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Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Growth Forecast 2025 to 2034

Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Future Driven by Precision

The market is expanding due to the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and epilepsy. Advancements in neuroimaging biomarkers and novel drug development are further driving trial growth.

Category: Life Sciences Insight Code: 6066 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

The global neuroscience clinical trials market is on an upward trajectory, poised to generate substantial revenue growth, potentially climbing into the hundreds of millions over the forecast years from 2025 to 2034. This surge is attributed to evolving consumer preferences and technological advancements reshaping the industry.

The neuroscience clinical trials market is growing steadily, driven by the rising burden of neurological disorders and the urgent need for effective therapies. Advances in neuroimaging, biomarkers, and precision medicine are enabling more targeted and efficient trials. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are heavily investing in R&D for conditions like Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, supportive gove ment initiatives, increasing collaborations, and technological integration in trial design are accelerating progress, making neuroscience one of the most dynamic clinical research areas.

Key Takeaways

  • North America dominated the neuroscience clinical trials market with a revenue share of approximately 45% in 2024.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.
  • By indication/therapeutic area, the psychiatric disorders segment dominated the market with a revenue share of approximately 33%.
  • By indication/therapeutic area, the neurodegenerative diseases segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.
  • By therapeutic modality, the small molecules segment led the neuroscience clinical trials market with the largest revenue share of approximately 45% in 2024.
  • By therapeutic modality, the gene & oligonucleotide therapies segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.
  • By clinical phase, the Phase I/I-II segment held the highest market share of approximately 60% in 2024.
  • By clinical phase, the phase III/Pivotal segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

Which Factors are Driving the Growth of the Market?

The Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market covers all sponsored clinical research (Phase I–IV) investigating interventions for nervous system disorders, including neurological (Alzheimers, Parkinsons, epilepsy, MS, stroke, ALS, migraine, neuropathic pain) and neuropsychiatric conditions (major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD). It spans pharmacologic therapies (small molecules, biologics), advanced modalities (gene & cell therapies, oligonucleotides), neuromodulation devices (DBS, TMS, RNS), digital therapeutics/biomarkers, and combination approaches. Market growth is driven by an ageing population, unmet need in neurodegeneration and psychiatric care, advances in biomarkers and imaging, increasing use of precision / gene-based approaches, and higher investment in CNS R&D despite historically high attrition.

The neuroscience clinical trials market is expanding as lifestyle-related neurological issues, including stress-induced disorders and cognitive decline, become more common. Growing interest in novel therapeutic approaches such as neuromodulation, stem cell therapy, and RNA-based drugs is also fueling demand. Additionally, the rise of decentralized and virtual trial models is improving patient recruitment and retention, accelerating market growth.

For Instance,

  • In March 2025, Novartis announced it would showcase its neuroscience portfolio at the American Academy of Neurology meeting. The presentation will feature seven-year data from the ALITHIOS open-label extension study, highlighting disability progression and safety results of Kesimpta (ofatumumab) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). 

Novel Therapeutic Development : Innovations like gene therapy, neuromodulation, and RNA-based drugs are expanding treatment options, fueling research.

  • In May 2025, Shanghai StairMed Technology conducted China first prospective invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) trial, allowing participants to control a game using their thoughts just one month after implantation.

Collaborations and Partnerships : Academic institutions, hospitals, and industry partnerships streamline trial operations and access to patient populations.

  • In April 2025, GSK partnered with South Korea ABL Bio, investing £38.5 million (USD 50 million) to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Under the agreement, GSK may cover up to £2.075 billion (USD 2.66 billion) for R&D, regulatory approvals, and commercialization across multiple potential programs, supporting the development and future rollout of innovative therapies.

How Can AI Affect the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market?

AI can significantly impact the market by improving patient recruitment, predicting disease progression, and optimizing trial design. Machine lea ing algorithms can analyze large datasets from imaging, genomics, and electronic health records to identify suitable participants and detect early neurological changes. AI-driven analytics enhance monitoring of treatment responses and adverse events, reducing trial duration and costs. Additionally, integrating AI with digital biomarkers and wearable devices enables real-time data collection, supporting more precise and efficient neuroscience clinical trials.

