Cancer Trials Ireland has published a new report, The Value of Cancer Clinical Trials, calling for a significant increase in Government investment in cancer clinical trials and increased funding for Cancer Trials Ireland itself. The report demonstrates the value that investment in cancer clinical trials brings to patients, the health service, and the wider Irish economy by not only improving patient outcomes, but by also saving the HSE money in treatment costs, and attracting additional inward investment.
“The evidence is clear and undisputed—patients on clinical trials do better,” said Angela Clayton-Lea, CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland. “Cancer trials save lives. They bring access to new treatments that are otherwise unavailable to patients in Ireland, and they bring increased oversight for patients through more scans, tests and follow-up with their medical consultant, research nurse and medical team. These are the factors that improve patient outcomes.”
“Beyond patient outcomes, as this report demonstrates, cancer trials generate tangible financial savings for the State. Despite this, Ireland continues to lag comparable countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, and even less wealthy countries like Finland, both in the scale of our investment and overall clinical trial activity.”
According to the Report, there are 117 open and recruiting cancer clinical trials in Ireland (as of November 6th 2025), compared to Denmark’s 385, Switzerland’s 353 trials, and Finland’s 125 trials (figures as of September 29th 2025).
The report outlines a strong economic case for investment, presenting data on both direct cost savings to the HSE and inward investment to Ireland generated by cancer trials in recent years. Among the key findings:
- A sample of 18 cancer trials involving 249 patients showed that these trials alone delivered €14.8m in savings to the State from 2021-2025.
- One hospital trial unit reported a total of €9.7m in value of trial drugs delivered to patients on cancer trials in 2021-2024.1
- Another trial unit costed the total medicines given to patients on cancer clinical trials in 2022 at €2.05m.1
- In addition to savings, trials attract inward i.e., non-Governmental investments in patients through the provision of high-value new investigational medicinal products (IMPs) supplied by sponsors (often pharmaceutical companies), at no cost to the State. Cancer Trials Ireland’s sample of six trials (2021-2025) estimates that trial sponsors have invested €36.7m in new IMPs.
The report also highlights the strategic importance of sustained public investment in the sector. With global healthcare facing major shifts—including U.S. efforts to attract pharmaceutical operations back home—the report argues that Ireland must send a strong signal of commitment to the life sciences sector.
“Increasing long-term State investment in cancer clinical trials is one of the most direct, high-impact ways to do so,” said Ms Clayton-Lea.
According to figures shared by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), which are included in the Cancer Trials Ireland report, pharmaceutical companies collectively disclosed €61 million in Health Research & Development ‘Transfers of Value’ to Irish researchers and institutions between 2021 and 2024. While this funding supported wider health research (i.e. not only in clinical trials, and not exclusive to cancer), it demonstrates the strong and ongoing appetite of the pharmaceutical industry to invest in Ireland’s research ecosystem.
Ms Clayton-Lea said:
“The figures highlighted in the report are only a snapshot. The true level of savings and inward investment generated by cancer trials is likely to be higher. The savings identified in our sample almost equal the total Government funding provided to Cancer Trials Ireland over the past twenty years, yet the true figure for the past four years alone could even exceed the €22m total State funding for all cancer trials through the current HRB Grant Cycle (2022–2026).”
“Few areas of health spending can improve patient outcomes, generate savings and also attract inward investment,” said Ms Clayton-Lea. “Cancer Trials Ireland is ready to deliver even greater results—but we need increased investment to do so. This is a virtuous cycle,” said Ms Clayton-Lea. “Investing in cancer trials means better outcomes for patients, lower costs for the HSE, and stronger foundations for Ireland’s research and innovation economy.”
ENDS
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