March 2021
The pandemic has caused a significant disruption to the CRO sector with a suspension of trials, given the difficulties in carrying out on-site activities and social distancing measure even when sites are active
Over the past three months, the number of clinical trials recruiting has improved at a steady pace and ended the year increasing 5%. The research that was put on pause a results of the pandemic, has recommenced and at the beginning of this year the number of clinical trials suspended had declined
On a relative basis, the trials that were suspended in the earliest stage of Phase 1 remain the most impacted. Late stage Phase 3 & 4 trials also remain significantly impacted on a relative basis compared to last year due to the larger number of patients needed for enrollment. Overall trial suspension is down 29% in January 2021 compared to last year
Source: McKinsey, Citi
Europe experienced a strong Q4 ending up 6% YoY whereas the US has experienced a slower recovery increasing 1% on YoY, with a larger number of trials suspended compared to other regions
CROs have not signalled any unusual amount of cancellations among COVID trials. Larger CROs have experienced an increase in the percentage of total awards related to COVID trials sequentially in Q3