THE IMPACT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH INVESTMENT ON HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND COST OUTCOMES
Author(s)
Phillip Levy, BAS, MD, MPH1, Adrian F Hernandez, BA, MD, MHS2, Sebastian Kelle, MD, PhD3, Janwillem Kocks, MD, PhD4, David Price, MBBS, MB BChir, BA (Hons), MA (Cantab)5, James O’Shaughnessy, BA, MA (Oxon)6, Giulio Pompilio, MD, PhD7, Mohsen Sadatsafavi, MD, MHSc, PhD8, Kevin Schulte, MD9, Claudia Cabrera Moksnes, MSc, PhD10, Karina Morley, MSc, MBA11, Maria Molina, MD, PhD12.
1Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA, 2Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA, 3German Heart Centre, Berlin, Germany, 4University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, 5Optimum Patient Care, Brisbane, Australia, 6Newmarket Strategy, London, United Kingdom, 7Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy, 8University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 9University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany, 10AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden, 11AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 12Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
1Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA, 2Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA, 3German Heart Centre, Berlin, Germany, 4University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, 5Optimum Patient Care, Brisbane, Australia, 6Newmarket Strategy, London, United Kingdom, 7Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy, 8University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 9University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany, 10AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden, 11AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 12Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
OBJECTIVES: Although investment in clinical research is assumed to deliver value to healthcare systems, high‑quality evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) exploring the impact of investment or participation in clinical research on patient, healthcare and cost outcomes, aiming to assess the value of integrating clinical research into a holistic healthcare model.
METHODS: The SLR used the PICOS (population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, study type) framework, covered a 10-year period (2015-2025) and focused on high-income countries (Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, UK and USA) where relevant data were identified. Of 536 records screened, 27 studies met inclusion criteria and evaluated the impact of clinical research investment on patient outcomes, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs to healthcare systems.
RESULTS: Of 27 included studies, 21 evaluated HCRU; among these, 17 (81%) reported that investment or participation in clinical research, regardless of trial arm, was associated with more efficient healthcare delivery, including reduced hospital admissions and length of stay, improved healthcare system performance and earlier access to new therapies. Of 16 studies that reported cost outcomes, 14 (88%) indicated that cost savings and/or a positive return on investment were associated with clinical research participation. These benefits were driven by improved HCRU, efficiency gains within healthcare systems and additional income from industry‑sponsored trials. Clinical research participation was also associated with earlier identification of cost‑effective therapies and avoidance of costs linked to ineffective interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest clinical research investment is associated with improved HCRU, potentially reducing healthcare costs. However, this impact is challenging to quantify because of inconsistent definitions and thresholds applied to HCRU and cost measures, highlighting the need to evaluate opportunity costs and funding trade-offs between clinical trials and alternative healthcare interventions. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of embedding research and innovation at the core of healthcare delivery.
METHODS: The SLR used the PICOS (population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, study type) framework, covered a 10-year period (2015-2025) and focused on high-income countries (Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, UK and USA) where relevant data were identified. Of 536 records screened, 27 studies met inclusion criteria and evaluated the impact of clinical research investment on patient outcomes, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs to healthcare systems.
RESULTS: Of 27 included studies, 21 evaluated HCRU; among these, 17 (81%) reported that investment or participation in clinical research, regardless of trial arm, was associated with more efficient healthcare delivery, including reduced hospital admissions and length of stay, improved healthcare system performance and earlier access to new therapies. Of 16 studies that reported cost outcomes, 14 (88%) indicated that cost savings and/or a positive return on investment were associated with clinical research participation. These benefits were driven by improved HCRU, efficiency gains within healthcare systems and additional income from industry‑sponsored trials. Clinical research participation was also associated with earlier identification of cost‑effective therapies and avoidance of costs linked to ineffective interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest clinical research investment is associated with improved HCRU, potentially reducing healthcare costs. However, this impact is challenging to quantify because of inconsistent definitions and thresholds applied to HCRU and cost measures, highlighting the need to evaluate opportunity costs and funding trade-offs between clinical trials and alternative healthcare interventions. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of embedding research and innovation at the core of healthcare delivery.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
CO230
Topic
Clinical Outcomes
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas