The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) has published today the 2020 Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) clinical trials database and report, which show a marked 20% growth in the number of ATMP clinical trials across the UK.
The number of commercially sponsored trials has shown a dramatic surge since 2019, with an almost 30% increase from 89 to 115 trials. Commercial trials now make up three-quarters of the ATMP trial landscape, with the majority being backed by international companies, demonstrating the appeal of the UK ATMP clinical and commercial landscape.
The report published today shows there were 154 ongoing ATMP clinical trials reported in total in 2020, which is a 20% increase since 2019. Noticeably this increase includes a growth in late-stage clinical trials demonstrating a continued progression towards commercialisation.
The overall growth in the number of ATMP clinical trials in 2020 may imply that the onset of COVID-19 and the pressures it caused on the healthcare system have not had an impact on this industry. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have delayed some clinical trials. The database and report published today show a decrease in the number of trials closing and a number of sites have reporting putting trials on hold. The full extent of the pandemic’s impact may not yet be fully ascertained and may result in a slight slowing of growth in the coming years.
Matthew Durdy, CEO of CGT Catapult, said: “Such a remarkable rise in the number of UK clinical trials in just one year is a testament to the tremendous strength of the entire UK ATMP industry and continuous backing of the government in progressing it. The UK’s robust clinical space complements the growth seen in the GMP manufacturing space last year both contributing to a cementing of the infrastructure supporting ATMP developers in the UK.”