Asian clinical trial trends by type of sponsor, trial phase, disease area and country

Abstract

Summary Asian trials are predominantly industry-sponsored phase III trials - 33.8% of all such trials registered are conducted in Asia. About half of the top 30 sponsors have an Asian arm for 25% or more of their phase II trials, and about half of the top 30 sponsors have an Asian arm for 50% or more of their phase III trials. About 70% of all industry-sponsored phase III trials conducted in Japan, India or China have five sites or more per trial compared to about 40% in South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. Hong Kong and Singapore have virtually no trial with five or more sites, while some 20% of phase III trials in Thailand and Malaysia have five or more sites. Oncology, endocrinology and cardiovascular trials are most frequently located to Asia. Seoul is the most popular Asian trial city, followed by Beijing, Taipei, Bangalore and Shanghai. It can be foreseen that all four countries in North East Asia will become the most important industry-sponsored emerging clinical trial region.