The demand for clinical trials is propelling globally with the surging cases of insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Also, with changing lifestyles, new health-related problems have occurred, and a few virus outbreaks like Monkeypox, COVID-19, Ebola, etc. These problems have triggered the requirement for numerous clinical trials to introduce full-fledged experimental treatments in the market. According to Inkwood Research, the global clinical trials support services market is estimated to surge with a 7.65% CAGR during the forecasting years 2022-2030.
Clinical trials support services are the distinctive services utilized during the molecular analysis of biosimilar & generics and the trial process of new drugs before their market introduction. Clinical support is practical and consistent assistance from medical professionals when their expertise is required. These support services prove to be significantly beneficial for the event of assay designing and drug & clinical testing.
In addition, the healthcare industry has witnessed a rapid rise in the number of drugs and vaccines in the market during the past few years, owing to the availability of various clinical trials support services. However, the number of new pharmaceutical products that enter the market varies greatly. For instance, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) introduced over 20 novel drugs in 2016, approximately 60 new products in 2018, and approved 50 new drugs in 2021.
These clinical trials support services are in place to ensure the safety of the volunteers and patients and draw accurate results from the testing during various phases.
‘Phases’ of Clinical Trials
- In a Phase I trial, tests are conducted for experimental treatment on a group of 20 to 80 healthy people to judge its side effects and safety to finalize the correct drug dosages.
- In Phase II trials, 100 to 300 people are included. This phase is inclined to test the effectiveness of the experimented treatment.
- Phase III trial gathers more information about effectiveness and safety by studying various populations, dosages, and treatment performance in combination with other drugs. Phase III clinical trials are more likely to be offered in doctor’s offices and community hospitals. Our analysis suggests that the Phase III trials segment is expected to capture the majority of the market shares during the forecast period, generating around $22.3 billion in revenue between 2022 and 2030.
- A Phase IV trial for experimented treatments is conducted after the approval of clinical authorities of the respective regions or countries. In this phase, effectiveness and safety are monitored in diverse populations thoroughly to ready the treatment for a market release.
The New Normal: Shifting Trends Post COVID-19
In April 2020, Medidata Technology and Solutions, a global platform supporting clinical trials, released a survey demonstrating that 69% of respondents were affected by the ability to participate in ongoing clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, 78% mentioned that this situation affected new trial initiations. However, as the world is slowly gaining its pace, ‘the new normal’ is proving to be significantly different for pharmaceutical companies as new trends are coming into play, shifting the strategic dynamics of clinical trial management.
Sharp Surge in Remote Trials
Remote clinical trials are ways in which monitors do not physically visit the site to transfer and review the data. However, the data is monitored virtually. With digital technology, contract research organizations (CROs), study sponsors, and stakeholders can access the data anywhere they want. This mode of clinical trials witnessed a significant rise during and post-COVID-19 lockdowns. When the remote trial model witnessed a rapid increase in deployment, big changes occurred to the traditional clinical trial supply chain. With decentralized trials, global reach is more easily achievable for clinical trial sponsors.
In terms of expanded participant pools, despite the big opportunities decentralized trials present for clinical research, challenges concerning the changing taxes and dynamic customs regulations become major problems for the sponsors. But, demand for the trials is expected to remain high post-COVID-19, even though the trials might have been rushed into adoption due to the pandemic.
Augmenting Vaccine Trials
In 2020, the onset of a global health emergency set multiple biotech companies on a chase to develop and introduce a vaccine effective against COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2. WHO’s COVID-19 Candidate Vaccine Landscape and Tracker states that more than 80 COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials. Further, with over 180 pre-clinical stages, the demand for vaccine trials is expected to remain high. Besides, escalating numbers of vaccine trials are influencing start-up and enrollment periods.
Moreover, clinical trials service providers like IQVIA, Labcorp Drug Development, Paraxel, Worldwide Clinical Trials, etc., can solve logistics challenges affecting timelines and access to large populations who can offer ready-to-plug-in infrastructure expedited timelines for gaining access into particular countries of clinical trial conduct.
The Way Forward
The emerging trends in clinical research indicate a shift from an efficiency-driven approach to a broad-based and effectiveness-driven approach. This shift is driven by an intent to improve the interdependence and partnership approach with the adoption of an integrated avenue that aims to align various stakeholders’ roles and interests in the clinical research processes.
Key players like Syneos Health, Labcorp Drug Development, ICON PLC, etc., are now opting for strategies for acquiring or merging with other firms to utilize the services they offer customers. For instance:
- In August 2021, WuXi AppTec acquired OXGENE, a pioneering United Kingdom-based development and contract research organization that develops and designs scalable gene therapy technologies.
- In October 2021, Syneos Health acquired RxDataScience, a leading healthcare-focused data analytics, data management, and artificial intelligence (AI) company.
As a result, the global clinical trials support services market encompasses responses to the increasing expectations of investors, sponsor companies, and market interests, thereby propelling its growth during the assessment period.
FAQs:
Which is the fastest-growing service in the global clinical trials support services market?
Data Management is the fastest-growing service in the global clinical trials support services market.
Which country has the most lucrative prospects in the global clinical trials support services market?
India has the most lucrative prospects in the global clinical trials support services market.