Barcelona, among the top 10 in Europe in clinical trials
<p>Catalonia is among the top 10 territories in Europe in terms of participation in clinical trials and among the top 20 in the world</p>
<p>In oncology, Catalonia is in the European Top 5 and the global Top 10</p>
<p>The 15 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world have trials underway at Catalan hospitals and centers</p>
<p>The ease of recruiting patients and presence of world-renowned researchers make Catalonia a global benchmark</p>
Barcelona, November 20, 2019. - The main Catalan research centers have a joint total of over 6,000 active participations in nearly 4,000 clinical trials. In 2017 alone, more than 1,000 trial participations began in Catalonia (one trial may have participations at two or more Catalan centers). If we compare this internationally, Catalonia would be ranked 16th in the world in number of trial participations and 7th in Europe.
Source: Compiled internally based on data from the UNEIX and WHO
With these figures, Catalonia would be ranked second in the world by number of trials per million inhabitants, behind only Denmark and ahead of countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland. From November 19 to 21, Barcelona is hosting the international Clinical Trials Europe event, which is bringing together representatives from the global clinical trials arena. “Barcelona is a great center of innovation and scientific research, and an important hub for the rest of Europe,” highlights Louisa Maitland, director of the Clinical Trials Europe conference.
Of the clinical trials conducted in Catalonia, 37.3% are in oncology, followed by those in blood and immune diseases (9.9%), the circulatory system (8.1%), infectious diseases (5.8%) and the digestive system (5.4%), according to data from the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS). In fact, based only on participations in oncology trials, Catalonia would be in the European Top 5 and the global Top 10.
Source: Compiled internally based on data from the UNEIX and WHO
Biocat CEO Jordi Naval highlights that “Catalonia is one of the benchmark destinations for clinical trials, due to the ease of recruitment through the healthcare system and the presence of top-notch researchers in their field, like Josep Tabernero in oncology, Jordi Bruix and Josep Maria Llovet in hepatology, Antoni Bayes-Genis in cardiology, Bonaventura Clotet in HIV and Xavier Montalban in multiple sclerosis, to name just a few.”
By centers, the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus is the most active in clinical trials in Catalonia, and one of the most active in Europe. In 2018 alone, this hospital began 306 new trials and recruited more than 1,600 patients, 1,500 in oncology. Other Catalan centers that are very active in clinical trials are those with ties to Hospital Clinic, Bellvitge Hospital, Hospital Sant Pau, Parc Taulí and Hospital del Mar.
All of the major global pharmaceutical companies have clinical trials underway in Catalonia, including the top 15 by turnover (Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, GSK, Sanofi, AbbVie, Bayer, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Bristol- Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, AstraZeneca and Teva). Participation in clinical trials saves the public healthcare system money: for example, Vall d'Hebron estimates the hospital saved nearly €26 million last year in oncology medicine by including patients in clinical trials. About Biocat Biocat is the organization that champions the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem in Catalonia working to transform science and technology into regional economic growth as well as social impact. Since 2008, Biocat has invested 13M+ euros in 450+ programs and activities , that have attracted near 24,000 participants, 2,600+ students and 1,500+ firms and organizations. In terms of business. 165+ projects have been accelerated and 300+ direct new jobs have been created.
