WHO Cancer R&D Report: Imbalances and Gaps in Clinical Research

World Health Organization report finds serious global disparities in clinical trial distribution.

Global inequality

• In 2023, 76% of cancer trials were conducted in high-income countries — an average of 7 trials per 100,000 population.

• In low- and middle-income countries — less than 1 trial per 100,000 population, even though these are where the greatest increase in the cancer burden is expected.

Mismatch between disease burden and research

• The most studied cancers (1999–2022): breast cancer (14,246 trials) and hematological malignancies (~10,000 trials).

• Underrepresented: gastric cancer (3,257 trials) and cervical cancer (2,314 trials), despite their high contribution to mortality.

Age Groups

• Children: Less than 4% of studies include patients under 14 years of age, despite the fact that pediatric oncology is most in need of new approaches.

• Older: About 50% of studies have no upper age limit, but only 28% specifically focus on this group.

Methodological bias

• 61% of trials are devoted to drugs.

• Surgery, radiotherapy, diagnostics and behavioral interventions together account for 20%, highlighting the lack of an integrated approach.

Data availability problem

• Median time from registration to publication of results: 4–6 years.

• About 30% of studies remain unpublished even 7 years after recruitment is complete.

For the CIS countries

The increase in cancer incidence makes these findings especially important. 

It is necessary to:

• expand participation in international studies,

• adapt priorities to the regional burden of disease,

• strengthen interdisciplinary approaches in oncology.

Read more: Cancer research and development landscape (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I3HbLZMXNzAMq0WAu4683dzQZu2x3fLu/view?usp=sharing)