Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, part of the body's immune system.
In NHL, abnormal lymphocytes - a type of white blood cell - begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumours in lymph nodes or other tissues. With more than 60 distinct subtypes characterised by abnormal lymphoid cells at different stages of differentiation. NHL can affect people of all ages, but it is more commonly diagnosed in older adults. B-cell lymphomas, accounting for approximately 85% of NHL cases in the United States, predominantly affect individuals aged 60 years and older.
Symptoms of NHL can include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Treatment for NHL may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or stem cell transplant, depending on the subtype and stage of the disease. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for managing NHL and improving outcomes.
2022 saw a slight decline, followed by a rebound to 471 trials in 2023
According to GlobalData’s Clinical Trials Database, since 2019 there has been a notable increase in the number of clinical trials focusing on advancing the understanding and treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Although there was a slight decline in the number of trials in 2022, the figure rebounded in 2023 to 471 trials, indicating sustained interest and commitment within the research community towards exploring novel treatment modalities for NHL.
The landscape of NHL research is primarily dominated by Phase II clinical trials, with 57.5% of all studies focusing on evaluating the efficacy and safety of potential treatments in larger patient cohorts. Phase I trials account for 27.1%, underscoring ongoing efforts to identify and develop innovative therapeutic strategies for NHL. Phase III covers a smaller percentage of trials with 8.7%, suggesting that promising drugs are progressing towards the final stages of research, potentially paving the way for their introduction into clinical practice. Only 6.5% of trials are in Phase IV.
The majority of clinical trials for NHL were completed, then followed by ongoing S/T/Ws [studies within trials].