New ABPI report sets out plan to accelerate UK clinical trials using NHS data

A new report from the ABPI sets out how better use of NHS health data could address persistent recruitment challenges and strengthen the UK’s position as a global destination for industry-sponsored clinical trials.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the UK’s trade body for research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, has called for a coordinated, UK-wide approach to harness NHS health data to improve competitiveness in commercial clinical trials. The report argues that this is essential to “realize the potential of NHS data to increase the UK’s competitive advantage and reinstate its position as a global leader in clinical trials delivery.”

In its new report, “Globally competitive UK-wide data-enabled clinical trials: the time is now,” the ABPI and its member companies recommend establishing a UK-wide, data-enabled clinical trials function within the planned Health Data Research Service (HDRS). This function would connect with existing trial delivery infrastructure to improve efficiency and support more reliable recruitment.

While clinical trials remain central to patient care and the wider health system, they also generate significant economic value. In 2022, industry trials contributed £7.4 billion to the UK economy, including £1.2 billion for the NHS. However, despite a recent increase in trial initiations, recruitment remains a key constraint. Compared with European and global competitors, the UK continues to face delays in trial setup and delivery, with more than half of industry trials missing their target timeframes. Some sites recruit few or no participants, creating inefficiencies that deter sponsors from placing trials in the UK.

A key limitation is the fragmented use of NHS data. Although the UK holds longitudinal health records covering 69 million people, access to comprehensive, population-level clinical data remains constrained. As a result, feasibility assessments often rely on incomplete datasets or proxy indicators, leading to unreliable recruitment projections and underperforming sites.

These challenges extend to patient identification and screening. Current recruitment approaches frequently result in high screen failure rates, with individuals invited to participate only to be deemed ineligible based on information already held in their medical records. At the same time, potentially eligible patients may not be identified or approached, limiting access to trials and reducing overall recruitment efficiency.

The proposed model focuses on three core capabilities:

1. Rapid, UK-wide feasibility assessments
2. Data-driven site selection using geomapping
3. Centralized pre-screening of eligible participants

These are intended to improve recruitment accuracy, reduce unnecessary screening, and enable faster trial startup.

The report highlights that global competitiveness will depend on three core principles: predictability, accuracy, and speed. Strengthening these areas could reduce inefficiencies across the trial process, including lowering screening costs and easing the burden on clinical sites.

ABPI positions NHS data as a strategic asset that could differentiate the UK internationally. While other countries may offer financial incentives or streamlined regulatory pathways, few can match the scale and longitudinal depth of UK health records. More effective use of these data could accelerate recruitment into Phase 2–4 trials and strengthen the UK’s appeal to global sponsors.

The report sets out seven recommendations:

1. Establish a UK-wide data-enabled clinical trials function within the HDRS
2. Embed predictability, accuracy, and speed as core operating principles
3. Define a minimum dataset linking GP, secondary care, and mortality data
4. Deliver centralized services for feasibility assessment, site selection, and pre-screening
5. Integrate data-enabled services with existing UK trial delivery infrastructure
6. Develop reusable protocol archetypes to streamline data modeling
7. Create a coordinated oncology data network to address more complex trial requirements

As a next step, the report calls for the establishment of a UK-wide Service Design Group (SDG), bringing together government, the HDRS, NHS stakeholders, and industry. This group would be responsible for validating the proposed model, defining operational workflows, and setting out a phased roadmap for implementation.