The global market for Contract Research Organization Services was estimated to be worth US$ 78872 million in 2024 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 135710 million by 2031 with a CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period 2025-2031.
Contract Research Organization (CRO) Services refer to outsourced R&D support provided by specialized third-party organizations to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. These services span the entire drug development process, including preclinical research (e.g., pharmacotoxicology studies), clinical trial design and conduct, data management, statistical analysis, regulatory submissions, and compliance support. By leveraging CROs, companies can reduce R&D costs and risks, accelerate time-to-market, and maintain operational flexibility while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Pharmaceutical outsourcing refers to a business model in which pharmaceutical companies delegate part or all of their processes-such as research and development (R&D), production, packaging, testing, or supply chain management-to specialized third-party organizations. By outsourcing, pharmaceutical companies can transfer non-core or resource-intensive activities to professional service providers, thereby reducing costs, improving efficiency, and focusing more on their core competencies, such as drug innovation and market expansion.
The core value of the pharmaceutical outsourcing industry lies in alleviating the tension between the growing demand for new drugs and the continuously rising costs of R&D. Deeply integrated into the pharmaceutical industry chain, this sector aligns with the accelerating trend of specialization. It effectively reduces the costs associated with drug development and production. With the rapid development of the pharmaceutical market and ongoing improvements in the policy environment-including the deepening of healthcare system reforms and the continuous strengthening of drug regulatory frameworks-China's pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a peak in new drug R&D.
Pharmaceutical outsourcing includes Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), among others. Among these, Contract Research Organization (CRO) services refer to R&D-related outsourcing services provided by specialized third-party institutions to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. CROs typically undertake part or all of the research tasks during the drug development process, including preclinical research, clinical trial design and execution, data management, statistical analysis, regulatory affairs support, and quality assurance.
By collaborating with CROs, companies can accelerate the drug development process without increasing their fixed R&D costs. They can also leverage the CRO's expertise in specialized technology, regulatory compliance, and operational experience to improve R&D efficiency and success rates. During the clinical stage, CROs can assist pharmaceutical companies in designing and managing clinical trials, including patient recruitment, investigational product supply, data collection, monitoring, and statistical analysis. CROs may also provide regulatory affairs services related to clinical trials, such as submitting applications to regulatory agencies, handling ethics committee approvals, and assisting with drug registration and approval processes.
Through this model, pharmaceutical companies can focus on core R&D strategies and market promotion, while entrusting the complex and resource-intensive clinical operations to CROs. Beyond clinical research, CROs also provide services in the preclinical phase, such as pharmacotoxicology experiments, pharmaceutical chemical analysis, in vitro studies, and animal testing. With the globalization of the pharmaceutical industry, CROs are also capable of offering cross-border R&D support, including coordination of international multi-center clinical trials and compliance with regulations across multiple countries.
In summary, CRO services represent a vital link in the modern pharmaceutical R&D industry chain. Through specialized and scaled outsourcing services, they help companies reduce R&D risks, save costs, and enhance the efficiency of new drug development.
This report aims to provide a comprehensive presentation of the global market for Contract Research Organization Services, focusing on the total sales revenue, key companies market share and ranking, together with an analysis of Contract Research Organization Services by region & country, by Type, and by Application.
The Contract Research Organization Services market size, estimations, and forecasts are provided in terms of sales revenue ($ millions), considering 2024 as the base year, with history and forecast data for the period from 2020 to 2031. With both quantitative and qualitative analysis, to help readers develop business/growth strategies, assess the market competitive situation, analyze their position in the current marketplace, and make informed business decisions regarding Contract Research Organization Services.
Market Segmentation
By Company
- IQVIA HOLDINGS INC.
- ICON plc
- Thermo Fisher
- Laboratory Corporation
- Syneos Health
- WuXi AppTec
- Pharmaron Beijing
- Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting
- JOINN Laboratories
- Frontage Labs
- Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research
- Shanghai Medicilon
- Viva Biotech
- Boji Medical Technology
- Fujifilm
- Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress
- Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech
Segment by Type
- Drug Discovery
- Preclinical CRO
- Clinical Trial CRO
Segment by Application
- Biological Drugs
- Chemical Drugs
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
By Region
- North America
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
- Southeast Asia
- India
- Australia
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- U.K.
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Nordic Countries
- Rest of Europe
- Latin America
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- Turkey
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Rest of MEA
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Introduces the report scope of the report, global total market size. This chapter also provides the market dynamics, latest developments of the market, the driving factors and restrictive factors of the market, the challenges and risks faced by manufacturers in the industry, and the analysis of relevant policies in the industry.
Chapter 2: Detailed analysis of Contract Research Organization Services company competitive landscape, revenue market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 3: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Type, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 4: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 5: Revenue of Contract Research Organization Services in regional level. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and market size of each country in the world.
