According to GlobalData’s Clinical Trials Database, among clinical trials for 2023, Phase II led with 41.0% of trials. This was followed by Phase I (26.6%), Phase III (17.0%), and Phase IV (15.4%).

Oncology had the highest number of clinical trials in Phase I and II in 2023 while the central nervous system had the most Phase III and IV trials, the same as it was in 2022.

Due to the differences in the absolute trial numbers in various therapy areas, the proportions of trials in different phases within each therapy area have been estimated to show an accurate picture of the phase-wise distribution of trials within and across multiple therapy areas.

Although oncology had the highest number of trials within Phase I, metabolic disorders had the largest proportion of Phase I trials with 36.5%, followed by cardiovascular (34.9%) and immunology (33.4%).

Oncology had the greatest proportion of Phase II trials, with 52.6% of the total trials, representing a slight increase from 2022.

This could be due to more oncology drugs being approved once in Phase II, possibly because the trial landscape is returning to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dermatology had the highest proportion of Phase III clinical trials (22.9%) while cardiovascular had the highest proportion of Phase IV trials (20.7%)