Clinical trials are the testing ground for new medicines and therapies, connecting patients, investigators, sponsors, and regulators worldwide. This page reviews the industry’s growth—projected to reach $73.2B in 2024 at an 11.8% CAGR through 2032—and where oversight pressure shows up, including FDA warning letters. You’ll also see how ClinicalTrials.gov study counts break down by status, plus gaps in participation such as 48% female enrollment and limited representation of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino participants in cancer trials.
Key Takeaways
- 2023 global clinical trial market size was $67.5 billion
- 2024 global clinical trial market size is projected to be $73.2 billion
- 2022 global clinical trial market size was $62.5 billion
- The FDA issued 4,173 total warning letters in 2019
- The FDA issued 3,702 total warning letters in 2020
- The FDA issued 3,463 total warning letters in 2021
- ClinicalTrials.gov has 409,000+ studies (all statuses)
- ClinicalTrials.gov has 355,000+ studies with “Recruiting” status
- ClinicalTrials.gov has 44,000+ studies with “Active, not recruiting” status
- FDA “fast track” is available; no numeric
- FDA “Breakthrough Therapy” designation can be granted by FDA; no numeric
- FDA “Accelerated Approval” allows approval based on surrogate endpoints
- Global underrepresentation of minorities: In cancer trials, only 6% of participants were Black/African American in a US analysis (study)
- In cancer trials, only 4% of participants were Hispanic/Latino in a US analysis (study)
- Female participation in clinical trials overall was 48% (analysis)
The clinical trial market is growing fast to $73.2B in 2024, while FDA oversight and trial diversity gaps persist.
Related reading
01 · Category
Clinical Trial Market & Economics30 stats
01
2023 global clinical trial market size was $67.5 billionhttps://www.precedenceresearch.com/clinical-trials-market
02
2024 global clinical trial market size is projected to be $73.2 billionhttps://www.precedenceresearch.com/clinical-trials-market
03
2022 global clinical trial market size was $62.5 billionhttps://www.precedenceresearch.com/clinical-trials-market
04
2023–2032 clinical trial market CAGR is 11.8%https://www.precedenceresearch.com/clinical-trials-market
05
2022–2032 clinical trial market CAGR is 11.4%https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/clinical-trials-market-102940
06
Fortune Business Insights projects the clinical trials market to reach $160.0 billion by 2032https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/clinical-trials-market-102940
07
Fortune Business Insights estimates the clinical trials market at $71.2 billion in 2023https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/clinical-trials-market-102940
08
Fortune Business Insights projects a 2024–2032 CAGR of 10.3%https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/clinical-trials-market-102940
09
Clinical trial supply chain management market size was $6.3 billion in 2022https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/clinical-trial-supply-chain-management-market/
10
Clinical trial supply chain management market size is projected to reach $15.8 billion by 2030https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/clinical-trial-supply-chain-management-market/
11
Clinical trial supply chain management market CAGR is 12.5% (2023–2030)https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/clinical-trial-supply-chain-management-market/
12
Clinical trial site management market size was $6.5 billion in 2022https://www.reportlinker.com/p06056851/Clinical-Trial-Site-Management.html
13
Clinical trial site management market is projected to reach $17.8 billion by 2030https://www.reportlinker.com/p06056851/Clinical-Trial-Site-Management.html
14
Clinical trial site management market CAGR is 13.2% (2023–2030)https://www.reportlinker.com/p06056851/Clinical-Trial-Site-Management.html
15
Contract research organization (CRO) market size was $47.3 billion in 2023https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/11/2915524/0/en/Contract-Research-Organization-CRO-Market-Size-to-Reach-83-2-Billion-by-2030-at-a-16-2-CAGR-Growing-Demand-for-Outsourced-Clinical-Trials.html
16
CRO market size projected to reach $83.2 billion by 2030https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/11/2915524/0/en/Contract-Research-Organization-CRO-Market-Size-to-Reach-83-2-Billion-by-2030-at-a-16-2-CAGR-Growing-Demand-for-Outsourced-Clinical-Trials.html
17
18
Site-level recruitment market size was estimated at $14.1 billion in 2022https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trials-recruitment-market-189887641.html
19
Site-level recruitment market size projected to reach $41.8 billion by 2027https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trials-recruitment-market-189887641.html
20
Site-level recruitment market projected CAGR of 23.7% (2022–2027)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trials-recruitment-market-189887641.html
21
Clinical trial imaging market size was $4.0 billion in 2022https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/in-clinical-trial-imaging-market-125.html
22
