Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 18.94 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 31.10 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 10.43% |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market Analysis
The Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size is estimated at USD 18.94 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 31.10 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.43% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Research and development activities are on the rise, clinical trials are proliferating, and outsourcing is becoming increasingly popular. These trends are poised to fuel market growth in the coming years. A significant factor driving this growth is the Asia-Pacific region's vast and varied patient population, which serves as a rich resource for clinical trials. Moreover, Asia-Pacific boasts a pool of skilled medical professionals and offers operational costs that are more economical than those in Western nations. This cost advantage, combined with the availability of expertise, positions the region as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking to optimize their research and development operations.
Highlighting this trend, Freyr Solutions, an United States based CRO, established a subsidiary in Japan in April 2023, signaling its strategic intent to enhance business development and create employment opportunities in the country. Similarly, in July 2023, Citeline, a company specializing in clinical trial intelligence, entered into a strategic partnership with Clinrol, a clinical trial recruitment firm, to strengthen and expand patient recruitment capabilities for upcoming clinical trials across Asia-Pacific. These strategic initiatives by key market players underscore the region's growing prominence as a hub for clinical research and are expected to significantly contribute to market growth.
In Asia-Pacific, government backing for CRO activities is anticipated to further fuel market expansion. For instance, in June 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India reported that Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd's Omicron-specific mRNA booster vaccine, developed using advanced platform technology, received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Control General of India (DCGI). This development highlights the region's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the growth of the clinical research ecosystem. Given these advancements, coupled with increased government support and strategic initiatives by major industry players, the Asia-Pacific market is well-positioned for substantial growth over the forecast period.
However, the industry faces a critical challenge: the shortage of skilled professionals, which could act as a constraint on the market's expansion potential.
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market Trends
The Infectious Diseases Segment is Expected to Witness Positive Growth Over the Forecast Period
Infectious diseases are mainly caused by a pathogen or its toxic product, transmitted from a person or animal or an infected non-living object to a susceptible host. Factors such as an increase in infectious diseases across Asia-Pacific, a rise in demand for vaccine development to treat infectious diseases, and an increase in facility expansions by the key CROs to manufacture drugs for infectious diseases are anticipated to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.
The increase in infectious diseases across Asia-Pacific urges the development of various vaccines and drugs, which is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, as per the provisional cases of notifiable diseases by prefecture in Japan published by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, as of April 2024, 3.64 thousand cases of tuberculosis and 140 instances of Hepatitis E were reported in Japan as a cumulative prevalence in 2024. As a result, the high prevalence of infectious diseases is anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period.
The presence of key market players and their strategic expansions and agreements are likely to drive market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in January 2023, Southern Star Research, an Australian CRO specializing in clinical trial acceleration, expanded into South Korea to offer clients access to medical and clinical products and patients in the region. Such market player activities are also anticipated to boost the growth of the Asia-Pacific contract manufacturing market over the forecast period.
Thus, owing to the rise in infectious disease in Asia-Pacific and the surge in strategic activities by the key players, the market is likely to witness significant growth over the forecast period.
India is Expected to Witness a Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
India's market is poised for substantial growth, driven by a surge in chronic diseases, heightened clinical trial activities, and the active involvement of major players. For instance, the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP) reported in March 2024 that cancer cases in India are projected to climb from 1.46 million in 2022 to 1.57 million by 2025. This anticipated uptick in cancer cases is set to amplify the demand for biopharma drugs, thereby creating significant opportunities for market expansion and revenue generation within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
Furthermore, the market is expected to benefit from a series of strategic initiatives, including product launches, increased investments, and facility expansions, which are likely to strengthen the competitive landscape and enhance operational capabilities.
For instance, Eurofins, in January 2023, launched a facility on its Hyderabad campus, signaling its commitment to expanding its footprint in India's pharmaceutical market. Similarly, in April 2023, Sai Life Sciences, a leading India-based contract research organization (CRO), inaugurated SSRL, a specialized research hub for Schrödinger, at its Hyderabad R&D Campus, showcasing its focus on fostering innovation and collaboration.
Additionally, in May 2023, Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited (Aurigene) initiated the construction of a state-of-the-art development and manufacturing facility at Genome Valley, Hyderabad, dedicated to therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and viral vectors. These strategic expansions by key CROs and pharmaceutical companies are expected to drive market growth by enhancing research and development capabilities, improving service offerings, and meeting the growing demand for advanced therapeutic solutions.
In light of the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, the expanding footprint of CROs, and increased clinical trial investments by key players, India's market trajectory appears robust, with significant growth potential over the forecast period. These developments are likely to position India as a critical hub for pharmaceutical innovation and biopharmaceutical advancements.
