Catalonia climbs the rankings to 4th in Europe and 7th worldwide in clinical trials

Catalonia is consolidating its international leadership in clinical research, rising to 4th place in Europe and 7th worldwide in the number of active clinical trials. According to data from the 2025 BioRegion of Catalonia Report, Catalan centres are participating in 5,768 active studies, an activity level equivalent to 92% of all clinical trials registered in Spain. In other words, nine out of ten clinical trials registered in Spain involve Catalan centres. This level of activity places Catalonia ahead of countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey and the Netherlands.

The result marks an improvement on the previous year, when Catalonia ranked 5th in Europe and 8th worldwide, and confirms the strength of the Catalan clinical research system. In terms of activity, clinical trials involving Catalan centres have grown by 7.5%, outpacing growth across Spain as a whole, which stands at 1.9%.

In terms of clinical areas, oncology remains the main driver of clinical research in Catalonia, with 1,667 active trials and 6th place in Europe in this specialty. However, activity is increasingly diversifying into other therapeutic areas, with notable growth in dermatology (+20.3%), metabolic diseases (+8.9%) and the nervous system (+3.6%). Trials related to the immune, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the digestive system, haematology and mental health also stand out.

The distribution by phase confirms the maturity of the Catalan ecosystem: 45% of active trials are in phase III, 33% in phase II, 20% in phase I and 2% in phase IV. This balance positions Catalonia as a competitive environment both for the early validation of new therapies and for the development of advanced studies with the potential to reach patients.

Catalonia’s international positioning in clinical trials is driven by the strength of its healthcare system, the quality of its university hospitals and research institutes, its recruitment capacity, the presence of internationally renowned clinical professionals who attract new studies, and a well-established public-private collaboration model. The Catalan model combines strong industry-sponsored activity, which accounts for 75% of trials, with a significant share of non-commercial trials, which represent 25% and are promoted by academic organisations, hospitals, scientific societies and clinical researchers.

The leading commercial sponsors include pharmaceutical multinationals such as AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Sanofi, Amgen, Bayer and Pfizer, which choose Catalonia to conduct strategic clinical research with high therapeutic value. In the non-commercial sphere, activity is led by hospitals and institutes such as Hospital Clínic, Vall d’Hebron, Sant Pau, Bellvitge, Hospital del Mar and Sant Joan de Déu, which promote studies aimed at addressing clinical needs that are not always prioritised by industry.

Catalonia’s competitiveness in clinical trials will be further strengthened this year with the launch of the European FAST-EU procedure, driven with strong involvement from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). The procedure is designed to streamline the authorisation of multinational trials, help attract investment and accelerate the arrival of innovative therapies for patients.

Catalonia ranks 6th in Europe for active clinical trials in advanced therapies

Catalonia is also strengthening its position in advanced therapies, one of the country’s most strategic health areas. With 156 active clinical trials in advanced therapies, the territory accounts for 82% of Spain’s total in this field (eight out of ten trials registered in Spain in this area involve Catalan centres), and ranks 6th in Europe and 8th worldwide. In this field, the BioRegion has 20 therapeutic assets in clinical development, distributed between phase I and phase II.

This leadership in advanced therapies combines business initiative with hospital capacity. The Report highlights programmes promoted by companies such as Esteve, Theriva Biologics, OneChain Immunotherapeutics and SpliceBio, as well as the driving role of hospitals and centres including Hospital Clínic, VHIO, the Blood and Tissue Bank, IDIBAPS, IDIBELL, the Sant Pau Research Institute and IGTP.

According to Biocat CEO Robert Fabregat, “In recent years, Catalonia has become one of the world’s leading drivers of clinical trials. To remain a benchmark across the entire value chain and facilitate patient access to these therapies, we must combine this leadership in R&D with a firm commitment to scaling up and producing these therapies.”

Biocat is releasing these figures to mark International Clinical Trials Day, held every year on 20 May to commemorate the day in 1747 when James Lind began what is considered the first clinical trial in history. The day highlights clinical research as an essential tool for developing new treatments, improving the quality of life of people living with disease, and strengthening the international competitiveness of healthcare systems.