Making Wales a destination for industry clinical trials and medical research

Blog post by Joe Castle

Clinical trials are at the heart of developing new medicines and vaccines. They offer the opportunity for patients to receive early access to potentially lifesaving treatments and deliver huge benefits to both the NHS and the wider economy.

Clinical trials of new medicines and vaccines are supported by industry or by non-commercial funders. In 2022 alone, pharmaceutical industry clinical trials contributed £7.4 billion to the UK economy, generating £1.2 billion in revenue for the NHS and supporting 65,000 jobs nationwide[i]. In 2021/22[ii], the pharmaceutical industry added nearly £670 million in value through employment in Wales, showing the importance of research and innovation to our health and prosperity.

Yet, despite these clear benefits, Wales is not meeting its full potential. Patient participation in pharmaceutical industry clinical trials in Wales accounts for just 2% of the UK total[iii]. This means that not only are Welsh patients missing out on opportunities to take part in trials of innovative new treatments, but our NHS and economy are not fully realising the financial benefits industry research can bring.

Time for change

Thanks to a UK wide Clinical Trials Investment Programme, supported by pharmaceutical industry through the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), Wales has been awarded over £22 million to expand its capacity and capability to deliver industry clinical trials[iv]. This investment has funded the One Wales Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), which will bring together partners across the health system, research community, and industry to deliver more industry trials in Wales, more efficiently.

This funding provides a once in a generation opportunity for Wales – one that must be seized. By working collaboratively, we can transform our research ecosystem, attract more investment, and most importantly, ensure Welsh patients have access to clinical trials of very latest innovative treatments.

To succeed, we need the whole medical research community in Wales to come together. Everyone has a role to play in making Wales a true destination for clinical trials. However, they won’t be able to do it alone. We need our leaders in the Senedd, this Welsh Government (and the next), the NHS in Wales, and our communities to support research and become more engaged.

Time to act!

We are calling on Members of the Senedd to champion and support long-term investment in clinical research, embedding research in the NHS, as business as usual. With this leadership and with collaboration across the entire system, we can unlock the full potential of industry research for Wales.

Read our manifesto to find out how we can make Wales a destination of choice for clinical trials and medical research, and ensure that patients across Wales are able to access the right treatment, at the right time.