From Jan. to Oct. 2022, among the 3,632 international clinical trials approved by China Human Genetic Resource Administrative Office (hereafter referred to as the Office) to use the resources outside China, about 52% are conducted by contract research organizations (CROs) and about 48% by the applicants themselves.1
Among the CROs entrusted with clinical trials disclosed by the Office, IQVIA ranks the first with 167 projects. As the result of the merger of Quintiles and IMS Health, IQVIA features strong clinical research and data analysis services. With its headquarters in the US and offices in China, IQVIA is capable of helping overseas companies whose clinical research region involves China. IQVIA's top 4 clients are all foreign-invested companies, altogether contributing 50% of the projects.
TigerMed, a home grown CRO in China, takes the second place with 164 projects. Though having a relatively shorter history than overseas counterparts, TigerMed grows fast with employees spreading to 54 countries. For pharma companies aiming for the Chinese market, TigerMed is a popular choice with a sound understanding of local regulations and high recognition in China.
Top 3 is also a Chinese CRO ClinChoice with 58 projects, most of which are commissioned by biotech companies. Top 4-10 are LabCorp, Wuxi Clinical, PPD, Parexel, Syneos Health, R&G, and Clinical Service Center.2
Top 10 CROs with the Highest Number of International Clinical Trial Projects Entrusted by Pharmaceutical Companies to Use Chinese Human Genetic Resources Outside China | ||||||
CRO | Projects | Top 5 Clinical Trial Applicants | ||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
1. IQVIA | 167 | Roche | Eli Lilly | Merck Serono | Takeda | Everest Medicines |
2. Tigermed | 164 | Haihe Biopharma | Genor Biopharma | SinoCellTech | Roche | ETERN BioPharma |
3. ClinChoice | 58 | KeyMed Biosciences | Elpiscience | Miracogen | Genfleet | NovoCodex |
4. LabCorp | 55 | AstraZeneca | Antengene | Pierre Fabre | Haisco | EpimAb |
52 | Miracogen | Crinetics; Harbour BioMed; Lynk Pharmaceuticals; Roche Diagnostics; Sagacity; Adagene | ||||
6. PPD | 50 | Takeda | Celgene | Genzyme | Lundbeck; SFJ Pharmaceuticals; Jabobio, Zentera Therapeutics, AbbVie | |
7. Parexel | 45 | UCB | Laekna | BeiGene | Connect Biopharma | AstraZeneca |
41 | Roche | BMS | Daiichi Sankyo | Mirum | GSK | |
9. R&G | 41 | Allist | Zenshine Pharma | Shanghai Pharma | Yuekang Biotech | RedCloud Bio; Sunshine Guojian; Kelun Biotech |
40 | Mabwell | Hutchison Whampoa | TransThera | Jecho Biopharm | Xinnuowei; AstraZeneca | |
Data source: Ministry of Technology and Science of the People’s Republic of China | ||||||
CRO plays a significant role in clinical trials by providing professional and efficient R&D services. Entrusting clinical research to CROs can save pharma companies from huge costs for building up a large R&D team. Though some companies with strong in-house R&D teams are able to fulfil the clinical researches by themselves, CROs can probably get more orders in face of the burgeoning R&D needs.
Related: Leading Contract Research Organizations (CRO) in China
