Total clinical research investment by AIFD members in 2024 exceeded 17 billion TL, marking a 69% increase
02.06.2025
According to the 2024 Clinical Research Investment Survey by the AIFD, clinical research investments in Türkiye increased by 69% in Turkish Lira terms, surpassing 17 billion TL. In USD terms, the investments approached 520 million dollars. Over the past five years, the average annual growth rate reached 89.7%.
AIFD, which operates to enhance access to innovative medicines and treatments in Türkiye and to increase Türkiye’s global competitiveness in pharmaceutical research and development, announced the results of its 2024 Clinical Research Investment Survey at a press conference held on Tuesday, May 27. The survey presents the latest data on clinical research investments in Türkiye.
During the meeting, AIFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli, AIFD Director of Health Policies Dr. Pharmacist Nihan Burul Bozkurt, Ankara City Hospital Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur, and President of TÜSEB – Türkiye Vaccine Institute Prof. Dr. Ateş Kara evaluated the survey results along with current approaches to clinical research.
69% increase in clinical research investments
According to the results of the survey conducted among AIFD members, the total investment in clinical research increased by 69% compared to the previous year, surpassing 17 billion TL. In USD terms, clinical research investments rose by 22% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 520 million dollars. Over the past five years, the average annual growth rate of clinical research investments has been approximately 89.7%. Currently, the number of ongoing clinical research studies stands at 645, while the number of volunteers participating in these studies has risen to 3,437.
Speaking at the press conference, AIFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli stated, “We are pleased to evaluate current approaches to clinical research—which makes up the largest share of pharmaceutical R&D—together with leading experts in this field. Clinical research not only brings hope to today’s patients but also builds the science, economy, and social well-being of tomorrow. Today, countries are in intense competition to become hubs for multinational clinical research. As of 2023, the United States continues to lead in this area, while countries such as China and Canada have become key players by increasing their investments in clinical research.[1] Türkiye, too, has gained significant momentum in recent years, ranking among the countries with the highest number of active industry-sponsored clinical research. To fully realize Türkiye’s strong potential in this field, we need greater collaboration, a broader vision, and policies carried out with determination. As AIFD, together with our members, we believe that Türkiye can become not just a regional, but a global hub for clinical research, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve this goal.”
Commenting on the survey results, AIFD Director of Health Policies Dr. Pharmacist Nihan Burul Bozkurt stated: “Clinical research is not only important for the healthcare sector—it is a strategic area that directly impacts our scientific capacity and economic growth. When we look at the trend over the past five years, we see a consistent increase in the volume of investment in clinical research in Türkiye, both in Turkish Lira terms and in the number of volunteer participants. The 2024 data clearly shows that Türkiye has gained significant momentum in this field. However, for sustainable success, it is essential to follow a holistic strategy specifically tailored to the clinical research ecosystem, along with a multi-stakeholder roadmap implemented with determination. In our previously published report, ‘Benefits of a Clinical Research Strategy for Türkiye’, we outlined 12 key policy recommendations to ensure long-term development in this area. These include systemic improvements such as incentivizing physicians, standardizing ethics committees, strengthening data infrastructure, and including pre-approval Phase 3 trials within the scope of R&D. We are pleased to see that clinical research is now being recognized in high-level policy documents, including national development plans. As AIFD, we will continue to guide this transformation for the benefit of our patients. We are ready to contribute to any effort that supports the health of our country.”
Highlighting that cancer is an increasingly significant public health issue both globally and in Türkiye, Ankara City Hospital Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur stated: “More than 240,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in our country. Over the past 30 years, 10-year survival rates have increased from around 30% to 70%. Thanks to personalized treatment options, both the lifespan and quality of life of our patients have improved significantly. What has made this transformation possible is clinical research. Today, oncology is the leading field in terms of the number of clinical research conducted worldwide. The changes we’ve witnessed in cancer treatment through clinical research over the past decade are nothing short of revolutionary. For example, patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia today can have the same life expectancy as healthy individuals. Even in challenging and widespread areas like lung cancer, we now have dozens of approved medications. This is why clinical research is so valuable: it offers patients access to promising, yet unapproved treatments—an ‘extra chance’ at life. For us physicians, it’s not just a scientific process; it’s the joy of being able to offer a patient a new, proven therapy. Clinical research exists not for us, but for the patients. As Türkiye, we are making steady progress in this field. With growing patient satisfaction, scientific contributions, and international collaborations, we are becoming stronger every day.”
Faculty Member at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and President of TÜSEB – Turkish Vaccine Institute Prof. Dr. Ateş Kara shared important developments in many areas of clinical research, from processes to volunteer participation: “Clinical research begins with a dream, but turning that dream into a treatment depends on a challenging and meticulous process involving thousands of steps. Today, the likelihood of a molecule progressing from Phase 1 to Phase 3 is only 0.014%, and the chance of obtaining regulatory approval is just 1.5 out of every 1,000 molecules. These figures clearly demonstrate how selective, scientific, and safety-focused the clinical research system is. At the core of this process lies volunteerism. Thanks to our volunteers, next-generation treatments that impact millions of lives become possible. However, there is a critical truth that is little known to the public: the probability of a volunteer experiencing a serious side effect due to participation in a clinical trial is extremely low. We, as TÜSEB and the Turkish Vaccine Institute, have conveyed the safety assessments from studies conducted in our country to the insurance sector through a series of workshops. Following these workshops—carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) and AIFD—the sharing of scientific evidence has led to a significant reduction in insurance premiums for clinical research. This achievement is not just a financial improvement; it’s a strategic development that enables us to reach more patients, accelerate research timelines, and strengthen our domestic production capacity in healthcare. As Türkiye, we hold significant advantages in this field. We have a robust health records infrastructure, high patient diversity, and prominent centers with strong clinical experience. According to World Health Organization data, as of 2024, Türkiye ranks 10th globally in the number of active clinical research across all phases—regardless of whether they are supported by industry or academia. This ranking shows that our country is well-positioned to become a strong contender in the global research arena.”
[1] Türkiye İlaç Sektörü Raporu 2024, pg. 55