The global rare disease clinical trials market size is expected to reach USD 19.02 billion by 2030, expanding at 6.8% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The main driving factors of the rare disease clinical trial industry are the high burden of rare diseases worldwide, which has led to rising demand for research. Furthermore, intermittent launches and a large number of products in the pipeline also propel growth. Government initiatives that encourage product development, such as the Orphan Drug Act, are further expected to assist industry growth.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are more than 7,000 rare diseases worldwide. These diseases affect nearly 30 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people. Eurodis states that 72% of rare diseases are genetic, while others are caused by infections, allergies, and environmental causes. The growing awareness among people regarding rare diseases and growing interest in developing potential treatments for treating rare diseases are expected to support market growth.
Pharmaceutical companies and non-profit organizations are actively providing funding for rare disease clinical research. For instance, in February 2022, the Health Research Board funded USD 1.1 million to support rare disease clinical trials. Similar initiatives in the future are expected to support the market during the forecast period.
Orphan drug sales have been steadily increasing in recent years. For instance, according to Evaluate Pharma, orphan drug sales accounted for USD 138 billion in 2020, and by 2022, they accounted for USD 172 billion. It is estimated that orphan drug sales will reach USD 268 billion by 2026. The rise in the sales of orphan drugs is expected to generate interest among researchers in developing new treatments in the area of rare diseases and thus support the market in the post-pandemic period.
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The phase III segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share of 54.2% in 2024. The segment’s growth is supported by the high cost of phase III rare disease clinical trials due to the requirement for a large number of volunteers
The oncology segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share in 2024. The growing interest of researchers in the development of new potential treatments for treating rare cancers is supporting the growth of the segment
The non-profit organizations segment is projected to grow at a significant CAGR over the forecast period owing to the significant funding offered by these organizations to support rare disease clinical research
North America dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of 42.6% in 2024. The high burden of rare diseases in North America and the presence of a large number of players in clinical trials are some of the key reasons for its high market share
Grand View Research has segmented the global rare disease clinical trials market based on phase, therapeutic area, sponsor, and region
Rare Disease Clinical Trials Phase Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
Rare Disease Clinical Trials Therapeutic Area Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)
Oncology
Cardiovascular Disorders
Neurological Disorders
Infectious Disease
Genetic Disorders
Autoimmune and Inflammation
Hematologic Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Others
Rare Disease Clinical Trials Sponsor Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)
Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Companies
Non-Profit Organizations
Others
Rare Disease Clinical Trials Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
Europe
UK
Germany
France
Italy
Spain
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
South Korea
Australia
Thailand
Latin America
Brazil
Argentina
Middle East & Africa
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Kuwait
List of Key Players of Rare Disease Clinical Trials Market
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Pfizer Inc
AstraZeneca
Novartis AG
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp)
IQVIA
Charles River Laboratories
ICON plc
Parexel International (MA) Corporation
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