Total number of registered clinical studies worldwide 2000-2024

Clinical studies are an important part of drug development globally. The number of registered clinical trials has increased significantly in recent years. As of April 15, 2024, there were over 491 thousand clinical studies registered globally. The number of clinical studies has increased significantly since there were just 2,119 registered in 2000. In general, clinical trials have grown more complex in recent years and remain vital for the research and development of new drugs and products.

Research and development

Research and development are an important part of pharmaceutical companies and includes drug development and product development. Among all industry sectors, the pharmaceutical industry spends the largest percentage of their revenue on research and development. Many companies are active in pharmaceutical research and development globally. It is projected Swiss company Roche will remain one of the largest research and development spenders among pharmaceutical companies in the near future.

Clinical studies globally

Most clinical studies occurring globally are held in countries outside of the U.S.. Many clinical trials performed outside of the U.S. and EU are done so because it is often easier and cheaper to conduct trials in other locations. Success rates for clinical trials depend heavily on the stage of the trial and the drugs or products being developed. Recent data suggested that only around 29 percent of drugs make it from phase II to phase III.