Clinical trials in Belgium: an economic priority, a chance for patients, yet a critical need for innovation
- Monsana Team
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Belgium plays a leading role in the global pharmaceutical ecosystem. According to pharma.be’s latest report, our country ranks among the top in Europe for clinical trials per capita. The sector provides over 42,000 high-value jobs, invests more than €5.7 billion in R&D, and accounts for nearly 15% of Belgium’s total exports. This makes the life sciences industry not only a scientific asset but also a key pillar of our economy. (1)
But this position is not guaranteed. As international competition increases and timelines become ever more critical, Belgium must continue to prove its value as a go-to destination for clinical research. And central to this competitiveness is a very important factor: the speed and efficiency of patient recruitment.
Why recruitment timelines matter more than ever
Clinical trials are not just about science, they are a race against time. Every day a study is delayed can cost trial sponsors between $600,000 and $8 million. And it’s not just about cost. Delays mean patients have to wait longer for new, potentially life-saving therapies.
Despite the stakes, up to 80% of clinical trials are delayed due to recruitment issues. And as medicine shifts towards more personalised, niche indications with smaller eligible populations, finding the right patients is becoming increasingly difficult. (2)
The reality in hospitals: identifying patients for trials is broken
Each year, more than 1,000 clinical trials take place in Belgium, each with dozens of complex inclusion and exclusion criteria. Doctors frequently lack awareness of which clinical trials are currently ongoing, even within their own institutions. Our research indicates that approximately two-thirds of eligible patients for ongoing trials at their center are not identified or considered for participation, because of this gap in knowledge.
It’s not that doctors don’t care, they simply lack the tools to efficiently identify eligible patients. Some spend extra hours manually screening trial candidates, while others rely on clinical trial coordinators to review patient records one by one. This process is time-consuming, repetitive, and inherently unscalable. Since hospitals are paid for each patient they enroll, this inefficiency not only affects the quality of care but also results in direct revenue loss.
And for patients? It's a maze
If you’re a patient, especially one whose standard treatment options have run out, clinical trials are more than just research. They represent hope. Yet finding the right trial is overwhelming. Only about 5% of patients take the initiative to look for trials themselves, and those who do often have to search through complex databases like:
To make the search easier, some sites even offer information in your language of preference: clinicaltrials.be
Thankfully, there are some great organizations, like My Cancer Navigator. They help cancer patients and their families understand their options, including clinical trials, and guide them through the process to find the best possibilities available. (3)
We can do better and now, we can do it smarter
It’s time to rethink how we connect patients to trials. With the rise of generative AI, we finally have tools that can analyse patient data, interpret complex eligibility criteria, and support physicians and coordinators with meaningful, tailored suggestions.
At Monsana, we build technology that integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows, so doctors can quickly identify suitable trials, and patients can access the innovative care they deserve. Because access to clinical trials shouldn’t depend on chance, time, or manual effort. It should be part of standard care.
Are you a patient, physician, clinical trial coordinator, or sponsor facing these challenges?We’d love to hear your story and explore how Monsana can help.
The Belgian biopharmaceutical sector - Remaining competitive is crucial for the Belgian biopharmaceutical industry. https://pharma.be/sites/default/files/2024-10/pharma_figures_eu_2024_en-web.pdf
Source: Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, via Forbes (2014):https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnlamattina/2014/05/27/the-cost-of-drug-development/