Clinical trial imaging market projected to reach $7.7 billion by 2027https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/in-clinical-trial-imaging-market-125.html
23
Clinical trial imaging market projected CAGR of 14.2% (2022–2027)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/in-clinical-trial-imaging-market-125.html
24
Clinical trial logistics market size was $8.2 billion in 2022https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trial-logistics-market-222995226.html
25
Clinical trial logistics market projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2027https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trial-logistics-market-222995226.html
26
Clinical trial logistics market projected CAGR of 10.6% (2022–2027)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trial-logistics-market-222995226.html
27
Digital clinical trial technology market size was $3.5 billion in 2022https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-clinical-trials-market-231.html
28
Digital clinical trial technology market projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2027https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-clinical-trials-market-231.html
29
Digital clinical trial technology market projected CAGR of 22.5% (2022–2027)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-clinical-trials-market-231.html
30
Clinical trial data management market size was $2.3 billion in 2021https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/clinical-trial-data-management-systems-market-776.html
Interpretation
Clinical Trial Market & Economics Interpretation
The clinical trial market is growing fast with size rising from $62.5 billion in 2022 to a projected $73.2 billion in 2024 and sustaining double digit expansion at about 11.4% to 11.8% CAGR, putting the industry on a clear trajectory toward $160.0 billion by 2032.
02 · Category
Regulation, Quality & Compliance30 stats
01
The FDA issued 4,173 total warning letters in 2019https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/open-fda/data-dashboard-warning-letters
02
The FDA issued 3,702 total warning letters in 2020https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/open-fda/data-dashboard-warning-letters
03
The FDA issued 3,463 total warning letters in 2021https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/open-fda/data-dashboard-warning-letters
04
The FDA issued 3,044 total warning letters in 2022https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/open-fda/data-dashboard-warning-letters
05
The FDA issued 3,098 total warning letters in 2023https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/open-fda/data-dashboard-warning-letters
06
FDA inspections can be classified as "No Action Indicated" at a high frequency; for 2023, 92.3% of OAI outcomes (establishment inspections) were OAIhttps://www.fda.gov/media/187037/download
07
FDA inspections categorized "Voluntary Action Indicated" (VAI) were 4.6% for 2023https://www.fda.gov/media/187037/download
08
FDA inspections categorized "Official Action Indicated" (OAI) were 3.1% for 2023https://www.fda.gov/media/187037/download
09
FDA has issued 100+ guidance documents related to clinical trials over multiple yearshttps://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents
10
2024 FDA warning letter search results show 1,500+ warning letters since 2010https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters
11
EMA clinical trials—total number of clinical trial applications (CTAs) received in 2023 was 1,016https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/annual-report/annual-report-2023-european-medicines-agency_en.pdf
12
EMA clinical trials—total number of clinical trial protocols assessed in 2023 was 4,014https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/annual-report/annual-report-2023-european-medicines-agency_en.pdf
13
EMA clinical trials—total number of requests for information/clarifications in 2023 was 16,000+https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/annual-report/annual-report-2023-european-medicines-agency_en.pdf
14
EMA/Clinical Trials Regulation (EU CTR) applies from 2014 to all clinical trials on medicinal productshttps://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/pharmaceutical-legislation/clinical-trials_en
15
EU Clinical Trials Regulation (EU No 536/2014) was published on 27 May 2014https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/536/oj
16
EU No 536/2014 entered into application in January 2022 (start of regulation)https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/pharmaceutical-legislation/clinical-trials/clinical-trials-regulation_en
17
ICH GCP guideline E6(R2) was adopted by ICH in 2016https://ich.org/page/efficacy-guidelines
18
ICH E6(R2) “Integrated Addendum to ICH E6(R1): Guideline for Good Clinical Practice” has code E6(R2)https://ich.org/page/efficacy-guidelines
19
The Nuremberg Code is based on 10 principleshttps://history.nih.gov/display/history/Nuremberg+Code
20
Declaration of Helsinki has been updated multiple times; the latest version was adopted at the 64th WMA General Assembly (2013)https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/
21
WHO Good Clinical Practice guidance notes 4 key principles (risk-benefit, ethics, informed consent, integrity)https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241502155
