Global clinical trials activity increased by 2.7% in Q3 2021, when compared with the same quarter in 2020, according to GlobalData.

Industry sponsored trials accounted for a 47.1% share of overall activity in Q3 2021, a decrease of 2.4% when compared with Q3 2020.

Non-industry sponsored trials accounted for a 52.9% share of all clinical trials in Q3 2021, marking an increase of 2.4% when compared with the same period in 2020.

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Q3 2021 industry sponsored clinical trials activity by therapy areas

Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2021, accounting for a 30.4% share of all trials.

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This was followed by Infectious Disease with a 15.7% share, Central Nervous System with 13.7%, Gastrointestinal with 6.9% and Cardiovascular with 6.6%.

In Q3 2020, Oncology led with a 25.7% share, followed by Infectious Disease with 20.9%, Central Nervous System with 12.9%, Cardiovascular with 7.8%, and Metabolic Disorders with 7.8%.

Industry sponsored trials: Q3 2021 vs Q3 2020
Therapy Area Q3 2020 Q3 2021 Activity
Oncology 25.7% 30.4% Increase
Infectious Disease 20.9% 15.7% Decrease
Central Nervous System 12.9% 13.7% Increase
Gastrointestinal 7.2% 6.9% Decrease
Cardiovascular 7.8% 6.6% Decrease
Metabolic Disorders 7.8% 6.6% Decrease
Immunology 4.8% 5.4% Increase
Respiratory 7.4% 5.1% Decrease
Musculoskeletal Disorders 3.8% 4.1% Increase
Dermatology 4.7% 3.9% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 2.8% 3.0% Increase
Ophthalmology 2.7% 2.7% Decrease
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 3.0% 2.6% Decrease
Genetic Disorders 1.6% 1.9% Increase
Women’s Health 1.8% 1.9% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 1.6% 1.3% Decrease
Male Health 0.9% 0.8% Decrease
Hormonal Disorders 0.4% 0.6% Increase
Mouth and Dental Disorders 0.4% 0.6% Increase
Non Malignant Disorders 0.3% 0.5% Increase
Nutritional Disorders 0.3% 0.2% Decrease

Most active therapy areas in non-industry sponsored clinical trials

In Q3 2021 the leading therapy area for non-industry sponsored clinical trials was Central Nervous System, accounting for a 25.2% share of all trials.

This was followed Oncology with a 24.0% share, Infectious Disease with 13.1%, Cardiovascular with 8.9%, and Gastrointestinal with 6.6%.

In Q3 2020, Oncology held the lead in non-industry sponsored clinical trials with a 24.1% share, followed by Central Nervous System with 21.4%, Infectious Disease with 21.3%, Cardiovascular with 7.8%, and Gastrointestinal with 5.8%.

Non-Industry sponsored trials: Q3 2021 vs Q3 2020
Therapy Area Q3 2020 Q3 2021 Activity
Central Nervous System 21.4% 25.2% Increase
Oncology 24.1% 24.0% Decrease
Infectious Disease 21.3% 13.1% Decrease
Cardiovascular 7.8% 8.9% Increase
Gastrointestinal 5.8% 6.6% Increase
Metabolic Disorders 3.6% 5.5% Increase
Musculoskeletal Disorders 4.6% 5.2% Increase
Women’s Health 4.5% 4.1% Decrease
Respiratory 5.6% 3.9% Decrease
Dermatology 2.5% 3.0% Increase
Genito Urinary System And Sex Hormones 3.0% 3.0% Decrease
Hematological Disorders 2.8% 2.8% Decrease
Immunology 3.3% 2.7% Decrease
Mouth and Dental Disorders 2.3% 2.7% Increase
Ophthalmology 1.4% 1.8% Increase
Ear Nose Throat Disorders 0.7% 1.2% Increase
Hormonal Disorders 0.6% 1.0% Increase
Genetic Disorders 0.6% 0.8% Increase
Male Health 0.7% 0.5% Decrease
Nutritional Disorders 0.5% 0.5% Decrease
Non Malignant Disorders 0.4% 0.2% 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 Q3 2021 with a 47.1% share, compared with 54.9% in Q3 2020.

North America was the second most active region with a 34.0% share in Q3 2021, up from 32.2% in Q3 2020, followed by Europe with a 32.2% share in Q3 2021, up from 28.4% in Q3 2020.

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Single country studies held an 84.3% share in industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2021, compared with 82.6% in Q3 2020. Multinational trials accounted for 15.7% in Q3 2021, against 17.4% in Q3 2020.

Regional activity for non-industry sponsored clinical trials

Asia-Pacific saw the most non-industry sponsored clinical trial activity in Q3 2021 with a 53.5% share, up from 49.0% in Q3 2020.

North America held the second position with a 20.0% share in Q3 2021, compared with 17.5% in Q3 2020. This was followed by Middle East and Africa with a 14.6% share in Q3 2021, as against 18.7% in Q3 2020.

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Single country studies accounted for 99.0% share of non-industry sponsored clinical trials in Q3 2021, compared with 98.4% in Q3 2020. Multinational trials accounted for a 1.0% share in Q3 2021, down from 1.6% in Q3 2020.

Clinical trials by phase in Q3 2021

Phase II trials outnumbered all other studies with a 39.3% share for industry sponsored trials in Q3 2021, compared with 33.4% in Q3 2020.

The share of Phase I trials stood at 32.2% in Q3 2021, down from 39.3% in Q3 2020. Phase III trials increased to 17.3% in Q3 2021, compared with 15.1% in Q3 2020, followed by Phase IV trials with an 11.2% share in Q3 2021, against 12.3% in Q3 2020.

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For non-industry sponsored clinical trials, Phase II activity decreased to a 42.1% share in Q3 2021, compared with 45.0% in Q3 2020.

Phase IV trials were the second most active with a 22.1% share in Q3 2021, compared with 19.1% in Q3 2020. Phase III trials held a 19.2% share in Q3 2021, against 20.4% in Q3 2020, followed by Phase I trials with a 16.6% share in Q3 2021, over 15.5% in Q3 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.