There are many elements to your question. We already lag behind our international peers in terms of the numbers of new products launched. This would be my first point. It's critical that the PMPRB does not further erode Canada's status in that global market.
At the moment, Canadians only have access to 48% of all new medicines launched globally. That compares with 64% in Germany and 60% in the U.K. We've talked about that before and there is, of course, more in the U.S. Only 25% of all medicines are available in Canada within the first year of international launch compared with a higher percentage in Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.
There is also a time lag that has been referred to. I'll include that in my comments because you're asking about the international status of Canada. Canadians wait an average of 17 months from the first international launch, whereas medicines are available far sooner in other countries—for example, 11 months in Germany, 12 months in the U.K. and four months in the U.S., so we're already at a disadvantage.
You asked specifically about clinical trials, but if there's time, I'll add a bit more. The industry, first of all, is extremely important to Canada in its support of clinical trials. Between 65% and 75% of clinical trials initiated in Canada in every quarter since 2015 have sponsored by industry.
According to the data we have been collecting, there's been a decrease of about 20%, compared with the previous three years, in clinical trials being launched in this country. Some of that might be due to COVID. I know that someone raised that point, but we're looking at data across quite a period of time.
I have other data points on impact, but I will stop there in deference to your question.