22
US OHRP/IRB: Common Rule requires informed consent with 8 required elementshttps://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html
23
45 CFR 46.116 lists basic elements of informed consent (8 items plus optional)https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46/section-46.116
24
21 CFR 312.50 requires IRB approval for clinical investigationshttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-312/section-312.50
25
21 CFR 312.57 requires informed consent to be documentedhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-312/section-312.57
26
21 CFR 312.64 requires reporting and recordkeeping of informed consent formshttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-312/section-312.64
27
21 CFR 312.68 requires progress reports to INDhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-312/section-312.68
28
21 CFR 312.80 requires suspension/removal of IRB approval and clinical holdshttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-312/section-312.80
29
Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) reported that regulatory agencies support standardized data models such as CDISC (Study Data Tabulation Model)https://www.ctti-clinicaltrials.org
30
EU CTR introduced the requirement for a “single entry point” via the EU Clinical Trials Portalhttps://www.eudra.org/en/clinical-trials/index.html
Interpretation
Regulation, Quality & Compliance Interpretation
FDA enforcement pressure on Clinical Trials quality and compliance appears to be easing slightly but staying high, with warning letters dropping from 4,173 in 2019 to 3,044 in 2022 before a small rebound to 3,098 in 2023, while in 2023 92.3% of establishment inspections ended with No Action Indicated outcomes.
03 · Category
Clinical Trial Operations & Performance30 stats
01
ClinicalTrials.gov has 409,000+ studies (all statuses)https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?query=&aggFilters=status:all
02
ClinicalTrials.gov has 355,000+ studies with “Recruiting” statushttps://clinicaltrials.gov/search?query=&aggFilters=status:rec
03
ClinicalTrials.gov has 44,000+ studies with “Active, not recruiting” statushttps://clinicaltrials.gov/search?query=&aggFilters=status:anr
04
ClinicalTrials.gov has 65,000+ studies with “Completed” statushttps://clinicaltrials.gov/search?query=&aggFilters=status:com
05
ClinicalTrials.gov has 60,000+ studies with “Not yet recruiting” statushttps://clinicaltrials.gov/search?query=&aggFilters=status:nyr
06
WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) lists 19 registrieshttps://www.who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform/registries
07
WHO ICTRP includes 17 data providershttps://www.who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform/about
08
ClinicalTrials.gov average time from “first posted” to “results posted” for interventional trials is about 5 years (estimate)https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resources/trends
09
ClinicalTrials.gov “Trends” report shows results posting rate by year; 2020 results posted rate for interventional trials was 53%https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resources/trends
10
ClinicalTrials.gov “Trends” report shows results posting rate for interventional trials; 2021 results posted rate was 56%https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resources/trends
11
ClinicalTrials.gov “Trends” report shows average recruitment time for interventional trials is 2.9 yearshttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resources/trends
12
Median duration for Phase 1 trials is 12.4 monthshttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-provides-report-and-statistics-clinical-trials
13
Median duration for Phase 2 trials is 22.5 monthshttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-provides-report-and-statistics-clinical-trials
14
Median duration for Phase 3 trials is 43.7 monthshttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-provides-report-and-statistics-clinical-trials
15
90% of clinical trials are delayed in some wayhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018188/
16
Recruiting delays in clinical trials last a median of 18 monthshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018188/
17
Average clinical trial costs increased to $19.3 million in 2017https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29608249/
18
Median cost of Phase 2 trials was $23.5 millionhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21348639/
19
Median cost of Phase 3 trials was $54.3 millionhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21348639/
20
Drug development timeline: average time to approval after initiation of Phase 1 was 9–12 yearshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4310074/
21
Only 8% of drugs that start Phase 1 reach approvalhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714065/
22
Only 10% of drugs that enter clinical development reach markethttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714065/
23
In a survey, 79% of sites reported challenges with enrollmenthttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269130/
24
In a survey, 55% of sites reported challenges with data qualityhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269130/
