Türkiye’s Critical Role in Tomorrow’s Treatments: AIFD Members’ Total Clinical Research Investment Exceeded TRY 21.2 Billion in 2025
23.09.2026
AIFD has announced the results of its members’ 2025 Clinical Research Investment Survey. Clinical research investment by AIFD members in Türkiye increased by 24% in 2025, reaching TRY 21.2 billion, while the number of studies conducted rose by 14% to 734. The total number of participants in clinical trials reached 11,663, while qualified employment in the field rose to 1,139 people.
AIFD presented the results of its comprehensive survey based on clinical research data from its members to the public at a press conference held in Istanbul on Thursday, September 22. The meeting included leading figures from the field, who discussed the overall landscape of clinical research being conducted in Türkiye.
According to the survey, for which 25 AIFD member companies provided data, 734 clinical trials were conducted in Türkiye by AIFD members in 2025. In this sample, Phase III studies accounting for approximately 73% of all phase-based studies demonstrates Türkiye’s strong capacity in global multicenter research. According to data from the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) Clinical Research Portal (KAP), approximately 70% of clinical trials conducted in Türkiye are carried out by AIFD member companies.
Success stories collected from member companies as part of the survey exemplify Türkiye’s performance in global research. In some studies, Türkiye was the country with the highest number of participants enrolled either globally or within its region, while some research centers in Türkiye were enrolling the highest number of participants. There are also studies in which the first site activation and the enrollment of the first participant on a global scale took place in Türkiye. Centers that completed FDA and EMA inspections without complications, as well as Turkish researchers who have served as authors on international publications, demonstrate Türkiye’s scientific contribution to medicine.
According to the survey results, total clinical research investment amounted to TRY 21.2 billion (USD 536.6 million) in 2025, with investment increasing by 24% in Turkish lira terms and by 3% in U.S. dollar terms compared with 2024. In 2025, 3,742 new participants were enrolled in phase studies, while the total number of participants in ongoing studies reached 11,663, representing a 23% increase compared with the previous year. The number of employees working in clinical research also increased by 19%, reaching 1,139.
This data shows that Türkiye’s clinical research ecosystem has significant capacity and growth potential. At the same time, global competition is becoming increasingly intense, and the geographical distribution of clinical research is changing. In 2013, 53% of newly initiated global clinical trials were launched in North America and Europe; by 2023, this figure had fallen to 33%. Over the same period, China’s share increased from 8% to 29%. Speed and predictability have become decisive factors for countries seeking to secure a share within this competition.
Dr. Ümit Dereli: “We can confidently say today that Türkiye has a critical role in tomorrow’s treatments; our goal is to make that presence even more visible.”
In his opening remarks, AIFD Secretary General Dr. Ümit Dereli said: “Clinical research is not merely a scientific process; it is hope for our patients, transformation for our healthcare system, and a strategic investment for our country. Türkiye has gained significant momentum, rising from 26th place in 2019 to 20th place as of September 2025 in terms of the number of active clinical trials. However, according to data from IQVIA’s Türkiye Pharmaceutical Market Report 2025, when we consider our ranking in relation to our population, national income, and the size of our pharmaceutical market, our position could be improved. In other words, our potential warrants a greater share than the one we have today. There are studies in which the first site activation and the enrollment of the first participant on a global scale took place in our country. We have centers that have completed FDA and EMA inspections in full, as well as researchers who have contributed as authors to international congresses and publications. These examples show us that when appropriate operational conditions are provided, Türkiye can deliver strong performance on an international level. We can confidently say that Türkiye has a critical role in tomorrow’s treatments; our goal is to make that presence even more visible.”
Dr. Pharm. Nihan Burul Bozkurt: “Clinical research is an indispensable lever for Türkiye to secure a stronger position in the global health ecosystem.”
Sharing the survey results, AIFD Deputy Secretary General Dr. Pharm. Nihan Burul Bozkurt said: “The most important impact of clinical research is its contribution to patients. Particularly in areas such as oncology, hematology, and rare diseases, where treatment options are limited, clinical trials give our patients the opportunity to gain early and free access to potentially promising treatments. Clinical research not only improves today’s healthcare services, but also shapes the science, economy, and social well-being of tomorrow. Participating in clinical research is a right. The more studies we bring to our country, the more we contribute to enabling our patients to exercise that right. It is extremely valuable that in 2025 the number of studies increased once again to reach 734, and that the total number of participants reached 11,663. To make this success sustainable and bring it forward, accelerating approval and study-start processes, increasing predictability, and strengthening digital infrastructure should be our priorities. Structural improvements in these areas will help transform Türkiye’s existing clinical research capacity into sustainable growth and increase its share of global clinical research. As a country, it is important to focus on areas for development and to develop a national strategic action plan. At AIFD, we know that clinical research is an indispensable lever for Türkiye to secure a stronger position in the global health ecosystem.”
Prof. Dr. Hilmi Erdem Sümbül: “At TÜSEB, we aim to make our country not only a place where innovative treatments are administered, but also one of the centers that makes a strong contribution to developing these treatments and generating global scientific knowledge.”
Sharing his assessments of the steps taken and that could be taken by the public sector to strengthen Türkiye’s position in clinical research, as well as TÜSEB’s approach to clinical research, its work in the field, and its perspective for Türkiye, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hilmi Erdem Sümbül said: “Türkiye has the capacity to assume a much greater global role in clinical research, with its strong healthcare infrastructure, qualified researchers, and advanced research centers. At TÜSEB, in line with our ‘Producing Health’ vision, we aim to make our country not only a place where innovative treatments are administered, but also one of the centers that makes a strong contribution to developing these treatments and generating global scientific knowledge. To achieve this, it is of great importance to strengthen our research ecosystem in line with international standards, connect our researchers more extensively with global networks, and bring more high-quality clinical research to our country. We believe that with a strong ecosystem in which the public sector, academia, and industry work toward common goals, we can significantly increase Türkiye’s competitiveness and global share in clinical research.”
Prof. Dr. Fatih Süheyl Ezgü, Head of the Division of Pediatric Genetics and faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Metabolism at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, shared important developments in areas ranging from clinical research processes to volunteer participation. Ezgü said: “As researchers, we see the value of clinical research most concretely in our patients. Particularly in rare and genetic diseases, where existing treatment options are limited, enabling advances in science to reach patients relies on having a strong clinical research ecosystem. Today, we are able to bring innovative approaches such as gene and cell therapies—approaches that until recently we regarded solely as treatments of the future—to our patients through clinical research. Türkiye has highly qualified researchers, multidisciplinary teams, and centers capable of conducting studies to international standards. The studies we conduct at our own center also demonstrate that Türkiye has the scientific and clinical capacity to pioneer applications on a global scale. Bringing this capacity together with more clinical research is extremely valuable, both in terms of our scientific output and our patients’ access to innovative treatment options.”