Segments - Healthcare Contract Research Organization Market by Type (Clinical, Drug Discovery, and Pre-clinical), Service (Bio-statistics, Data Management, Clinical Monitoring, Investigator Payments, Medical Writing, Laboratory, Patient & Site Recruitment, Project Management/Clinical Supply Management, Quality Management/ Assurance, Regulatory/Medical Affairs, Technology and Others), and Region (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2023 – 2031
The global healthcare contract research organization market size was valued at USD 48.3 billion in 2023 and is likely to reach USD 85.9 billion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of XX % during 2023 – 2031. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing demand for the specialized services of contract research organizations (CROs) in streamlining the research and development process.
Growing investment in research and development (R&D) programs in healthcare sectors is boosting the demand for CRO services, which further boosts the healthcare contract research organization market. These organizations play an important role in conducting research, clinical trials, and data analysis for healthcare companies. Moreover, CROs help healthcare organizations adhere to strict regulations and standards, reducing the risk of compliance issues and delays.
According to a report published on July 3, 2023, spending on research and development in the healthcare industry accounted for more than 12% of total revenue in 2021.
Healthcare contract research organizations (CROs) are hired by pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and other healthcare organizations. These organizations conduct various research and clinical trial activities on their behalf. They have highly skilled teams of professionals who help design, manage, and execute various aspects of medical research and development processes. Additionally, these CROs offer cost-effective solutions and services for companies, which aids in preventing the high expenses of maintaining in-house research teams and facilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the market. The urgent need for vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests boosts the demand for CROs with expertise in infectious disease research, clinical trials, and regulatory affairs. Pharmaceutical companies and governments approach these CROs to expedite COVID-19-related research. Furthermore, the pandemic highlighted the need for rapid data analysis and reporting, which further fueled the demand for CROs with data management expertise.
Emergence of artificial intelligence is expected to propel the market. AI technology is streamlining various aspects of healthcare research and clinical trials. AI-driven algorithms are also optimizing data management and analysis to provide fast insights and reduce the potential for human errors. Moreover, AI assists in predictive modeling, which allows CROs to anticipate patient responses and optimize study designs.
Increasing prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases is expected to drive the market. Pharmaceutical companies approach CROs to conduct research and clinical trials to address these pressing healthcare needs. Expertise of CROs in trial management, data analysis, and regulatory compliance ensures that these healthcare solutions meet stringent safety and efficacy standards. Moreover, the rising elderly population with chronic diseases further contributes to the market growth.
As per the report published by the National Library of Medicine on January 13, 2023, approximately 71.522 million people aged 50 years or older suffered from at least one chronic disorder in 2020. The report also estimated this number to increase to 142.66 million by 2050.
Complex and stringent regulations imposed by agencies, including FDA, are expected to hinder the market. FDA approval is important for healthcare products, and any decline in approval rates leads to delays in the introduction of drugs and therapies in the market. This increases project timelines and reduces clinical trials for CROs, which affects their demand and hampers market growth.
Rapid expansion of the biopharmaceutical industry is expected to create immense opportunities for the players competing in the market. The biopharmaceutical industry focuses on developing drugs and therapies based on biological substances, such as proteins, antibodies, and genetic materials. CROs are equipped with teams of experts in biologics, gene therapies, and other biopharmaceutical areas. Additionally, CROs implement robotic process automation (RPA) for automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks in clinical trial management to reduce errors, which further fuels their demand.
The report on the market includes an assessment of the market, trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.
