How Choosing Latin America for Clinical Trials Can Cut Your Research Costs

When a clinical trial is planned, cost is not just a number; it’s a major factor in whether the study moves forward or stalls. Many sponsors focus on reducing trial expenses, but fewer consider changing the geography of their research to control costs.

Latin America offers that option. It is a region where clinical trials can be conducted efficiently, ethically, and in full alignment with global standards, but at a lower cost than in the U.S. or Western Europe. The cost advantage is real, but it is not the only reason more sponsors are turning to this part of the world.

This article reflects on what makes Latin America suitable for cost-effective clinical trials and why it may be the right move for your next study.

1. Cost Advantage Without Reducing Standards

Clinical trials in Latin America typically cost 30–60% less than in the U.S. This reduction doesn’t come from skipping steps or reducing quality; it comes from structural differences:

• Labor costs are lower
• Site fees are lower
• Overhead is reduced
• The currency exchange rate often favors sponsors from high-income countries

These differences allow sponsors to spend less per patient, per site, and per month, while still meeting ICH-GCP standards. Trial conduct is aligned with FDA and EMA expectations. Quality is maintained, but inefficiencies are removed.

2. Patient Enrollment Is Faster and More Predictable

Slow enrollment is one of the most common reasons clinical trials go over budget. In many Western countries, there are more trials than patients. The balance is different in Latin America.

• Major cities have large, centralized populations
• Many patients have not participated in previous studies
• Disease prevalence for target indications is often high
• Physician referrals are more direct and less fragmented

Because of this, sites often enroll patients faster than projected. Faster enrollment shortens timelines. Shorter timelines reduce cost. In many cost-effective clinical trials, the savings come not only from lower operating costs but from finishing earlier than expected.

3. Regulatory Pathways Are More Efficient Than Commonly Assumed

One outdated concern about Latin America is that regulatory approvals take too long. While that was true years ago, it is no longer the case in most countries.

• Colombia and Chile have shortened approval times
• Ethics committees often work in parallel with regulatory agencies
• Many countries now accept electronic submissions and follow ICH guidelines

In practical terms, you can get a trial approved in 3–4 months in countries like Colombia or Peru. This is comparable to timelines in many Western countries. The difference is: once approvals are granted, patient recruitment begins quickly, without bottlenecks.

4. Investigator Experience and Infrastructure Support Global-Grade Trials

Sponsors new to Latin America often expect basic infrastructure. What they find instead is a network of established hospitals, research centers, and academic institutions equipped to run complex trials.

• Sites use electronic data capture systems
• Investigators are trained to global standards and often speak English
• Protocol adherence is closely managed
• Inspection histories show compliance with FDA and EMA requirements

In short, you are not reducing quality; you are entering a well-functioning system that simply makes cost-effective clinical trials possible.

5. Higher Retention, Fewer Protocol Deviations

Data loss and patient dropout are invisible costs that show up late in a trial. They often lead to increased monitoring, repeated recruitment, or reduced statistical power.

In Latin America, patient retention is generally strong. There are reasons for this:

• Patients often receive care they would not otherwise access
• Physicians are more involved in direct follow-up
• Sites are more engaged in keeping patients on schedule

Fewer dropouts mean fewer surprises in the data and less need to reallocate funds midway through the study.

6. A Strategic Fit for Small and Mid-Sized Sponsors

For emerging companies, every decision affects the next funding round or milestone. Running a trial in a high-cost region can consume a large part of a limited budget. Latin America offers a more sustainable path.

• You can achieve early-phase endpoints at a lower cost
• You can generate data accepted by regulators in the U.S. or Europe
• You can reduce your per-patient cost while maintaining quality

For biotech companies trying to extend their runway without compromising the credibility of their trial results, Latin America can make a critical difference.

7. Time Zone and Communication Alignment

Operational oversight becomes more difficult when teams are separated by 8–12 time zones. In Latin America, time zones are often the same or within 1–3 hours of U.S. time. This brings real advantages:

• Real-time communication between CROs, sites, and sponsors
• Faster issue resolution during monitoring
• Easier coordination for remote or hybrid trial models

While this may not directly affect the cost, it reduces risk and management burden, both of which influence overall efficiency.

Conclusion

The goal is not to cut spending at the expense of quality. The goal is to avoid spending more than necessary to achieve the same or better results.

Latin America offers that opportunity. Here, sponsors can conduct cost-effective clinical trials in a region where patients are available, infrastructure is reliable, timelines are manageable, and data is accepted by global regulators.

At bioaccess®, we help sponsors make this transition with confidence. From feasibility to regulatory support to site management, we bring regional insight and operational strength to every trial.

If your next study demands both quality and cost control, consider Latin America not as an alternative, but as a strategy.

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