Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Service Type, By Phase, By Therapeutic Area, By Age group, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global clinical trial patient recruitment services market size was valued at USD 840.9 million in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.07% from 2023 to 2030. The growing number of clinical studies globally is one of the key reasons supporting the demand for clinical trial patient recruitment services. Moreover, there is a growing amount of funding for clinical research, and the wide adoption of digital technologies in clinical research further supports the market's growth. For instance, in October 2021, the U.S. FDA approved 11 new clinical trial research, resulting in over USD 25 million in funding over the next 4 years. These grants aim to support the development of new medical products specifically for treating rare diseases.

During the pandemic, restrictions on movement and stay-at-home orders created an obstacle in clinical trials intended to find effective treatments for various diseases. The integrity of over 330,000 clinical trials registered on Clinicaltrials.gov was impacted as the novel coronavirus continued its spread worldwide. As of March 26, 2020, at least 18 pharma or biotech companies reported disturbance in clinical trials as a result of the pandemic. The shift in focus of biopharmaceutical companies on developing vaccines and therapies in response to COVID-19 has resulted in unintended consequences that disrupted clinical trials for other diseases. However, post-pandemic, the market growth resumed its trajectory and is anticipated to grow further over the forecast period.

In addition, digital technology has made it possible to develop a strong patient recruiting strategy, whereas historically drug manufacturers have utilized TV commercials, radio, and print media for patient recruitment. With the help of digital capabilities and technological innovations, traditional engagement can be enhanced with digital engagement. Hospitals and caregivers can continuously monitor & track patient health remotely; patients do not have to visit hospitals physically. As a result, the outcome of the treatment can be tracked easily, contributing to data collection, analysis, and data-driven decision-making.

Globally, clinical studies have increased from 2,119 in 2000 to 437,530 as of July 10, 2023. According to data gathered from ClinicalTrial.gov, there has been a 49.2% rise in clinical trials over the past 5 years. In 2018, there were 293,243 trials registered internationally. As of July 10, 2023, around 437,530 trials were registered. Clinical trial starts overall climbed by 23.6% in 2020, maintaining growth patterns from the previous 3 years and taking into consideration the speedy return to pre-COVID-19 levels that began in the middle of the year. The number of remote, virtual, or decentralized trials grew significantly in 2020, particularly studies related to COVID-19, and accelerated the development & approval of vaccines and therapies. Historically high levels of cancer trial launch in 2020-76.5% more than in 2015- reflect tremendous momentum in this field, particularly with regard to rare cancer indications, which now make up 63% of all oncology trials.

Clinical trial patient recruitment service providers offer valuable assistance to pharmaceutical companies by streamlining the recruitment process and improving patient retention throughout the clinical trial. As a result, many companies are now outsourcing patient recruitment services to these specialized organizations. This trend creates opportunities for market players in the patient recruitment services sector to expand their global presence and meet the growing demand for efficient and effective patient recruitment strategies in clinical trials.

Service Type Insights

By service type, patient recruitment & registry services accounted for a maximum share of 67.9% in 2022 and are likely to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Patient recruitment is a challenging process, failure to recruit participants for clinical trials can have a significant impact on the research. Over 86% of all trials fail to reach enrollment deadlines, and 30% of phase III trials fail owing to enrollment difficulties. These factors are supporting the demand for patient recruitment & registry services in the market. The patient retention segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of about 8.2% from 2023 to 2030.

Some concerning statistics in clinical trials are encountered such as 85% of the clinical trials fail to recruit enough participants & 80% are delayed due to challenges in recruitment, as well as rate of dropout of participants is increasing.  Furthermore, 35% of trial participants dropped out and stated that informed consent was difficult to comprehend as per the CISCRP study.

Phase Insights

By phase, the Phase III segment has dominated the market in 2022 with a share of 57.2%. In this phase, over 300-3,000 patients are recruited, which is higher than the other phases of the clinical study. The high number of patients recruited for Phase III clinical trials supports this segment's demand for patient recruitment services. Furthermore, phase III clinical trials are more complex than other phases. In this phase, studies are conducted over a long term. This further improves the demand for participation in clinical trials and thus supports the segment market.

The Phase I segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of about 9.5% from 2023 to 2030. Phase I studies assess the safety of a device or drug and evaluate the tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the drug. This determines the effect of a device or drug on humans, including the way it is absorbed, metabolized, & excreted. It also examines the side effects of drugs in cases of increased dosage. This phase includes 20 to 100 healthy volunteers or people with the disease. According to. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the cost of patient recruitment and retention in this phase accounts for USD 43,195, which is comparatively less compared to that of other phases of clinical studies. Phase I consists of fewer patients as compared to other phases, hence phase I held the lowest share in the market with 9.7% in 2022.

