OBJECTIVES: Clinical studies are the main drivers of innovation in drug research. Pharmaceutical companies invest 15-20% of their revenue to clinical research for developing new treatments. Due the high investment opportunities, countries take actions to obtain the maximum share from global clinical studies market. Turkey has a good potential due the geological location. The aim of the study is to show possible economic effect of clinical studies to Turkey. METHODS: Application documents/files for the Ethic Committee of Istanbul Medical Facultyy were examined from 2006 to  2010. Studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies were included. Pharmaceutical companies estimated budgets were accounted. Distribution of different disease areas of the studies and budgets were evaluated. RESULTS: Total number of applications for clinical studies have risen from 177 to 252 from 2006 to 2010. All industry sponsored clinical trials were reported as 184 for the given timeline. Approved sponsored pharmaceutical trials estimated total budget was € 859 million and Istanbul Medical Faculty could take € 59 million of all estimated budget in given timeline. Average cost for per clinical trial and per patient were calculated as € 467k and € 5k for Turkey. The highest estimated budget was hold by cardiological trials with € 61 million, followed by oncology and norology with € 59 million for the given timeline. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that clinical trials may have a great impact to Turkey`s economy. If Turkey may increase new launched trials, this is an opportunity for Turkey to take extra investment. Because these number are below the potential of pharmaceutical trials investment amounts when compared total pharmaceutical market. In addition, it is needed to account possible effects to reimbursement agencies. Due the potential impact of clinical studies for Turkey, decision and policy makers need to take action to improve clinical studies in Turkey.