GITNUXREPORT 2025

Clinical Research Statistics

Global clinical trials face delays, high costs, and recruitment challenges worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The global clinical trials market is projected to reach $69.87 billion by 2025

Statistic 2

Over 300,000 clinical trials are registered worldwide annually

Statistic 3

Oncology clinical trials comprise approximately 34% of all cancer drug development studies

Statistic 4

Adaptive trial designs are used in approximately 20% of new drug trials to improve efficiency

Statistic 5

The use of biomarkers in clinical trials has increased by over 50% in the past decade to enhance targeted therapy development

Statistic 6

The majority of clinical trials are conducted in North America and Europe, accounting for over 70% of global trials

Statistic 7

The global biomarker market in clinical trials is valued at over $4 billion as of 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 13% through 2028

Statistic 8

The use of decentralized clinical trials increased by 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving access for remote patients

Statistic 9

Cancer clinical trials constitute approximately 28% of all oncology research, reflecting high interest and investment

Statistic 10

Clinical research organizations (CROs) manage approximately 70% of all global clinical trials, highlighting their critical role in the industry

Statistic 11

The number of clinical trial sites worldwide has grown by about 25% over the past five years, reaching over 40,000 sites in 2023

Statistic 12

The adoption of remote monitoring in clinical trials has increased by over 40% since 2020, improving oversight and data collection

Statistic 13

The global investment in clinical trial infrastructure is estimated at over $20 billion annually, supporting trial execution and innovation

Statistic 14

Approximately 90% of clinical trials face delays, often due to patient recruitment issues

Statistic 15

The average cost to run a single clinical trial exceeds $19 million

Statistic 16

About 85% of clinical trials failing to meet their recruitment timelines results in increased costs and delays

Statistic 17

The average time to complete a clinical trial is approximately 7-8 years

Statistic 18

The dropout rate for clinical trial participants can be as high as 30%, affecting data validity and trial timelines

Statistic 19

Clinical trial protocols cost approximately $40,000 to $60,000 to develop per trial

Statistic 20

Nearly 50% of clinical trial sites fail to recruit enough eligible patients within the designated timeline

Statistic 21

Approximately 50% of clinical trials fail during Phase III due to efficacy or safety issues

Statistic 22

The median duration of drug development from discovery to approval is approximately 12 years

Statistic 23

Prolonged trial durations can lead to increased expenses of over $4 million per month beyond initial estimates

Statistic 24

Approximately 65% of clinical trials fail to meet their enrollment targets within the projected timeline, necessitating trial extensions or redesigns

Statistic 25

The GlobalData report indicates that the top pharmaceutical companies spend over $15 billion annually on clinical trials worldwide

Statistic 26

About 40% of clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries face challenges related to infrastructure and regulatory environments

Statistic 27

The average number of patients enrolled per clinical trial site is approximately 5–10 participants, indicating room for improvement in site management

Statistic 28

Near-miss recruitment strategies can increase trial enrollment efficiency by up to 35%, helping to meet trial timelines

Statistic 29

Around 60% of clinical trials are registered on public databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov, enhancing transparency

Statistic 30

The median number of protocol amendments during a clinical trial is approximately 3 per study, often due to regulatory or logistical issues

Statistic 31

The rate of adverse events reported during clinical trials averages 15-20%, impacting safety assessments and trial continuation

Statistic 32

In phase I clinical trials, approximately 70% of drugs fail to advance to phase II, reflecting the high attrition rate early in development

Statistic 33

The average duration of data cleaning in a clinical trial is about 6-9 months, contributing significantly to the overall timeline

Statistic 34

Patient retention programs have improved retention rates by as much as 15-20% in recent trials, ensuring data completeness

Statistic 35

The median number of years from initial drug discovery to approval is approximately 13 years, emphasizing the lengthy development process

Statistic 36

Less than 10% of eligible patients participate in clinical trials, indicating significant recruitment barriers

Statistic 37

Diversity in clinical trial participation remains low, with minority populations underrepresenting 20-40% of trial participants

Statistic 38

Mobile health technology has been shown to increase patient engagement in clinical trials by up to 40%

Statistic 39

Effective patient engagement strategies can improve recruitment and retention rates by up to 20%

Statistic 40

About 22% of clinical trials incorporate patient-reported outcomes as primary or secondary endpoints, emphasizing patient-centered research

Statistic 41

The median age of participants in many clinical trials is around 55 years, although older populations are often underrepresented

