Completed Clinical Trials Continued To Climb In 2024

By Drew Muscara, Trialtrove Analyst, Citeline

The 2024 Annual Completed Clinical Trials Report highlights a dynamic and expanding clinical research landscape, with 4,903 industry-sponsored trials from Phases I through III/IV achieving completion or primary endpoints—a 14.2% increase over 2023. This growth was consistent across all therapeutic areas, notably driven by record activity in oncology, autoimmune/inflammation (A/I), and central nervous system (CNS) studies. Early-phase trials (Phases I–II) dominated completions, particularly in oncology and vaccines, signaling robust innovation pipelines. Positive trial outcomes were highest in respiratory vaccines (48.2%), COVID-19 (37.8%), and obesity (37.6%). Despite variability in success rates, top sponsors like AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., and Pfizer maintained high volumes and strong outcomes, particularly in pivotal trials.

Overall, the data reflects a shift toward sustained growth across trial phases and therapeutic areas, with new therapies advancing rapidly—particularly in oncology, A/I, and CNS. These trends underscore an increasingly competitive, data-rich environment driving drug development forward.