25
In a survey, 47% of sites reported challenges with protocol complexityhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269130/
26
In a survey, 63% of sites reported challenges with site staff capacityhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269130/
27
In a survey, 44% of sponsors reported challenges with recruitmenthttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269130/
28
Risk-based monitoring can reduce monitoring costs by 30% (model/estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839832/
29
Risk-based monitoring can reduce data management effort by 20% (estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839832/
30
Adaptive design can reduce average trial sample size by 25% (estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839832/
Interpretation
Clinical Trial Operations & Performance Interpretation
ClinicalTrial.gov alone lists 409,000 plus trials with 355,000 plus currently recruiting and 44,000 plus active but not recruiting, signaling strong ongoing operational throughput and active study lifecycle management as a key Clinical Trial Operations and Performance priority.
More related reading
04 · Category
Drug Development Path & Outcomes30 stats
01
FDA “fast track” is available; no numerichttps://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review
02
FDA “Breakthrough Therapy” designation can be granted by FDA; no numerichttps://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review
03
FDA “Accelerated Approval” allows approval based on surrogate endpointshttps://www.fda.gov/patients/accelerated-approval
04
FDA “Priority Review” shortens review timeline to 6 monthshttps://www.fda.gov/patients/priority-review
05
FDA “Fast Track” designation may facilitate development; no numerichttps://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review
06
90% of drugs fail in preclinical/clinical development (general)https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2017.199
07
On average, Phase 1 trials take 1 year to completehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714065/
08
On average, Phase 2 trials take 2 years to completehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714065/
09
On average, Phase 3 trials take 3–4 years to completehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714065/
10
Phase 1 success rate is about 61% transitioning to Phase 2 (estimate)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30457155/
11
Phase 2 success rate is about 28% transitioning to Phase 3 (estimate)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30457155/
12
Phase 3 success rate is about 13% transitioning to approval (estimate)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30457155/
13
Time from Phase 1 to approval averages 7.5 years (estimate)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24889101/
14
Clinical development success rate overall is 10% (estimate)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24889101/
15
FDA approves about 40 novel drugs per year (estimate)https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals
16
2023 FDA CDER novel drug approvals totaled 55https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals/2023-cder-new-drug-therapy-approvals
17
2022 FDA CDER novel drug approvals totaled 53https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals/2022-cder-new-drug-therapy-approvals
18
2021 FDA CDER novel drug approvals totaled 50https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals/2021-cder-new-drug-therapy-approvals
19
2020 FDA CDER novel drug approvals totaled 48https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals/2020-cder-new-drug-therapy-approvals
20
2019 FDA CDER novel drug approvals totaled 48https://www.fda.gov/drugs/new-drugs-at-fda-cder-s-approvals/2019-cder-new-drug-therapy-approvals
21
FDA orphan drug approvals in 2023 were 60https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
22
FDA orphan drug designations in 2023 were 1,532https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
23
FDA fast track designations in 2023 were 1,257https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
24
FDA breakthrough therapy designations in 2023 were 249https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
25
FDA accelerated approvals in 2023 were 31https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
26
FDA priority review designations in 2023 were 255https://www.fda.gov/media/168401/download
27
Number of accelerated approval approvals: 2022 was 50https://www.fda.gov/media/151384/download
28
Number of priority review designations: 2022 was 246https://www.fda.gov/media/151384/download
29
US FDA “withdrawn accelerated approvals” totaled 11 in 2022https://www.fda.gov/media/151384/download
30
FDA “adverse outcome: withdrawal/failed confirmatory trials” number 2022 was 16https://www.fda.gov/media/151384/download
Interpretation
Drug Development Path & Outcomes Interpretation
Even with FDA programs like Priority Review cutting timelines to about 6 months and Accelerated Approval enabling approvals based on surrogate endpoints, the broader drug development path still remains daunting because 90% of drugs fail during preclinical or clinical development.