Chapter 6: Revenue of Contract Research Organization Services in country level. It provides sigmate data by Type, and by Application for each country/region.
Chapter 7: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product revenue, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 8: Analysis of industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry.
Chapter 9: Conclusion.
Table of Contents
1 Market Overview
- 1.1 Contract Research Organization Services Product Introduction
- 1.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Market Size Forecast (2020-2031)
- 1.3 Contract Research Organization Services Market Trends & Drivers
- 1.3.1 Contract Research Organization Services Industry Trends
- 1.3.2 Contract Research Organization Services Market Drivers & Opportunity
- 1.3.3 Contract Research Organization Services Market Challenges
- 1.3.4 Contract Research Organization Services Market Restraints
- 1.4 Assumptions and Limitations
- 1.5 Study Objectives
- 1.6 Years Considered
2 Competitive Analysis by Company
- 2.1 Global Contract Research Organization Services Players Revenue Ranking (2024)
- 2.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Revenue by Company (2020-2025)
- 2.3 Key Companies Contract Research Organization Services Manufacturing Base Distribution and Headquarters
- 2.4 Key Companies Contract Research Organization Services Product Offered
- 2.5 Key Companies Time to Begin Mass Production of Contract Research Organization Services
- 2.6 Contract Research Organization Services Market Competitive Analysis
- 2.6.1 Contract Research Organization Services Market Concentration Rate (2020-2025)
- 2.6.2 Global 5 and 10 Largest Companies by Contract Research Organization Services Revenue in 2024
- 2.6.3 Global Top Companies by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) & (based on the Revenue in Contract Research Organization Services as of 2024)
- 2.7 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion
3 Segmentation by Type
- 3.1 Introduction by Type
- 3.1.1 Drug Discovery
- 3.1.2 Preclinical CRO
- 3.1.3 Clinical Trial CRO
- 3.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type
- 3.2.1 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 3.2.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, by Type (2020-2031)
- 3.2.3 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, by Type (%) (2020-2031)
4 Segmentation by Application
- 4.1 Introduction by Application
- 4.1.1 Biological Drugs
- 4.1.2 Chemical Drugs
- 4.1.3 Traditional Chinese Medicine
- 4.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application
- 4.2.1 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application (2020 VS 2024 VS 2031)
- 4.2.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, by Application (2020-2031)
- 4.2.3 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, by Application (%) (2020-2031)
5 Segmentation by Region
- 5.1 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region
- 5.1.1 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region: 2020 VS 2024 VS 2031
- 5.1.2 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region (2020-2025)
- 5.1.3 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region (2026-2031)
- 5.1.4 Global Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region (%), (2020-2031)
- 5.2 North America
- 5.2.1 North America Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.2.2 North America Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.3 Europe
- 5.3.1 Europe Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.3.2 Europe Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.4 Asia Pacific
- 5.4.1 Asia Pacific Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.4.2 Asia Pacific Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Region (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.5 South America
- 5.5.1 South America Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.5.2 South America Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 5.6 Middle East & Africa
- 5.6.1 Middle East & Africa Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 5.6.2 Middle East & Africa Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Country (%), 2024 VS 2031
6 Segmentation by Key Countries/Regions
- 6.1 Key Countries/Regions Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value Growth Trends, 2020 VS 2024 VS 2031
- 6.2 Key Countries/Regions Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.3 United States
- 6.3.1 United States Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.3.2 United States Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.3.3 United States Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.4 Europe
- 6.4.1 Europe Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.4.2 Europe Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.4.3 Europe Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.5 China
- 6.5.1 China Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.5.2 China Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.5.3 China Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.6 Japan
- 6.6.1 Japan Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.6.2 Japan Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.6.3 Japan Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.7 South Korea
- 6.7.1 South Korea Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.7.2 South Korea Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.7.3 South Korea Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.8 Southeast Asia
- 6.8.1 Southeast Asia Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.8.2 Southeast Asia Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.8.3 Southeast Asia Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
- 6.9 India
- 6.9.1 India Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value, 2020-2031
- 6.9.2 India Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Type (%), 2024 VS 2031
- 6.9.3 India Contract Research Organization Services Sales Value by Application, 2024 VS 2031
7 Company Profiles
- 7.1 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC.