Attributes |
Details |
Report Title |
Healthcare Contract Research Organization Market- Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast |
Base Year |
2022 |
Historic Data |
2016–2021 |
Forecast Period |
2023–2031 |
Segmentation |
Type (Clinical, Drug Discovery, and Pre-clinical) and Service (Bio-statistics, Data Management, Clinical Monitoring, Investigator Payments, Medical Writing, Laboratory, Patient & Site Recruitment, Project Management/Clinical Supply Management, Quality Management/ Assurance, Regulatory/Medical Affairs, Technology and Others) |
Regional Scope |
Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa |
Report Coverage |
Company Share, Market Analysis and Size, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends, and Revenue Forecast |
Key Players Covered in the Report |
Charles River Laboratories; ICON plc; IQVIA Inc; Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings; Medidata; Parexel International (MA) Corporation; PHARMALEX GMBH; Pharmaron; Syneos Health; TATA Consultancy Services Limited; and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc |
Based on type, the healthcare contract research organization market is divided into clinical, drug discovery, and pre-clinical. The clinical segment is expected to hold a major market revenue share during the forecast period, due to the increasing prevalence of biologics and the necessity for personalized medicines. Moreover, factors such as the ongoing technological advancements, globalization of clinical trials, and the rising demand for contract research organizations services to oversee clinical trials are expected to continue propelling the market.
The pre-clinical studies segment is projectedto expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, owing to the rising need to minimize research and development costs in the healthcare industry. CROs offer specialized expertise and facilities to conduct these studies efficiently, saving healthcare companies both time and resources. Furthermore, the expanding pipeline of innovative therapeutic products further facilitated the segment growth.
According to the report published by the World Healthcare Organization in June 2022, over 217 anti bacterial therapeutic drugs are in the pre-clinical stage as of September 2021.
On the basis of service, the market is classified as bio-statistics, data management, clinical monitoring, investigator payments, medical writing, laboratory, patient & site recruitment, project management/clinical supply management, quality management/ assurance, regulatory/medical affairs, technology, and others. The clinical monitoring segment is anticipated to register robust growth during the forecast period,due to the growing number of clinical trials and the need to monitor these clinical trials.
Clinical services offered by CROs cover the entire spectrum of clinical trial phases, from early-stage trials assessing drug safety to late-stage trials. They provide the expertise and infrastructure to plan, conduct, and manage these trials efficiently. Additionally, numerous IT services and consulting firms are enteringthe clinical research field by innovating clinical monitoring platforms, which boosts the market.
On April 18, 2022, TATA Consultancy Services Limited, a multinational consulting and information-based technology services company, launched a risk-based monitoring solution for clinical trials. This technology allows for smart decision-making, improves study efficiency, and increases compliance. Additionally, this new risk-based monitoring technology enables companies to identify risks and detect fraud through advanced statistical algorithms, which, in turn, drives intelligent data-driven decision-making.
The regulatory/medical affairs segment is projected to expand ata considerable CAGR during the forecast period, due to the growing need to secure approval for novel products. CROs are adept at navigating the stringent requirements set by regulatory agencies such as the FDA.
CROs provide support in global markets, addressing varying international regulatory standards, which is essential for expanding the reach of healthcare products. Additionally, they provide regulatory services focused on prioritizing expansion strategies that further propel their demand.
In terms of region, the global healthcare contract research organization market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market, owing to the rapidly growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors in emerging economies, including India and China.
This growth has created substantial demand for CRO services to support drug development and clinical trials. Furthermore, the positive actions taken by public institutions aimed at expediting the drug approval process further boosts the market in this region.
The market in North America is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace in the coming years, due to increasing government support for research and development (R&D) activities through grants and funding provided to research institutes and companies. These resources enable research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and CROs to undertake innovative projects, including clinical trials and drug development. These factors contribute to the market growth in this region.
The global healthcare contract research organization market has been segmented on the basis of
Key players competing in the global healthcare contract research organization market are Charles River Laboratories; ICON plc; IQVIA Inc.; Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings; Medidata; Parexel International (MA) Corporation; PHARMALEX GMBH; Pharmaron; Syneos Health; TATA Consultancy Services Limited; and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
These companies are expanding their market share by adopting various strategies, such as partnerships, mergers, reduction in production costs, launching services, and adopting advanced technologies.