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Industry Overview
The Asia-Pacific contract research organization market is semi-consolidated in nature due to the presence of several companies operating globally and regionally. The key companies are involved in various strategic activities such as market expansions, mergers, and acquisitions to enhance their overall market growth. A few of the major companies in the market are Charles River Laboratories, Syneos Health, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, WuXi Pharmatech, and ArisGlobal, among others.
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market Leaders
-
Charles River Laboratories
-
Syneos Health
-
WuXi Pharmatech
-
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
-
ArisGlobal
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market News
- March 2024: India-based Veeda Clinical Research Limited, a full-service contract research organization (CRO), acquired Heads, a full-service contract research organization that focused on conducting clinical trials in oncology. With this acquisition, Veeda enters the global CROs with integrated capabilities to extend contract research services from discovery to clinical development.
- August 2023: ECLEVAR MEDTECH, a French-based CRO specializing in medtech industry, entered a partnership with Micron, a Japanese domestic CRO, to offer services to both Japanese medtech manufacturers who want to expand their business overseas and foreign medtech manufacturers who want to enter the Japanese market.
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Industry Segmentation
As per the scope of the report, a contract research organization is an organization/company that offers clinical trial services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device fields. CROs range from large, international, full-service organizations to small, niche specialty groups.
The Asia-Pacific contract research organization market is segmented by service type, therapeutic areas, end user, and geography. By service type, the market is segmented into clinical research services, early-phase development services, laboratory services, consulting services, regulatory affairs, and other services. Other services covers commercial strategy & clinical pharmacology support. By clinical trial services, the market is segmented into Phase I clinical research services, Phase II clinical research services, Phase III clinical research services, and Phase IV clinical research services. In terms of therapeutic areas, the market is segmented into oncology, infectious diseases, central nervous system disorders, immunological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, diabetes, and other therapeutic areas. Other therapeutic areas include metabolic diseases, musculoskeletal, wounds and injuries, eye diseases, and mouth and dental diseases. By end user, the market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and other end users. Other end users includes, academic and universities. By geography, the market is segmented into China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific.
The report offers the value (in USD) for the above-mentioned segments.
| By Service Type | Clinical Research Services | Phase I Clinical Research Services |
| Phase II Clinical Research Services | ||
| Phase III Clinical Research Services | ||
| Phase IV Clinical Research Services | ||
| Early-phase Development Services | ||
| Laboratory Services | ||
| Consulting Services | ||
| Regulatory Affairs | ||
| Other Services (Commercial Strategy and Clinical Pharmacology Support, Among Others ) | ||
| By Therapeutic Area | Oncology | |
| Infectious Diseases | ||
| Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders | ||
| Immunological Disorders | ||
| Cardiovascular Diseases | ||
| Respiratory Disorders | ||
| Diabetes | ||
| Other Therapeutic Areas (Musculoskeletal, Wound and Injuries, Eye Diseases, and Mouth and Dental Diseases, Among Others)) | ||
| By End-User | Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Companies | |
| Medical Device Companies | ||
| Other End-Users (Academic Research Institues, and Research Centers Among Others) | ||
| Geography | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| Australia | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific |
| Clinical Research Services | Phase I Clinical Research Services |
| Phase II Clinical Research Services | |
| Phase III Clinical Research Services | |
| Phase IV Clinical Research Services | |
| Early-phase Development Services | |
| Laboratory Services | |
| Consulting Services | |
| Regulatory Affairs | |
| Other Services (Commercial Strategy and Clinical Pharmacology Support, Among Others ) |
| Oncology |
| Infectious Diseases |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders |
| Immunological Disorders |
| Cardiovascular Diseases |
| Respiratory Disorders |
| Diabetes |
| Other Therapeutic Areas (Musculoskeletal, Wound and Injuries, Eye Diseases, and Mouth and Dental Diseases, Among Others)) |
| Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Companies |
| Medical Device Companies |
| Other End-Users (Academic Research Institues, and Research Centers Among Others) |
| China |
| Japan |
| India |
| Australia |
| South Korea |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific |
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market Research FAQs
How big is the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market?
The Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size is expected to reach USD 18.94 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 10.43% to reach USD 31.10 billion by 2030.
What is the current Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size?
In 2025, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size is expected to reach USD 18.94 billion.
Who are the key players in Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market?
Charles River Laboratories, Syneos Health, WuXi Pharmatech, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and ArisGlobal are the major companies operating in the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market.
What years does this Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size was estimated at USD 16.96 billion. The report covers the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