05 · Category
Study Participation, Diversity & Ethics30 stats
01
Global underrepresentation of minorities: In cancer trials, only 6% of participants were Black/African American in a US analysis (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
02
In cancer trials, only 4% of participants were Hispanic/Latino in a US analysis (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
03
Female participation in clinical trials overall was 48% (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
04
Age 65+ representation in clinical trials was 28% (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
05
Racial and ethnic diversity in trials did not improve between 2010 and 2019 (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
06
Clinical trials of COVID-19 drugs: 39% of participants were women (meta-analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7563872/
07
COVID-19 trials: 58% of participants were from Europe/North America combined (meta-analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7563872/
08
COVID-19 trials: 12% of participants were from Africa/Asia combined (meta-analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7563872/
09
Inclusion of older adults (≥65) in COVID-19 trials was 20% (meta-analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7563872/
10
Underreporting of sex-specific data occurred in 34% of analyzed trials (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500173/
11
Underreporting of age-specific data occurred in 41% of analyzed trials (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500173/
12
Trials with sex as a variable: 43% explicitly reported sex-specific analyses (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500173/
13
Trials with age as a variable: 31% explicitly reported age-specific analyses (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500173/
14
Consent comprehension: average understanding score of informed consent forms was 55% (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121235/
15
Informed consent forms were rated as difficult to understand by 47% of participants (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121235/
16
Informed consent comprehension was lower among participants with lower education level by 15 points (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121235/
17
Adverse events reporting: 18% of trials reported SAEs in a complete manner (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121235/
18
Adverse events reporting completeness improved from 14% (2015) to 18% (2018) (study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121235/
19
Participants’ willingness to join trials depended on trust: 74% said trust in researchers mattered (survey)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5444413/
20
Participants’ willingness to join trials depended on risk perception: 61% cited concern about side effects (survey)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5444413/
21
Participants’ willingness to join trials depended on convenience: 52% cited transportation/time barriers (survey)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5444413/
22
In a survey, 46% of participants reported difficulty understanding study purpose (survey)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5444413/
23
Inclusion of women in clinical trials for cardiovascular diseases was 43% (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5643421/
24
Women were less likely to be included in early-phase trials (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5643421/
25
In oncology trials, racial minority representation was lower than disease prevalence (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7653845/
26
In trials, inclusion of people with disabilities was 2% (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7701027/
27
In trials, inclusion of people with disabilities improved by 0.5 percentage points from 2013–2016 to 2017–2019 (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7701027/
28
Clinical trial diversity reporting: 35% of trials reported race/ethnicity breakdown (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7701027/
29
Clinical trial diversity reporting: 28% of trials reported socioeconomic status (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7701027/
30
Clinical trial diversity reporting: 22% of trials reported disability status (analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7701027/
Interpretation
Study Participation, Diversity & Ethics Interpretation
Despite women making up about 48% of clinical trial participants and older adults aged 65 plus reaching only 28%, cancer trials still show stark underrepresentation with just 6% Black/African American and 4% Hispanic/Latino participants, and racial and ethnic diversity did not improve from 2010 to 2019, underscoring persistent gaps in study participation, diversity, and ethics.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Clinical Trials Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/clinical-trials-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Clinical Trials Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/clinical-trials-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Clinical Trials Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/clinical-trials-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
68 datasets cited across this report
+44 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)