Statistic 42

Only about 8% of clinical trials are conducted in low-income countries, showing a disparity in global research efforts

Statistic 43

Clinical trials with patient-centric designs see a 20-25% increase in recruitment success compared to traditional designs

Statistic 44

The approval rate for new drugs based on clinical trials averages around 30%, with many compounds failing during late-stage testing

Statistic 45

The success rate of drug approval after phase III clinical trials ranges between 50-70%, depending on therapeutic area

Statistic 46

About 25% of clinical trials fail to reach their primary endpoints, highlighting ongoing challenges in efficacy determination

Statistic 47

Digital tools and electronic health records are increasingly used to improve patient recruitment and retention rates

Statistic 48

The use of artificial intelligence in designing clinical trials can reduce trial recruitment time by approximately 25%

Statistic 49

Data from electronic health records is now used in over 60% of clinical trials to identify suitable candidates

Statistic 50

Use of real-world evidence in clinical research has increased by over 75% in the last five years, aiding in faster decision making

Statistic 51

The use of blockchain technology in clinical trials is emerging to improve data integrity and security, with over 10 pilot projects as of 2023

Statistic 52

The proportion of trials incorporating digital endpoints has increased by roughly 35% over the past five years, reflecting technological integration

Statistic 53

Use of natural language processing (NLP) in clinical research has increased significantly, aiding in data extraction and analysis from unstructured data sources

Slide 1 of 53

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

The global clinical trials market is projected to reach $69.87 billion by 2025
Over 300,000 clinical trials are registered worldwide annually
Approximately 90% of clinical trials face delays, often due to patient recruitment issues
The average cost to run a single clinical trial exceeds $19 million
About 85% of clinical trials failing to meet their recruitment timelines results in increased costs and delays
Oncology clinical trials comprise approximately 34% of all cancer drug development studies
The average time to complete a clinical trial is approximately 7-8 years
Less than 10% of eligible patients participate in clinical trials, indicating significant recruitment barriers
Digital tools and electronic health records are increasingly used to improve patient recruitment and retention rates
Diversity in clinical trial participation remains low, with minority populations underrepresenting 20-40% of trial participants
Adaptive trial designs are used in approximately 20% of new drug trials to improve efficiency
The approval rate for new drugs based on clinical trials averages around 30%, with many compounds failing during late-stage testing
The dropout rate for clinical trial participants can be as high as 30%, affecting data validity and trial timelines

The global clinical research industry is navigating a complex landscape marked by soaring costs, persistent recruitment challenges, and groundbreaking innovations like digital tools and AI—yet, despite these hurdles, it continues to propel medical advancements with an estimated market value of nearly $70 billion by 2025.

Market Size and Growth Trends

The global clinical trials market is projected to reach $69.87 billion by 2025
Over 300,000 clinical trials are registered worldwide annually
Oncology clinical trials comprise approximately 34% of all cancer drug development studies
Adaptive trial designs are used in approximately 20% of new drug trials to improve efficiency
The use of biomarkers in clinical trials has increased by over 50% in the past decade to enhance targeted therapy development
The majority of clinical trials are conducted in North America and Europe, accounting for over 70% of global trials
The global biomarker market in clinical trials is valued at over $4 billion as of 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 13% through 2028
The use of decentralized clinical trials increased by 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic, improving access for remote patients
Cancer clinical trials constitute approximately 28% of all oncology research, reflecting high interest and investment
Clinical research organizations (CROs) manage approximately 70% of all global clinical trials, highlighting their critical role in the industry
The number of clinical trial sites worldwide has grown by about 25% over the past five years, reaching over 40,000 sites in 2023
The adoption of remote monitoring in clinical trials has increased by over 40% since 2020, improving oversight and data collection
The global investment in clinical trial infrastructure is estimated at over $20 billion annually, supporting trial execution and innovation

Market Size and Growth Trends Interpretation

With a booming industry poised to hit nearly $70 billion by 2025, over 300,000 trials annually, and a steadfast reliance on CROs managing 70% of operations, the clinical research landscape is rapidly evolving—embracing innovative designs, biomarkers, and decentralized models—transforming how we develop targeted therapies while still predominantly residing in North America and Europe.

