The number of clinical trials focused on COVID-19 has increased 639 percent worldwide to more than 4,000 trials in January 2021, up from 549 in early April 2020. Of those new trials, 762 are being conducted in the U.S., far outpacing other countries, according to a report by marketing research firm GlobalData. China was in a distant second place with 462 trials.

GlobalData tracks all trials, including those sponsored by governments and other entities. WCG Clinical, which tracks industry-sponsored COVID-19 trials globally, says that a total of 639 trials have been announced since early 2020 and 490 of them have a documented start date.

Scotty Chung-Siu, senior analyst for GlobalData, says the largest increase in trials in the U.S. was observed between April 6 and 19, 2020, when 411 new studies were started. “That number has continued to increase every week with no regression showing,” he says, adding that “new trials are being added as companies are continuing to investigate drug candidates despite some having already been approved.”

According to the report, total COVID-19 trials worldwide hit 2,191 on June 15, 2020, 3,027 on Aug. 24, 2020, and 4,058 on Jan. 11, 2021.