Market Dynamics

Driver

Rising Prevalence of Neurological Disorders

The increasing incidence of neurological disorders worldwide is driving the neuroscience clinical trials market as healthcare systems seek better preventive and therapeutic solutions. Growing awareness among patients and clinicians about early diagnosis and intervention is boosting participation in trials. Additionally, the economic and societal burden on cognitive and private organizations to support more research initiatives creates a higher demand for clinical studies focused on innovative neuroscience treatments.

Restraint

High Cost of Clinical Trials

The high cost of neuroscience clinical trials restrains the market because developing therapies for neurological disorders often requires multi-site studies, specialized personnel, and cutting-edge laboratory infrastructure. Expenses for patient screening, long-term follow-ups, and handling adverse events further add to the financial burden. Smaller biotech companies and research institutions may struggle to fund such trials, limiting innovation and slowing the initiation of new studies. The financial barrier constrains market growth despite rising demand for neurological treatments.

For Instance,

  • In 2024, a gene therapy trial for Spastic Paraplegia 50 faced financial challenges due to its $1 million per dose cost and limited funding. Despite promising results, the high expenses hindered progress, highlighting how the cost of neuroscience clinical trials can restrict development, especially for rare neurological diseases.

Opportunity

Personalized and Precision Medicine

Personalized and precision medicine offers a key opportunity in neuroscience clinical trials by enabling more efficient identification of patients likely to respond to specific therapies. By leveraging genomics data, biomarkers, and digital health insights, trials can focus on targeted populations, reducing costs and trial durations. This approach also supports the development of innovative treatments for complex neurological disorders, such as rare genetic diseases and treatment-resistant conditions, creating a growing demand for customized clinical trial design and advanced monitoring technologies.

For Instance,

  • In January 2024, the University of Cincinnati launched a personalized clinical trial for post-spinal surgery pain management, tailoring treatments to individual patient profiles to improve outcomes and reduce opioid use.

Segmental Insights

How did the Psychiatric Disorders Segment dominate the Market in 2024?

The psychiatric disorders segment led the neuroscience clinical trials market as these conditions increasingly affect working-age populations, creating a pressing need for innovative treatments. Rising adoption of digital health tools, wearable monitoring, and telemedicine supports more efficient trials in depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Moreover, expanding gove ment and private funding for mental health research, coupled with growing interest in novel therapies like neuromodulation and biologics, has accelerated clinical studies, reinforcing this segments strong market position.

The neurodegenerative diseases segment is projected to grow rapidly as pharmaceutical and biotech companies intensify efforts to address unmet needs in conditions like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Breakthrough therapies, including gene and stem cell treatments, are increasing the number of clinical trials. Furthermore, heightened public awareness, early diagnostics programs, and the use of digital tools for monitoring disease progression are enabling more efficient and targeted studies, making this therapy area a key driver of market expansion during the forecast period.

What made the Small Molecules Segment Dominant in the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market in 2024?

The small molecules segment dominated in 2024 as these therapies offer high stability, longer shelf life, and simpler formulation compared to complex biologics. Their versatility allows targeting multiple pathways in neurological and psychiatric disorders, making them suitable for a wide range of clinical trials. Additionally, established intellectual property frameworks and easier global distribution contribute to their market preference, enabling faster patient access and broader adoption, which helped the small molecules segment achieve the largest revenue share within therapeutic modalities.

The gene & oligonucleotide therapies segment is expected to grow rapidly due to rising demand for personalized treatment that modifies disease pathways at the molecular level. Innovations in viral and non-viral delivery systems, along with enhanced targeting accuracy, are making these therapies more feasible for neurological disorders. Additionally, collaborations between biotech firms and academic institutions are expanding clinical trial pipelines, while regulatory incentives for breakthrough therapies are encouraging faster development, driving this segments strong CAGR in neuroscience clinical trials.

