Hawaii Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Hawaii residents considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 presents a critical window of opportunity, particularly for those interested in trials nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the state, 12 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 4 of these rapidly closing studies actively seeking participants without specific health conditions. Individuals interested in contributing to medical advancements should explore these options promptly before they are no longer available.

Patients managing certain health conditions also face impending deadlines to join research. Trials focused on various types of cancer, chronic inflammation, and HIV are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Stage IV lung cancer AJCC v8 (2 trials)
• Breast cancer
• Cancer (general)
• Chronic inflammation
• Colon cancer
• Contraception
• HIV
• Lung cancer
• Metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma

There is also one trial for healthy volunteers closing soon, offering a chance for individuals without specific conditions to contribute to medical understanding before the opportunity passes.

A Significant New Research Opportunity in Honolulu

This month, Hawaii welcomes a single, yet highly notable, new clinical trial. This Phase 3 drug study from a major international sponsor offers a significant opportunity for individuals living with specific heart conditions and obesity. The trial is exclusively located in Honolulu, making it accessible to residents in the capital city.

• Novo Nordisk A/S is sponsoring NCT07567001, a Phase 3 study titled "A Research Study to Look at How Well NNC0487-0111 Works Compared to Placebo in People With Heart Failure and Obesity." This substantial trial aims to enroll 5,610 participants globally, evaluating the safety and effect of NNC0487-0111 in individuals with Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) or Heart Failure with mildly reduced Ejection Fraction (HFmrEF) and excess body weight. This study represents a significant investment in understanding and treating the complex interplay between heart failure and obesity, and its large scale underscores its potential impact on future treatment paradigms.

This new trial is specifically designed to include older adults, ensuring that this demographic has an opportunity to participate in research relevant to their health needs. However, it does not currently accept healthy volunteers.

Hawaii's Evolving Research Landscape

The pace of new clinical trial openings in Hawaii has slowed this month. Only 1 new trial launched in May 2026, a notable decrease compared to the 3 trials that opened in March and April of this year. Looking back further, December 2025 saw 4 new trials, followed by 3 in January and February 2026. This trend suggests a quieter month for new research initiatives, although the single new trial is a significant one.

Despite the slower pace of new openings, the state continues to offer a broad array of research opportunities, with a total of 218 clinical trials currently recruiting across 17 cities and 100 research sites. This indicates a robust ongoing research ecosystem, even as the influx of entirely new studies fluctuates.

Geographically, new research initiatives this month are concentrated solely in Honolulu. While the state boasts research sites in 17 different cities, the single new trial for May is located in the capital. This highlights Honolulu's role as a central hub for clinical research in Hawaii, though opportunities are available more broadly across the islands for existing trials.

Participation Opportunities: Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are opportunities to contribute to medical science. While the single new trial this month does not accept healthy volunteers, there are still 26 clinical trials actively recruiting healthy participants across Hawaii. Among these, 4 are closing within the next 90 days, making it crucial for interested individuals to act quickly.

The new trial from Novo Nordisk A/S is open to older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. No new trials this month are exclusively for females or males, nor do any include children, indicating a focus on adult populations for the latest research.

Industry sponsors continue to drive significant research efforts in Hawaii, with Novo Nordisk A/S leading the charge for the new trial this month. Their investment in a large-scale Phase 3 study underscores the importance of private sector contributions to advancing medical treatments.

As we move into the summer months, residents are encouraged to regularly check for updates on new and ongoing trials. The current landscape offers a mix of urgent opportunities in closing studies and a significant new initiative for specific health conditions, ensuring diverse avenues for participation in Hawaii's clinical research community.