Operational Challenges and Costs

Approximately 90% of clinical trials face delays, often due to patient recruitment issues
The average cost to run a single clinical trial exceeds $19 million
About 85% of clinical trials failing to meet their recruitment timelines results in increased costs and delays
The average time to complete a clinical trial is approximately 7-8 years
The dropout rate for clinical trial participants can be as high as 30%, affecting data validity and trial timelines
Clinical trial protocols cost approximately $40,000 to $60,000 to develop per trial
Nearly 50% of clinical trial sites fail to recruit enough eligible patients within the designated timeline
Approximately 50% of clinical trials fail during Phase III due to efficacy or safety issues
The median duration of drug development from discovery to approval is approximately 12 years
Prolonged trial durations can lead to increased expenses of over $4 million per month beyond initial estimates
Approximately 65% of clinical trials fail to meet their enrollment targets within the projected timeline, necessitating trial extensions or redesigns
The GlobalData report indicates that the top pharmaceutical companies spend over $15 billion annually on clinical trials worldwide
About 40% of clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries face challenges related to infrastructure and regulatory environments
The average number of patients enrolled per clinical trial site is approximately 5–10 participants, indicating room for improvement in site management
Near-miss recruitment strategies can increase trial enrollment efficiency by up to 35%, helping to meet trial timelines
Around 60% of clinical trials are registered on public databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov, enhancing transparency
The median number of protocol amendments during a clinical trial is approximately 3 per study, often due to regulatory or logistical issues
The rate of adverse events reported during clinical trials averages 15-20%, impacting safety assessments and trial continuation
In phase I clinical trials, approximately 70% of drugs fail to advance to phase II, reflecting the high attrition rate early in development
The average duration of data cleaning in a clinical trial is about 6-9 months, contributing significantly to the overall timeline
Patient retention programs have improved retention rates by as much as 15-20% in recent trials, ensuring data completeness
The median number of years from initial drug discovery to approval is approximately 13 years, emphasizing the lengthy development process

Operational Challenges and Costs Interpretation

With a median 13-year journey, a $19 million price tag, and a 90% chance of delay, clinical trials resemble marathon races where recruiting the right runners efficiently could turn a slog into a sprint.

Patient Engagement and Diversity

Less than 10% of eligible patients participate in clinical trials, indicating significant recruitment barriers
Diversity in clinical trial participation remains low, with minority populations underrepresenting 20-40% of trial participants
Mobile health technology has been shown to increase patient engagement in clinical trials by up to 40%
Effective patient engagement strategies can improve recruitment and retention rates by up to 20%
About 22% of clinical trials incorporate patient-reported outcomes as primary or secondary endpoints, emphasizing patient-centered research
The median age of participants in many clinical trials is around 55 years, although older populations are often underrepresented
Only about 8% of clinical trials are conducted in low-income countries, showing a disparity in global research efforts
Clinical trials with patient-centric designs see a 20-25% increase in recruitment success compared to traditional designs

Patient Engagement and Diversity Interpretation

Despite innovative strategies like mobile health tech and patient-centered designs boosting recruitment and engagement, the persistent underrepresentation of minority, low-income, and older populations highlights that clinical research remains a predominantly exclusive club, calling for a more inclusive approach to truly reflect diverse patient needs.

Regulatory and Success Metrics

The approval rate for new drugs based on clinical trials averages around 30%, with many compounds failing during late-stage testing
The success rate of drug approval after phase III clinical trials ranges between 50-70%, depending on therapeutic area
About 25% of clinical trials fail to reach their primary endpoints, highlighting ongoing challenges in efficacy determination

Regulatory and Success Metrics Interpretation

Despite a promising uptick in success during late-stage trials, the sobering reality remains that only about a third of new drugs navigate the perilous journey from concept to clinic, underscoring the persistent challenge of turning scientific hope into therapeutic reality.

Technological Innovations and Data Utilization

Digital tools and electronic health records are increasingly used to improve patient recruitment and retention rates
The use of artificial intelligence in designing clinical trials can reduce trial recruitment time by approximately 25%
Data from electronic health records is now used in over 60% of clinical trials to identify suitable candidates
Use of real-world evidence in clinical research has increased by over 75% in the last five years, aiding in faster decision making
The use of blockchain technology in clinical trials is emerging to improve data integrity and security, with over 10 pilot projects as of 2023
The proportion of trials incorporating digital endpoints has increased by roughly 35% over the past five years, reflecting technological integration
Use of natural language processing (NLP) in clinical research has increased significantly, aiding in data extraction and analysis from unstructured data sources

Technological Innovations and Data Utilization Interpretation

As digital innovations—from AI-powered trial design to blockchain security—reshape clinical research, they are not only accelerating recruitment and decision-making but also forging a more efficient, transparent, and data-driven future for medicine.