As the demand for new treatments accelerates, so does the number of clinical trials around the world. But behind the scenes, managing clinical trials is becoming increasingly complicated. 

One of the biggest sticking points? Getting participants to stick around. 

A Big Problem That’s Getting Bigger

In early 2025, over 460,000 trials have been registered globally – a number that’s only expected to rise. 

From rare diseases to chronic conditions, pharmaceutical companies are in a high-stakes race to bring therapies to market faster than ever. 

The Stubborn Challenge of Keeping Participants Engaged 

Clinical trials don’t work without people. Volunteers are the foundation of every study, and ensuring they remain engaged throughout the trial is essential for collecting meaningful data. 

But retention is an ongoing struggle, especially when the trial process adds financial and logistical pressures to participants’ daily lives. 

For many, the hidden costs of participation are a real barrier. Transportation, missed work, childcare, even something as simple as grabbing a meal deal on the way to the clinic – all of it adds up. 

And while participants are often reimbursed, the process is rarely fast or simple. Cash-in-hand or slow bank transfers are still surprisingly common, creating friction that deters participation and drags down trial efficiency. 

The payment process is stuck in the past, and both researchers and participants are feeling the strain. 

Enter B4B Payments 

B4B Payments has carved out a space in the pharmaceutical world by offering a modern, tech-enabled solution to an old problem: how to pay trial participants quickly, securely, and transparently.

Our approach is simple. B4B provides prepaid cards that can be instantly loaded with funds after a trial visit. No waiting around, no chasing reimbursements. Just fast, trackable payments that fit into people’s lives. 

And unlike many others in the space, we don’t rely on third-party systems to deliver. As a direct issuer of prepaid cards, B4B Payments cuts out the middleman, offering tighter integration, faster turnaround, and better compliance controls. 

It’s a small change with a big impact: less administrative burden for research teams and a smoother experience for participants. 

A Real-World Win

In the world of clinical trials, timely and compliant participant reimbursement can be a major hurdle. 

One provider, focused on making the process smoother for attendees, moving away from manual payment methods in favour of automated, digital transactions. 

The result? Participants received their funds quickly and with minimal fuss. No waiting around. No paper trails. 

On the back end, the clinical research team gained greater visibility and control over spending, with simplified reporting and easier compliance management. 

All of this added up to happier participants, stronger retention, and more efficient trial operations overall. 

Innovation on the Ground 

Another headache for pharmaceutical companies is managing the expenses of field sales teams. B4B Payments can help here too, making it easier to track and reimburse travel, lodging, and other field expenses. 

This dual-pronged approach reflects our broader mission: to simplify financial operations in its entirety for one of the most complex and tightly regulated industries in the world. 

Staying Ahead 

We understand that regulations change frequently, and innovation moves fast in the pharmaceutical industry. B4B Payments makes a point of staying connected to what’s happening on the ground so it can better serve the industry. 

That means attending key industry events, tuning in to healthcare and life sciences conferences, and staying active on platforms like LinkedIn, where conversations around compliance, patient engagement, and digital transformation are constantly evolving. 

This ongoing engagement allows our teams to stay in sync with the needs of clinical coordinators, finance officers, and patient advocates alike, shaping our product roadmap in real-time and keeping our offerings relevant. 

Looking Forward: Trials, Tech, and Transformation 

As clinical research continues to globalise and expand, the need for frictionless, participant-friendly systems will only grow. Financial tools that are smart, secure, and simple to use aren’t just a ‘nice to have’ – they’re a vital part of running successful trials. 

B4B Payments delivers just that. With a laser-sharp focus on incentivisation, we’re helping to fix one of the most persistent bottlenecks in clinical research: patient adherence.

It’s an important niche that’s overdue for change. B4B Payments is right at the centre. Helping pharma companies become more efficient – and taking better care of trial participants.