During a quarterly analysis of the clinical trials with a start date in 2017, GlobalData analysts found that Phase II trials outnumbered all other trials by contributing between 45% and 48% across the period.
The share of Phase I trials started at 17% in the first quarter, and continued increasing up to 22% in the fourth quarter, as shown in Figure 1. Phase III trials’ contribution decreased 1% from 17% in Q2 and Q3, then back to 17% in the fourth quarter, whereas Phase IV trials decreased in share from a steady 18% to 15% between the third and fourth quarters.
The overall percentage of new clinical trials started in the first quarter was 25%, which decreased in the following two quarters, and picked up again to 28% in the fourth quarter.
Phase II is the first step in the segment of the clinical trials process that traditionally gathers preliminary data on drug effectiveness in patients, as opposed to Phase I, which is more focused on drug safety, usually in healthy patients. This analysis indicates sponsors are most concerned with running trials that check if the drug actually works for patients and has a future.
Related Reports
- GlobalData (2018). Clinical Trials: A Round-up of 2017