How does the Phase I/I-II Segment Dominate the Market?

The phase I/I-II segment led the neuroscience clinical trials market in 2024 because these stages allow rapid testing of innovative therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders before large-scale trials. Early-phase studies are crucial for optimising dosing, delivery methods, and identifying potential side effects, attracting significant investment from biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He surge in novel modalities, such as oligonucleotide and gene therapies, has further increased the number of early-stage trials, securing this segments top market share in neuroscience clinical research.

The phase III/pivotal segment is projected to grow rapidly as companies focus on securing regulatory approvals for promising neuroscience therapies. Late-stage trials are increasingly global, enrolling larger and more diverse patient populations to generate robust efficacy and safety data. Rising collaboration between pharma, biotech, and research organizations, along with advances in trial monitoring and digital endpoints, is enabling faster and more efficient pivotal studies. These factors collectively drive the accelerated growth of the phase III segment.

Regional Insights

Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Share, By Region, 2024 (%)

How is North America Contributing to the Expansion of the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market?

North America led the market share 45% in 2024, owing to early adoption of innovative trial designs, digital health technologies, and precision medicine approaches. Strong collaboration between academic institutions, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry facilitated efficient patient recruitment and study execution. Additionally, the regions focus on rare neurological disorders and growing awareness of mental health challenges drove more clinical research, establishing North America as the top contributor to market revenue in neuroscience clinical trials.

U.S. Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Trends

The U.S. market is expanding due to the increasing prevalence of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and depression. Strong R&D investments by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, coupled with advanced clinical infrastructure, support rapid trial execution. Additionally, regulatory incentives for innovative therapies, adoption of digital health tools, and collaborations between academic institutions and industry are enhancing trial efficiency. Growing demand for personalized medicine and targeted treatments further fuels the expansion of neuroscience clinical trials in the U.S.

Canadian Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Trends

The market in Canada is growing as the country increasingly attracts global clinical studies due to its streamlined regulatory processes and strong patient access networks. Rising awareness of neurological disorders and increased funding for mental health research are encouraging more trials. Furthermore, Canadian research institutions are adopting advanced technologies like neuroimaging and digital biomarkers, enabling precise monitoring and faster data collection, which is accelerating the growth of neuroscience clinical trials in the region.

How is Asia-Pacific Accelerating the Market?

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to record the fastest CAGR as the region experiences a surge in contract research organizations (CROs) and clinical trial centers, improving trial accessibility and efficiency. Increasing awareness of neurological health, coupled with rising middle-class populations seeking advanced treatments, fuels demand for innovative therapies. Additionally, gove ments are offering incentives to attract inte ational trials, and growing adoption of decentralized and digital trial models enables broader patient participation, collectively accelerating the growth of neuroscience clinical trials in the region.

Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Value Chain Analysis

Regulatory Approvals

Regulatory approval for neuroscience clinical trials requires compliance with the guidelines of the respective national authorities, such as the FDA in the United States and the CDSCO in India. Trials must also follow the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards set by the Inte ational Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), ensuring safety, quality, and ethical conduct throughout the study.

Patient Support and Services

Patient support and services in neuroscience clinical trials encompass a comprehensive strategy, including educating and advocating for participants, providing on-site assistance from clinical staff, offering financial aid, utilizing digital platforms, and fostering community engagement. These measures aim to enhance patient access, ensure smooth participation, and create a positive experience throughout the trial process.

Packaging and Serialization

Packaging and serialization in neuroscience clinical trials maintain product quality and safeguard patients by giving each drug package a unique identifier. This system enables tracking throughout the supply chain, ensuring authenticity and preventing counterfeit products from reaching participants.

