Global Trials Can't Afford To Overlook Africa

By KimberLee Heidmann

Africa’s clinical research capacity has matured, with trained investigators, modern infrastructure, and treatment-naïve populations ready for large-scale trials. Yet most studies on the continent remain confined to infectious disease, even as non-communicable conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer now account for 37% of deaths in the WHO African Region. This mismatch leaves patients underserved and sponsors without the robust, representative data needed for global drug approvals.

The challenge is not necessarily site readiness, but patient burden. Travel, meals, and lost wages often fall on participants, making trial enrollment a financial strain. Sites frequently resort to handling cash for reimbursements—inefficient, risky, and a distraction from research. Regulators, however, are clear: participant support is not optional but an ethical requirement. With the African Medicines Agency now operational and national frameworks modernizing, there is momentum to enshrine patient services as central to trial success. Sponsors who act now can help shape these standards while benefiting from faster enrollment, stronger retention, and data that reflect Africa’s diverse populations. The opportunity is clear: with secure patient payments, streamlined site support, and regulatory alignment, Africa can move from trial readiness to reliable results—and establish itself as a true hub for global clinical research.