IPHA calls for continued momentum and reform to ensure more patients can benefit from life-saving clinical trials.

20 May 2025

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) welcomes encouraging progress in clinical trials activity in Ireland over the past year, as reported in its latest Clinical Trials Activity Comparison Report launched today (Tuesday). IPHA also fully supports the implementation of the interim recommendations of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group to support the expansion of clinical trials and to meet the ambitions set out in the Programme for Government to increase the number of clinical trials.

The IPHA report shows a 34% increase in the number of pharmaceutical industry-sponsored clinical trials commenced in Ireland in 2024 compared to 2023 (43 vs 32 respectively). Notably, in another improvement, the average time to recruit the first patient into a trial dropped by 31%, from 67 days in 2023 to 46 days in 2024. These developments mark tangible progress and reflect the collaborative efforts made to improve clinical research infrastructure and processes.

Despite these positive steps, Ireland still lags many of its European peers. In 2024, Ireland ranked 18th out of 27 EU countries in clinical trials per capita. When the data over a two-year period (2023-2024) is compared to that of Denmark, which has a similar population and economic wealth to Ireland, a total of 75 pharmaceutical industry sponsored clinical trials commenced in Ireland during this period compared to 229 in Denmark – just over three times as many as Ireland.

In 2024 former Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, stated he would like to see Ireland double its clinical trials activity. If this ambition was matched, it could rise Ireland from 18th to 4th place in Europe for clinical trials per capita. In this regard, IPHA acknowledges the foundational work already underway through the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group and urges continued cross-sector collaboration to build a more predictable and efficient clinical trials environment in Ireland.

IPHA has been playing its part. We have collaborated with the State Claims Agency and HSE in the creation of the standard Clinical Trial Indemnity Form and model Clinical Trial Agreement, respectively, which have substantially improved the start-up efficiency of clinical trials. We are continuing to work hard to remove other barriers, create a better environment for the conduct of clinical trials in Ireland and ensure that patients in Ireland can access key life-changing trials in Ireland.

Dr. Rebecca Cramp, IPHA’s Director of Code and Regulatory Affairs said “The progress we’ve made in increasing the number of clinical trials and improving time to first patient is welcome, but we must move faster to ensure patients in Ireland gain earlier access to innovative and potentially life-saving treatments.

“IPHA is proposing practical, high-impact reforms that can be implemented quickly with the continued collaboration with all stakeholders. Ireland has the clinical talent, the infrastructure, and the industry investment. Now we need a clinical research ecosystem that matches our ambition and capabilities.

“IPHA remains committed to working with the Health Service Executive, Department of Health, academic institutions, and hospitals to ensure Ireland becomes a leading destination for clinical trials in Europe—so that patients here are among the first to benefit from medical innovation.”

To this end, IPHA is recommending five targeted reforms to reduce start-up delays and enhance Ireland’s attractiveness for the conduct of clinical research:

1. Standardise clinical trial start-up requirements (including Data Protection Impact Assessments) and timelines for hospitals;
2. Designate specific clinical trial signatories in each hospital with a standard sign-off process;
3. Measure and track KPIs and embed research into clinical care;
4. Appoint at least one permanent clinical research nurse post for each teaching hospital;
5. Ensure the development of a robust, effective and efficient digital healthcare system to help speed up patient identification.

ENDS

Note to editor: link to full report here