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CRO Market

CRO industry revenue is projected to total $20 billion in 2010, representing approximately one-third of total pharma and biotech R&D spending.

In 2008, ACRO member companies conducted more than 9,000 clinical trials involving nearly 2 million participants in 115 countries.

ACRO members employ more than 66,000 people worldwide, of whom 43% are in the North America, 36% in Europe and 21% are in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. Approximately 3,200 of these employees are MDs, PhDs, PharmDs or the equivalent.

According to the independent Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, clinical trials conducted by CROs are completed an average of 30 percent more quickly than those conducted in-house. This results in an average time savings of some four to five months, translating to $120 million to $150 million in increased revenue potential.

According to clinicaltrials.gov, approximately 53% of clinical trials are performed in the United States, 24% in Europe and 23% in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia.

In 2008, the average ACRO member company worked on nearly 400 medications in development.

In 2008, approximately 18% of the clinical trials conducted by ACRO member companies were in the area of oncology; these involved 67 unique cancer drugs in development and more than 300,000 patients. The most common areas of research were: Non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia.

In 2008, central nervous system (CNS) disorders represented approximately 15% of clinical trials conducted by ACRO members where 55 new drugs were tested in areas like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

Cardiovascular disease (10%), infectious disease (10%) and metabolic disease (7%) represent other major areas of research at ACRO members.

Association of Clinical Research Organizations
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