Cancer trials save the Irish State €6.51 million in drug costs

Cancer Trials Ireland reported that the Irish State saved €6.51 million in drug costs from 38 cancer clinical trials conducted over a 12 month period.

The charity's "Value of Cancer Trials 2" report shows that these trials involved 230 people between September 2025 and August of this year. Because pharmaceutical sponsors pay for medicines, imaging, and biopsies during these trials, the State, patients, and health insurers do not bear these specific costs.

The report estimates the total financial benefit to the State reached €23.77 million over 12 months, which includes €6.76 million in inward investment from pharmaceutical companies and €10.5 million in fee per patient payments to hospitals. Professor Seamus O'Reilly, the clinical lead for Cancer Trials Ireland, stated that government funding for these trials serves as an investment that provides patients with early access to new treatments while saving the State money on medicines that improve cancer outcomes.

However, the charity noted that Ireland currently ranks 14th out of 27 European Union member states for industry-sponsored trials per capita. The charity urged the government to provide more research time and job security for research staff to improve the country's standing. While 12.5% of people diagnosed with cancer participated in some form of clinical research in 2025, only 2.9% joined interventional trials. This figure remains below the 6% target set by the National Cancer Strategy.