Top Clinical Research Organizations for Oncology in 2024

An estimated 20 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2022, and over 35 million new cases are predicted in 2050.¹

As the incidence and prevalence of cancer increase, so does the demand for novel treatments. In 2022, the global oncology clinical trials market was estimated to be nearly $13 billion and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2023 to 2030. The primary drivers of this market are the rise in cancer incidence, improvements in technology, and advancements in both personalized medicine and cell and gene therapies.² 

To execute sophisticated studies efficiently and to generate high-quality data, sponsors rely on oncology clinical research organizations (CROs)—also called oncology contract research organizations, depending on who you ask—to manage critical aspects of development, including planning, regulatory strategy, study design, site selection and startup, recruitment, trial operations, data management, and logistics.  

Why partner with top oncology clinical and contract research organizations

Developing oncology therapies means facing off with complex disease biology, an evolving regulatory landscape, and a growing emphasis on precision medicine. Oncology-focused CROs are well-equipped to navigate these challenges using dedicated, project-based teams purpose-built around specific tumor types.  

Specialized oncology CROs bring operational infrastructure that is expressly designed around the needs and nuances of early-phase and late-phase trials. This infrastructure, which can be critically important to the smaller biotech and specialty pharma innovators often at the forefront of breakthroughs, includes: 

• Robust data capture capabilities for tracking wide-ranging efficacy signals and complex adverse event profiles.
• Innovative cohort management systems that enable adaptive dose escalation or facilitate novel combination regimens.
• Project management software for managing screening, enrollment, and scenario planning around rapidly evolving standards of care. 
• Clinical research associates, medical monitors, and safety physicians who are fluent in the language of cancer studies and bring to bear oncology acumen for monitoring response rates, recognizing adverse events, and spotting data trends. 

Who are the top oncology clinical research organizations?

Industry-leading oncology CROs maintain their position by continually engaging with expert consortiums, academia, advocacy groups, key opinion leaders, and ever increasingly, patients. This engagement provides early insight into novel trial designs and changes of standard of care, which can quickly be incorporated into development programs. Some CROs own site networks that can help accelerate study startup, or offer functional service provider models to help you strategically scale.

As immuno-oncology combinations, advanced therapies, and personalized approaches introduce new complexities into cancer R&D, CROs with strengths in precision oncology, including biomarker-driven research and biomarker-guided development, are now in demand. Specialized oncology CROs who have the right expertise, depth, and vision to continually innovate will help propel clinical programs forward with a patient-centric approach.

Top Oncology Contract Research Organizations for Clinical Trials

ICON 

• Founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1990, ICON is a global provider of drug and device development and commercialization services in Europe, the US, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. As of September 30, 2023, ICON had approximately 41,150 employees in 106 locations across 53 countries.³ Their oncology CRO services span the lifecycle of therapeutic development and commercialization and support early-phase oncology, immuno-oncology, and cell and gene therapies, in both hematological and solid tumors. To date, ICON has participated in over 760 oncology studies worldwide.
  

Precision for Medicine 

• A specialized, mid-sized CRO at the leading edge of oncology drug development, Precision for Medicine is globally recognized for deep scientific expertise and a uniquely integrated infrastructure. They combine clinical development with global laboratory services, manufacturing expertise, proprietary data intelligence solutions, commercial capabilities and more. The convergence of these services enables deep insights into patient biology, accelerating the pace of discovery and approval. Precision for Medicine has built its reputation on Phase I/II success in oncology and immuno-oncology, rare and orphan diseases, and cell and gene therapy—particularly with novel and adaptive study designs. Precision has conducted over 500 early-phase trials with a majority of them being oncology-focused.
  

IQVIA 

• Formerly known as Quintiles and IMS Health, IQVIA is one of the largest CROs globally, employing approximately 85,000 people in over 100 countries.⁴ IQVIA is a global provider of clinical research services, advanced analytics, and technology solutions. In terms of oncology offerings, they help sponsors integrate biomarker strategies, design and execute adaptive and novel trial designs, and apply AI and machine learning to improve patient safety and study efficiency. IQVIA also offers technology solutions for cohort planning and management and a global network of qualified Phase I oncology sites.⁵ 

Parexel 

• Parexel operates in more than 50 countries and executes Phase I-IV development programs around the world, emphasizing its patient-centric approach to clinical trials.⁶ Parexel’s Oncology Center of Excellence includes more than 80 ex-agency regulators, and their oncology team consists of over 1,000 employees, including more than 45 physicians with oncology experience. Their noteworthy clinical trial work is in malignant hematology, breast and gynecological cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, and lung, head, and neck cancer.⁷

 PPD 

• Acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in December 2021, PPD provides integrated drug development, laboratory, and lifecycle management services.⁸ PPD offers extensive oncology and hematology expertise with a focus on innovative trial designs across the spectrum of cancer therapeutics, from immuno-oncology and targeted therapies to cell and gene therapies. They enable developers to leverage adaptive trial designs, use biomarker-driven randomization to enrich patient populations, and optimize site selection. In the past 5 years, PPD has supported 34 oncology drug approvals in the US and 25 approvals in the EU.⁹ 