Therapeutic Area Insights

By therapeutic area, the others segment accounted for a maximum share of 35.9% in 2022 and is likely to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Others include autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmic, and other diseases. The growing prevalence of these diseases and the increasing demand for novel treatment options are expected to support the market. As per CenterWatch, 1,480 clinical trials are actively recruiting volunteers for autoimmune diseases. Of this, 1,055 are interventional studies and 422 are observational. The segment is expected to grow due to the significant number of drugs in the pipeline, with drugs for arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. This is also expected to improve patient recruitment services for autoimmune clinical trials.

The oncology segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030. The number of people diagnosed with cancer is expected to increase considerably over the forecast period. The cancer survival rate has increased considerably, owing to research and advancements in the oncology field. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million people diagnosed each year. Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, with a survival rate of only 1 to 3 years. Approximately 13 people are diagnosed with GI stromal tumors each day. As per the UNC School of Medicine, more than 60,000 new cases of renal cell carcinoma are diagnosed every year in the U.S. These numbers represent an increase in the prevalence of cancer and the need for effective treatments against various types of cancer. Investment in R&D is expected to grow owing to disease prevalence across the world, which is improving the demand for oncology clinical trials globally and supporting the demand for patient recruitment for oncology trials.

Age group Insights

By age group, the adult segment accounted for a maximum share of 49.6% in 2022. The high number of clinical studies conducted with this age group is one of the key factors supporting segment growth. Moreover, the high prevalence of diabetes, thyroid disease, cancer, and other diseases in this age group supports the demand for a better treatment option for adults and, thus, the demand for patient recruitment services in this age group. The segment is also expected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 8.2% across the forecast period.

Large number of people are categorized as adults. Moreover, a majority of adults suffer from disorders such as pain, cardiovascular disorders, psoriasis, and asthma, which drives the demand for effective treatment options. As of November 2022, over 400,848 clinical studies were registered with adult participants. This accounts for the highest number of clinical trials registered on the basis of age group. This is one of the primary reasons that patient recruitment services are in high demand for recruiting adults for clinical studies. 

Adults in low- and middle-income countries lack access to necessary medications for treatment. Clinical trials provide people with novel treatment options for the treatment of chronic or rare diseases. Hence, it is expected that adults in large numbers would approach a clinical trial patient recruitment service provider for enrolling in trials, which is likely to support segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America held the largest share of 50.1% in 2022. The market is expected to grow significantly, driven by the region's substantial number of ongoing clinical trials. The market is further fueled by major investments in R&D and government support for clinical trials. The presence of leading Contract Research Organizations (CROs) that offer comprehensive support services, including patient recruitment, along with the active participation of multinational pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, has contributed to the expansion of the market in North America.

Furthermore, the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is expected to grow with a 9.1% CAGR across the forecast period. There is an increase in offshoring clinical trials to emerging economies like India, Japan, South Korea, and others. This is due to the low cost of trials and a wide patient pool, further supporting regional growth. Developed clinical research infrastructure, a strong hospital network, and the availability of skilled medical practitioners are further boosting the growth of the Asia Pacific market.

Competitive Insights

The global clinical trial patient recruitment services market is competitive due to the presence of companies offering their services. These organizations employ a variety of strategies to expand their market presence and share. Partnerships, collaborations, regional expansions, and M&A activities are key strategies undertaken by most of these companies. For instance, in March 2023, Aloha Health Network launched a SaaS platform to accelerate patient pre-selection & recruitment in biotech and pharmaceutical clinical trials. Some of the prominent players in the global clinical trial patient recruitment services market include:

• Clara Health

• Antidote

• BBK Worldwide

• Clariness

• Clinical Site Services (CCSi)

• Worldwide Clinical Trials

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (PPD Inc.)

• IQVIA; Inc

• Veristat

• Elligo Health Research

Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment Services Market Report Scope

Global Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment Services Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the regional & country level and provides an analysis of the latest trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this report, Grand View Research has segmented the global clinical trial patient recruitment services market based on services, phase, therapeutic area, age group, and region:

• Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Patient recruitment & registry services

  • Patient retention services

  • Others

• Phase Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Phase I

  • Phase II

  • Phase III

  • Phase IV

• Therapeutic Area Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Respiratory diseases

  • Pain and anesthesia

  • Oncology

  • Central nervous system

  • Cardiovascular

  • Endocrine

  • Anti-infective

  • Others

• Age group Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Child (birth-17 years)

  • Adult (18 - 64 years)

  • Older adults (65 years+)

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Thailand

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait