GLOBAL Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
on Clinical Trials

Wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted clinical trials worldwide?
Explore the effects conveniently with our user-friendly data visualizer.

Clinical trials are critical for advancing medical research, but the pandemic has posed significant challenges. From patient recruitment to trial timelines, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on clinical research.
Our interactive data visualizer allows you to easily compare the number of non-COVID-19 clinical trials to COVID-19 clinical trials from 2015 to 2023.

You can filter the data by country, trial phase, trial status, and other parameters to see how the numbers change over time.

Global overview of the number of non COVID-19 clinical trials vs. number of COVID-19-related clinical trials

Hypotheses (global):
  • There has been a significant shift in the distribution of clinical trials in 2020 toward regions heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • There has been a decrease in the number of non-COVID-19 clinical trials being conducted in regions heavily affected by the pandemic in 2020.
  • There has been a significant increase in COVID-19 clinical trials being conducted globally from 2020 onwards.
  • Countries that conducted most of the clinical trials also have the biggest number of COVID-related trials conducted.
Findings (global):
  • Aside from China, Australia, and Brazil, there was no significant shift in the distribution of clinical trials toward regions heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
  • Indeed, there has been a decrease in the number of non-COVID-19 clinical trials being conducted in regions heavily affected by the pandemic, aside from China and Australia who experienced growth in non-COVID-19 clinical trials in 2020.
  • Indeed, there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 clinical trials being conducted globally from 2020 onwards.
  • Indeed, countries that conducted most of the clinical trials also have the biggest number of COVID-19-related trials conducted.

Distribution of clinical trials by status - comparison of pre-COVID-19 (2015-2019) and COVID-19 time period (2020-2023) worldwide

Hypotheses (global):
  • COVID-19 has led to a greater proportion of (non-COVID-19) "active" trials with a "not yet recruiting" status in the period 2020-2023.
  • COVID-19 has led to a lower proportion of (non-COVID-19) "active" trials with a "recruiting" status in the period 2020-2023.
  • COVID-19 disruptions have resulted in a decrease in the proportion of (non-COVID-19) clinical trials with a "completed" or "terminated" status.
  • COVID-19 disruptions have resulted in a increase in the proportion of (non-COVID-19) clinical trials with a "completed" or "terminated" status in the period 2020-2023.
Findings (global):
  • Indeed, COVID-19 has led to a greater proportion of (non-COVID-19) "active" trials with a "not yet recruiting" status in the period 2020-2023.
  • In fact, data suggests there has been an increase in the proportion of (non-COVID-19) "active" trials with a "recruiting" status in the period 2020-2023.
  • In fact, data suggests there has been a decrease in the proportion of (non-COVID-19) trials with a "completed" and "terminated" status in the period 2020-2023.

Distribution of clinical trials by phase - comparison of pre-COVID-19 (2015-2019) and COVID-19 time period (2020-2023) worldwide

Hypotheses (global):
  • COVID-19 has led to a greater number of clinical trials being conducted in phase I and phase II.
  • COVID-19 has led to a lower number of clinical trials being conducted in phase III and phase IV.
  • COVID-19 has led to a higher proportion of clinical trials with expedited approval and emergency use designations.
Findings (global):
  • There is no sufficient data evidence that suggest COVID-19 has led to a greater number of clinical trials being conducted in phase I and phase II.
  • Indeed, COVID-19 has led to a lower number of clinical trials being conducted in phase III and phase IV.

Number of non COVID-19 and COVID-19-related clinical trials by intervention type worldwide (2015-2023)

Hypotheses (global):
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater emphasis on drug therapies and vaccines as the primary intervention type in clinical trials.
  • Because of the increase in remote monitoring, the number of device interventions should increase.
Findings (global):
  • Indeed, The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater emphasis on drug therapies and vaccines as the primary intervention type in clinical trials.
  • Indeed, the number of device interventions increased.

Number of non COVID-19 and COVID-19-related clinical trials by primary disease worldwide (2015-2023)

Hypotheses (global):
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the number of clinical trials focused on infectious and respiratory diseases.
Findings (global):
  • Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the number of clinical trials focused on infectious and respiratory diseases.
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