Syneos Health 

• Established via a merger between INC Research and inVentiv Health, Syneos Health is both a CRO and a contract commercial organization (CCO). In September 2023, Syneos Health was acquired by a consortium of private investment firms.¹⁰ Their service offerings in oncology extend from preclinical and translational research to clinical development, regulatory, and commercialization capabilities across the full range of cancer therapies.¹¹ 

LabCorp

• Another large CRO, LabCorp has a global team of over 75,000 employees worldwide and support clinical studies in approximately 100 countries.¹² LabCorp offers preclinical discovery, clinical trial development, and diagnostic testing services. Having participated in over 1,000 immuno-oncology studies in the last 10 years, LabCorp has extensive CRO experience and a large biomarker and diagnostic services portfolio.
  

Medpace

• Founded in 1992, Medpace is a mid-sized, full-service global CRO that supports drug, biologic, and medical device development. Medpace is known for its strong focus on small to mid-sized biotech companies, offering a scientifically driven and personalized approach to clinical research with deep therapeutic expertise in oncology. Their experience includes research in a wide variety of solid tumor and hematologic indications and therapies ranging from traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy agents to novel and emerging therapies. In addition, Medpace’s medical directors are supported by a team of Advanced Clinical Practitioners who add the patient perspective to study planning.¹³ 
  

Worldwide Clinical Trials 

• A mid-sized, full-service global CRO, Worldwide Clinical Trials (Worldwide) was founded by physicians committed to advancing medical science. Their dedicated oncology team includes individuals who have been directly involved in cancer research or clinical care and provides phase- and indication-specific expertise. Worldwide works with leading SMEs and patients and has collaborated on 105 oncology studies in the past 3 years. Their medical monitors and global project leads are directly involved in communicating and building relationships with sites. In addition, Worldwide partners with indication-specific recruitment experts to reach patients beyond academic hubs.¹⁴ 
  

 Premier Research 

• In its early years Premier Research focused on building across a range of therapeutic areas but has more recently focused on oncology. They offer a broad spectrum of services to biotechs, specialty pharma, and device companies, operating in 75 countries with 2500+ staff. Their services cater to diverse development needs, including clinical R&D, product development consulting, regulatory services, and a customized Functional Service Provider (FSP) model. In early 2024, they partnered with BioCentriq in an effort to impact the pre-IND process for cell therapy development.  

Considerations for evaluating top oncology clinical and contract research organizations

When selecting an oncology CRO, it is important to look beyond sheer size. Small- to mid-sized oncology CROs offer several advantages, such as agility, flexibility, and focused therapeutic expertise, which minimizes the learning curve. Remember, the ability to mobilize teams to adapt to changing business goals or shifting priorities is key to hitting your long-term milestones.

With fewer layers and a more selective client list, mid-sized CROs offer high-touch customer service and can be more proactive about identifying and mitigating unnecessary activities and expenses, which is essential for timeline and budget management.

Explore Precision's end-to-end capabilities in oncology clinical research.
  

References:

1. World Health Organization. Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services, February 1, 2024. Available at https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing--amidst-mounting-need-for-services.  
2. Grand View Research. Oncology Clinical Trials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, 2023-2030. Available at https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/oncology-clinical-trials-market.  
3. ICON. Facts and figures. Available at https://www.iconplc.com/news-events/mediakit/facts-and-figures. 
4. LinkedIn. IQVIA. Available at https://www.linkedin.com/company/iqvia/.  
5. IQVIA. Oncology. Available at https://www.iqvia.com/solutions/therapeutics/oncology.  
6. Parexel. Our Global Reach. Available at https://www.parexel.com/about-us/global-reach.  
7. Parexel. Oncology. Available at https://www.parexel.com/therapeutic-expertise/oncology 
8. PPD. Our History. Available at https://www.ppd.com/who-we-are/our-mission/our-history/. 
9. PPD. Oncology CRO: Oncology and Hematology Expertise. Available at https://www.ppd.com/therapeutic-expertise/oncology-and-hematology-cro/. 
10. Syneos Health. Syneos Health Closes Transaction with Private Investment Firms, September 28, 2023. Available at https://www.syneoshealth.com/news/releases/syneos-health-closes-transaction-private-investment-firms.  
11. Syneos Health. Oncology and Hematology. Available at https://www.syneoshealth.com/therapeutic-depth/oncology-and-hematology.  
12. LabCorp. Our Global Reach. Available at https://www.labcorp.com/about/our-story/our-global-reach.  
13. Medpace. Hematology & Oncology CRO. Available at https://www.medpace.com/therapeutics/therapeutic-depth/hematology-oncology-cro/.  
14. Worldwide Clinical Trials. Oncology. Available at https://www.worldwide.com/expertise/oncology/.