Top Companies in the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market

Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market Companies

  • Biogen
  • Eli Lilly & Company
  • Roche / Genentech
  • Pfizer
  • Novartis
  • Johnson & Johnson / Janssen
  • AstraZeneca
  • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
  • Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)
  • ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
  • Sage Therapeutics
  • UCB Pharma
  • Voyager Therapeutics / uniQure / other gene-therapy neuro sponsors
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals / Sarepta / Wave Life Sciences
  • Medtronic
  • NeuroPace
  • Boston Scientific
  • Nevro / Abbott
  • ICON / IQVIA / Parexel / Syneos
  • Leading academic centers & consortia

Latest Announcement by Industry Leaders

In May 2025, Aspen Neuroscience shared six-month results from the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial of ANPD001, a personalized dopaminergic cell therapy for moderate to advanced Parkinsons disease. The first three patients showed safety, tolerability, and early improvements. Dr. Avram Fraint noted that precision delivery of DANPCs is safe and well-tolerated. Edward Wirth III highlighted clinician- and patient-reported benefits and that ANPD001 requires no immunosuppression. CEO Damien McDevitt said the findings are promising for both Parkinsons patients and the autologous cell therapy field.

Recent Developments in the Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market

  • In February 2025, Eli Lilly highlighted its focus on obesity treatments, strengthening its position alongside Novo Nordisk, the maker of semaglutide, through its successful drug tirzepatide. The company also plans to expand the use of its incretin therapy pipeline by exploring applications in neurology and immunology, aiming to leverage its expertise for broader therapeutic impact.
  • In December 2024, Novartis reported positive topline results from the Phase III STEER study, assessing the safety and efficacy of intrathecal onasemnogene abeparvovec (OAV101 IT) in treatment-naive patients with SMA Type 2, aged 2 to under 18, who can sit but have never walked independently. The trial compared outcomes with a sham control, which mimics the administration procedure without delivering the active therapy, confirming promising results for this investigational treatment.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Indication / Therapeutic Area

  • Psychiatric Disorders
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases (Alzheimers, Parkinsons)
  • Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders
  • Multiple Sclerosis & Autoimmune Neuro Disorders
  • Stroke / Neurorehabilitation
  • Migraine & Headache Disorders
  • Neuropathic Pain & Peripheral Neuropathies
  • Rare Neurologic Diseases (SMA, spinal muscular atrophy; gene-therapy heavy)

By Therapeutic Modality

  • Small Molecules
  • Biologics (monoclonal antibodies, enzymes)
  • Gene & Oligonucleotide Therapies (ASO, siRNA)
  • Cell Therapies (stem cell / regenerative)
  • Neuromodulation Devices (DBS, rTMS, tDCS, RNS)
  • Digital Therapeutics & Neuro-diagnostics (software, digital biomarkers)

By Clinical Phase

  • Phase I / I–II
  • Phase II (Proof-of-concept)
  • Phase III / Pivotal
  • Post-marketing / Long-term Safety (LTFU)

By Region 

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Denmark
    • Norway
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • South Africa
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait
  • Last Updated: 29 August 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Shivani Zoting is a dedicated research analyst specializing in the healthcare industry. With a strong academic foundation, a B.Sc. in Biotechnology and an MBA in Pharmabiotechnology, she brings a unique blend of scientific understanding and strategy.

Learn more about Shivani Zoting

Aditi Shivarkar, with over 14 years of experience in consumer goods, leads research at Towards Consumer Goods, ensuring precise, actionable insights on trends, consumer preferences, and sustainable packaging for businesses.

Learn more about Aditi Shivarkar

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FAQ's

Neuroscience Clinical Trials Market will expand significantly through 2034, fueled by innovation, changing preferences, and advances in clinical research technologies.

Europe is currently leading the neuroscience clinical trials market due to early adoption of innovative trial designs, digital health technologies, and precision medicine approaches.

The neuroscience clinical trials market includes 4 segments by indication/therapeutic area, by therapeutic modality, by clinical phase, and by region.

Key trends include the growth due to the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and epilepsy.

India Brand Equity Foundation, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, European Medicines Agency, and National Medical Products Administration.