What's APAC's Recipe of Success in CLINICAL TRIALS MARKET?

Asia-Pacific (APAC) is emerging as one of the most promising and resilient markets for clinical trials. According to a report by Clinical Trials Arena, between 2017 and 2022, the region posted growth in clinical trials of around 10 per cent, outstripping growth in other major regions including the US, Europe and the rest of the world (RoW). Asia’s growth far exceeded the overall average figure of 5.3 per cent per year. As of 2023, the number of trials reached 14,346 in APAC. Let's delve into the thriving clinical research landscape in the region and explore the trends driving its growth.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

The APAC region continues to rule the roost in clinical trials, experiencing dramatic growth rates surpassing those in the US and Europe. Various reports highlight APAC's emergence as a pivotal hub for clinical trials, with almost half of the world's trials now conducted in the region.

“The number of clinical trials conducted in the APAC region has shown consistent growth over the past five years, with a significant increase from 11,571 trials in 2019 to 14,346 trials in 2023. China leads in the number of clinical trials conducted, followed by India and South Korea,” said Gowri Prasad Gutti, Director of Pharma Intelligence at GlobalData.

Earlier considered the hotbed for late-stage multinational trials, early-stage trials are picking up. Between 2013 and 2022, the APAC region emerged as the fastest-growing area for early-stage clinical trials, with a combined annual growth rate 12 times higher than that of the United States and four times higher than Europe. By 2022, APAC accounted for 58 per cent of all global phase I clinical trials, according to a recent report from GlobalData and Novotech. This indicates higher levels of innovation within the region, focusing on the development of novel therapies.