15.5%.

Asia-Pacific region held the top position in non-industry sponsored clinical trial activity in Q3 2020 with a 42.8% share, over 49.4% in the last four quarters.

North America held the second position with a 24.8% share in Q3 2020, over 16.7% in the last four quarters, followed by Middle East and Africa with a 16.1% share in Q3 2020, as against 18.4% in the last four quarters.

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Single country studies held a 98.5% share for non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2020, compared to 98.8% in the last four quarters. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.5% share in Q3 2020, as against 1.2% in the last four quarters.

Industry and industry sponsored clinical trials by Phase in Q3 2020

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 37.1% share for industry sponsored trials in Q3 2020, compared to 34.5% average in the last four quarters.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 34.0% in Q3 2020, as against the four-quarter average of 36.3%. Phase III trials held a 16.9% share in Q3 2020, remaining flat over the last four quarters average, followed by Phase IV trials with an 11.9% share in Q3 2020, as against the four-quarter average of 12.3%.

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Phase II trials outnumbered all other trials with a 47.0% share for non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2020, compared to 42.9% in the last four quarters.

Phase III trials stood at second place with a 19.1% share in Q3 2020, compared to 20.8% in the last four quarters. Phase IV trials held a 17.9% share in Q3 2020, as against 19.8% in the last four quarters, followed by Phase I trials with a 16.0% share in Q3 2020 over 16.6% average recorded in the last four quarters.

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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.