China has developed into a powerhouse for clinical trials of innovative drugs conducted in the country since 2015

Good news! Impressive! This might just be the beginning!

When will India catch up? The world population will be healthier!

"Regulatory reforms in China, which started in 2015, have contributed to a continued increase in the number of clinical trials of innovative drugs conducted in the country over the following decade.

As a result, China contributed 50% of worldwide clinical research activity of this type in 2025, compared with 13% in 2015. But a focus on oncology and specific well-validated drug targets has led to a homogenization of drug discovery."

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Trends in the landscape of clinical trials of innovative drugs in China since 2015 (behind paywall)

The FDA plans to make one major study, rather than two, the agency’s new default requirement for approving new drugs.

Good news! Indeed, this precautionary redundancy may not be necessary anymore or should be reserved for as few cases as possible.

"The FDA commissioner Marty Makary recently announced plans to make one major study, rather than two, the agency’s new default requirement for approving new drugs. He argued that advances in biomedical science make duplicate trials less necessary, and that the change should speed up approvals and encourage more drug development. Makary has also promised to allow more companies to sell drugs without a prescription."

"“The Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its longtime standard of requiring two rigorous studies to win approval of new drugs, the latest change from Trump administration officials vowing to speed up the availability of certain medical products. ..."

Doomslayer: Progress Roundup - by Malcolm Cochran

FDA Drops Two-Study Rule to Speed Drug Approvals

The administration of the senile, demented and corrupt 46th President dramatically axed clinical trials in review

Bad news!

"A decade of axed clinical trials in review

Between 2013 and 2023, the proportion of phase II and phase III trials that were cut more than doubled, according to an analysis by four researchers at Epistemic AI, a research-intelligence platform for biomedicine.

The reasons revolved around the performance of competitors, the drug performing better for other disorders, changes in the perceived money-making potential of the drug, changes in sponsor funding and changes in aims following mergers, acquisitions or licensing deals. Better understanding of these decisions could help cut wasted investment, argue the authors."

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Analysis of phase II and phase III clinical trial terminations from 2013 to 2023 (no public access)