- 7.1.1 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC. Profile
- 7.1.2 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC. Main Business
- 7.1.3 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC. Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.1.4 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC. Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.1.5 IQVIA HOLDINGS INC. Recent Developments
- 7.2 ICON plc
- 7.2.1 ICON plc Profile
- 7.2.2 ICON plc Main Business
- 7.2.3 ICON plc Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.2.4 ICON plc Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.2.5 ICON plc Recent Developments
- 7.3 Thermo Fisher
- 7.3.1 Thermo Fisher Profile
- 7.3.2 Thermo Fisher Main Business
- 7.3.3 Thermo Fisher Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.3.4 Thermo Fisher Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.3.5 Thermo Fisher Recent Developments
- 7.4 Laboratory Corporation
- 7.4.1 Laboratory Corporation Profile
- 7.4.2 Laboratory Corporation Main Business
- 7.4.3 Laboratory Corporation Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.4.4 Laboratory Corporation Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.4.5 Laboratory Corporation Recent Developments
- 7.5 Syneos Health
- 7.5.1 Syneos Health Profile
- 7.5.2 Syneos Health Main Business
- 7.5.3 Syneos Health Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.5.4 Syneos Health Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.5.5 Syneos Health Recent Developments
- 7.6 WuXi AppTec
- 7.6.1 WuXi AppTec Profile
- 7.6.2 WuXi AppTec Main Business
- 7.6.3 WuXi AppTec Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.6.4 WuXi AppTec Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.6.5 WuXi AppTec Recent Developments
- 7.7 Pharmaron Beijing
- 7.7.1 Pharmaron Beijing Profile
- 7.7.2 Pharmaron Beijing Main Business
- 7.7.3 Pharmaron Beijing Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.7.4 Pharmaron Beijing Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.7.5 Pharmaron Beijing Recent Developments
- 7.8 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting
- 7.8.1 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Profile
- 7.8.2 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Main Business
- 7.8.3 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.8.4 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.8.5 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Recent Developments
- 7.9 JOINN Laboratories
- 7.9.1 JOINN Laboratories Profile
- 7.9.2 JOINN Laboratories Main Business
- 7.9.3 JOINN Laboratories Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.9.4 JOINN Laboratories Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.9.5 JOINN Laboratories Recent Developments
- 7.10 Frontage Labs
- 7.10.1 Frontage Labs Profile
- 7.10.2 Frontage Labs Main Business
- 7.10.3 Frontage Labs Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.10.4 Frontage Labs Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.10.5 Frontage Labs Recent Developments
- 7.11 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research
- 7.11.1 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Profile
- 7.11.2 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Main Business
- 7.11.3 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.11.4 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.11.5 Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Recent Developments
- 7.12 Shanghai Medicilon
- 7.12.1 Shanghai Medicilon Profile
- 7.12.2 Shanghai Medicilon Main Business
- 7.12.3 Shanghai Medicilon Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.12.4 Shanghai Medicilon Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.12.5 Shanghai Medicilon Recent Developments
- 7.13 Viva Biotech
- 7.13.1 Viva Biotech Profile
- 7.13.2 Viva Biotech Main Business
- 7.13.3 Viva Biotech Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.13.4 Viva Biotech Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.13.5 Viva Biotech Recent Developments
- 7.14 Boji Medical Technology
- 7.14.1 Boji Medical Technology Profile
- 7.14.2 Boji Medical Technology Main Business
- 7.14.3 Boji Medical Technology Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.14.4 Boji Medical Technology Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.14.5 Boji Medical Technology Recent Developments
- 7.15 Fujifilm
- 7.15.1 Fujifilm Profile
- 7.15.2 Fujifilm Main Business
- 7.15.3 Fujifilm Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.15.4 Fujifilm Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.15.5 Fujifilm Recent Developments
- 7.16 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress
- 7.16.1 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Profile
- 7.16.2 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Main Business
- 7.16.3 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.16.4 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.16.5 Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Recent Developments
- 7.17 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech
- 7.17.1 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech Profile
- 7.17.2 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech Main Business
- 7.17.3 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech Contract Research Organization Services Products, Services and Solutions
- 7.17.4 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech Contract Research Organization Services Revenue (US$ Million) & (2020-2025)
- 7.17.5 Hangzhou Bio-Sincerity Pharma-Tech Recent Developments
8 Industry Chain Analysis
- 8.1 Contract Research Organization Services Industrial Chain
- 8.2 Contract Research Organization Services Upstream Analysis
- 8.2.1 Key Raw Materials
- 8.2.2 Raw Materials Key Suppliers
- 8.2.3 Manufacturing Cost Structure
- 8.3 Midstream Analysis
- 8.4 Downstream Analysis (Customers Analysis)
- 8.5 Sales Model and Sales Channels
- 8.5.1 Contract Research Organization Services Sales Model
- 8.5.2 Sales Channel
- 8.5.3 Contract Research Organization Services Distributors
9 Research Findings and Conclusion
10 Appendix
- 10.1 Research Methodology
- 10.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach
- 10.1.1.1 Research Programs/Design
- 10.1.1.2 Market Size Estimation
- 10.1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation
- 10.1.2 Data Source
- 10.1.2.1 Secondary Sources
- 10.1.2.2 Primary Sources
- 10.2 Author Details
- 10.3 Disclaimer