Updated / Friday, 6 Nov 2026 06:00
Getty
Cancer Trials Ireland has said the State has saved €6.51 million in drug costs based on a sample of 38 cancer clinical trials which took place in the last 12 months.
The trials included 230 people between September 2025 and August of this year.
Cancer Trials Ireland said that, when a patient enrols on a clinical trial, their treatment costs - such as medicines, imaging, blood and other tests, as well as biopsies and procedures - are generally paid for by the sponsor.
Where this happens, there is no cost to the patient, their health insurer, or the State.
The charity’s 'Value of Cancer Trials 2’ report estimates total savings, investments and revenue to the State of €23.77m over 12 months.
In addition to the €6.51m in drug cost savings, the report estimates that 20 trials resulted in inward investment of €6.76m by pharmaceutical companies, relating to experimental medicines.
The overall figure also includes estimated revenue to hospitals from 'fee per patient' payments by the trial sponsor of €10.5m.
"The Government providing funding for cancer clinical trials is an investment in the true sense of the word," said Cancer Trials Ireland Clinical Lead Professor Seamus O'Reilly.
"Not only is there a return in terms of patients doing better and having early access to newer treatments.
"The State also benefits financially in that it obtains treatments that it would otherwise have to pay for, treatments that historically have improved cancer outcomes for its citizens."
There are around 160 cancer trials open across Ireland, with lymphoma and haematology trials being the most common, followed by genitourinary, breast and lung cancer trials.
Over the past year, 3,938 patients took part in trials.
Ireland 14th in EU for industry-sponsored trials
Cancer Trials Ireland said it is vital that clinical trials are recognised, resourced and embedded as an integral part of healthcare delivery.
It advised the State to tackle a number of issues, such as protected research time and security of tenure for research staff.
Last year, Ireland ranked 14th of 27 European Union member states for industry-sponsored clinical trials per capita, with countries such as Denmark continuing to attract more activity.
According to the charity’s recent national survey of public attitudes to cancer trials, eight in ten respondents (78%) would like to see more taking place in Ireland.
Seven in ten (69%) said they would be willing to take part in one.
"The National Cancer Strategy sets a target of 6% of people diagnosed with cancer participating in clinical trials," said Cancer Trials Ireland Chief Executive Angela Clayton-Lea.
"In 2025, while 12.5% participated in cancer clinical research overall, including non-interventional studies, just 2.9% were enrolled on interventional trials - less than half the national target.
"In considering Ireland as an attractive destination for research, international trial sponsors assess the reliability and performance of our health system in the time taken to open trials.''
Read more:
Cancer outcomes improved over three decades - study
'Right place at right time', Clare man hails success of cancer trial
Results of trial drug for pancreatic cancer 'astounding'
Cancer Trials Ireland is a not-for-profit charity which was set up in 1996.
It is funded, in part, by the Health Research Board (a State body), the Irish Cancer Society and donations.
It supports and oversees trials involving thousands of patients and works with doctors and other health professionals.
Source: RTÉ News · Dimitri O'Donnell
At a glance
- Topic
- Health
- Country
- 🇮🇪 IE
- Publisher language
- EN
- Added to Allnira