30 Oct Overview of clinical trials and clinical trial translation in 2024

Clinical trials are a key part of the biopharmaceutical industry, so it is no wonder that the number of clinical trials worldwide is growing every day. Did you know that this huge market is expected to exceed $153 billion by 2033? Currently, there are more than 920,000 studies being continuously updated with new trial information covering areas as well-known as oncology or less well-known ones, such as rare diseases. To manage global communication and ensure the success of clinical trials, this growing trend requires accurate and professional clinical trial translation in 2024.

A steady recovery from 2019 to 2023

Between 2019 and 2023, the number of registered clinical trials increased by more than 13%. However, COVID-19 induced growth came to a halt in 2022, as the science industry faced numerous challenges. Among these were supply chain disruptions, regulatory bottlenecks, and the withdrawal of investment in response to various macroeconomic factors that created uncertainty in the sector. Despite this, there was a steady recovery in 2023 (on average, 6,549 clinical trials were registered each month). This recovery is also continuing in 2024, driven by renewed interest in a wide range of therapeutic areas and the resumption of delayed research projects.

Predominance of oncology

As in previous years, oncology dominated the clinical trials landscape in 2023, with almost five times as many trials registered compared to cardiology, the second-largest therapeutic area.

In contrast, dermatology saw the lowest number of trials registered. This could indicate a lower incidence of new dermatological conditions or less interest in this area.

Oncology clinical trials

There are numerous segments for oncology-related clinical trials. However, between 2019 and 2023, clinical trials aimed at treating breast and lung cancers were the most frequently registered. These are the most common forms of cancer, highlighting the continued drive to develop effective treatments.

The globalisation of clinical trials in 2024

Overall, it appears that the clinical trials market will continue to grow. A steady recovery was seen in 2023, providing optimism for clinical trials in the future.

In 2024, clinical trials are increasingly global, spanning multiple countries, languages and regulations. This not only allows for a greater diversity of participants, but also opens up access to new treatment opportunities for people around the world.

However, this level of expansion presents a challenge, namely the language barrier. Medical translations play a key role in overcoming this barrier, as they ensure that all parties involved can understand and access all documentation related to these clinical trials. This includes the translation of clinical protocols, informed consents, safety reports, research results and investigator-patient communications.

The role of clinical trial translation in 2024

Clinical trials play a crucial role in the advancement of modern medicine. These trials are fundamental in developing new treatments, medicines and medical devices, as well as in ensuring the safety and efficacy of existing therapies.

Collaboration with a medical translation agency is more important than ever for the success and growth of clinical trials. This is essential to:

• ensure that clinical trials comply with linguistic and regulatory requirements in different countries,
• enable organisations to communicate effectively in multiple languages,
• facilitate regulatory compliance and patient safety,
• achieve global expansion of medical research.

To ensure that clinical trials continue to advance around the world, medical translation remains an essential partner in this process. Not only does it open the door to new therapies and treatments, but it also ensures safety, accuracy and regulatory compliance as these studies grow in 2024.