Growth in UK advanced therapy clinical trials
26 Jan 2026
The number of advanced therapy clinical trials in the UK rose last year, with the country being a significant contributor in Europe and worldwide.
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s UK 2025 Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) clinical trials database showed trials here amounted to 193 during the period (up from 187 in 2024).
During 2025, the UK participated in 9% of all global trials and 57% of European trials. Of these 56% were early-stage trials and 80% commercially sponsored.
The rise in early-stage trials was matched with increases in phase I/II trials outlined the report.
CGT Catapult chief executive Matthew Durdy said: “With a supportive regulator and recent updates such as the increase to the NICE thresholds, the UK is well-positioned to benefit from the health and economic benefits of advanced therapy clinical trials.”
He added that the trials also played a key role in the development of Britain’s healthcare systems.
“These trials are vital to ensuring the healthcare system is ready to adopt innovative therapies more widely, as they help build the skills, infrastructure, and clinical environment needed to deliver these therapies safely and efficiently,” said Durdy.
More than 80% of ATMP clinical trials in 2025 focused on gene therapies, evenly split between ex vivo and in vivo testing. Broken down by disease category, records show that oncology topped the list, accounting for more than one third (35%) of trials.
Additionally other areas of trial growth included inflammation and the immune system.
Data was based on the number of ongoing ATMP clinical trials as published by the Alliance of Regenerative Medicine in January 2026.
Pic: Martin Lopez
