CRO in Poland: Why Poland Is Becoming a Core Country for Oncology Clinical Trials in Europe

What biotech and pharma sponsors should know about oncology clinical research in Poland

By Magda Klosowska, Regional Clinical Manager for Europe at Cromos Pharma

When sponsors plan oncology clinical trials in Europe, country selection often defaults to familiar Western European markets, with Central and Eastern Europe treated as a secondary consideration. That mindset deserves reconsideration.

Poland has evolved well beyond its historic reputation as a cost-driven clinical research market. Today, it offers something far more valuable for  oncology sponsors: meaningful patient access, experienced investigators, EU regulatory alignment, and increasing operational maturity.

For many European oncology programs, Poland should be considered a core country, not a backup option.

Why Oncology Clinical Trials in Poland Continue to Gain Strategic Importance

Scale remains one of Poland’s clearest advantages. As one of the largest countries in the European Union, Poland provides access to extensive oncology patient populations across a broad range of tumor types. Each year, nearly 200,000 new cases diagnosed annually and a 5-year prevalence exceeding half a million patients. For sponsors conducting oncology clinical trials, particularly those targeting treatment-naïve patients or biomarker-defined subgroups, this can translate into a significant recruitment advantage.

Compared with many Western European markets, where competition for patients is intense and site bandwidth is often constrained, high-performing Polish oncology centers can offer more predictable enrollment performance.

Poland’s Clinical Research Infrastructure Has Matured

The perception of Poland as simply a lower-cost destination for outsourced research no longer reflects reality. Clinical research in Poland has become considerably more sophisticated. Investments through the Medical Research Agency (ABM), Clinical Research Support Centers, and broader oncology system modernization efforts have strengthened infrastructure, improved institutional readiness, and increased operational professionalism.

Importantly, Poland combines this progress with strong investigator experience in global oncology development. This is particularly relevant as oncology protocols become increasingly complex, requiring coordination across molecular diagnostics, imaging, multidisciplinary treatment teams, and advanced safety oversight.

Polish sites have participated in pivotal international oncology programs involving targeted therapies, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates, demonstrating operational capability well beyond simple recruitment execution.The impact is already visible. Poland now ranks among the top countries globally for oncology trial participation, with more than 26,800 patients enrolled in commercial studies in 2024. 

Regulatory Alignment Helps, But Execution Still Matters

Poland operates fully under the EU Clinical Trials Regulation framework and CTIS, which provides a harmonized regulatory environment for sponsors conducting European studies. That said, experienced sponsors understand that regulatory harmonization does not automatically eliminate startup friction.

Contract negotiations, institutional processes, ethics coordination, and local execution discipline still materially affect timelines. This is where the choice of CRO in Poland becomes important. Teams with established local operational expertise can significantly influence startup predictability and site performance.

Rethinking Cost in Oncology Trial Planning

Poland is no longer the “cheap” option it may once have been. Leading oncology centers appropriately command competitive budgets. But focusing solely on per-patient cost is often the wrong economic framework.

For oncology sponsors, the more relevant metric is total study efficiency: recruitment velocity, protocol adherence, data quality, and operational reliability. A market that recruits faster and performs more consistently often delivers better economics than a lower-cost market with weaker execution.

Final Perspective: Poland’s Role in European Oncology Development

European oncology development is becoming increasingly selective. Sponsors are prioritizing countries that consistently deliver operationally, not simply expanding geographic footprints.Poland increasingly belongs in that category.

For sponsors evaluating oncology clinical trials in Europe, clinical research in Poland deserves serious strategic consideration, not merely as a regional add-on, but as a country capable of playing a central role in study success.