A new analysis finds that drug trial activity in Switzerland fell from 185 in 2014 to 137 in 2024, despite growth in global trial volume, attributing the decline to slow approvals, restrictive healthcare data rules, and intensifying international competition. The work was conducted by the Swiss Cancer Institute and industry group Interpharma. The authors argue that cumbersome approval procedures, limitations on the use of health data, and delayed patient access to new therapies make Switzerland less attractive relative to countries investing in trial infrastructure. They also cite gaps in publicly funded, strategically important cancer research compared with international peers. For sponsors, fewer local trials can translate into reduced patient access to novel therapies and more operational complexity as studies move to other geographies.