North Carolina Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For North Carolinians considering participation in clinical research, April 2026 brings a critical window of opportunity, particularly for studies nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the state, 221 clinical trials are scheduled to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 39 of these rapidly closing studies still 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 specific types of depression, heart conditions, and various chronic diseases are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Depression
• Heart failure
• Cancer
• Idiopathic hypersomnia
• Pediatric obesity
• Diabetic foot ulcer
• Cystic fibrosis in children
• Colitis, ulcerative
• Bladder pain syndrome
• Atrial fibrillation

New Horizons in North Carolina Research: Notable Trials Launch This Month

April introduces 25 new clinical trials to North Carolina, offering a diverse array of opportunities for participants. While this number is a decrease from the 36 trials that opened in March 2026, the new studies include significant Phase 2 and 3 investigations from major sponsors, alongside innovative behavioral and public health initiatives.

Among the most notable new trials are:

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals is sponsoring NCT07517263, an Open Label Extension (OLE) Study following completion of a parent study, to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of Pelacarsen (TQJ230). This Phase 3 trial is designed for 5,700 participants.
• Incyte Corporation is launching NCT07522073, a Phase 3 study evaluating chemotherapy with or without INCB161734 in previously untreated, KRAS G12D-Mutated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This important oncology trial aims to enroll 588 participants.
• Kinaset Therapeutics Inc is initiating NCT07532265, a Phase 2 dose-ranging clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Frevecitinib (KN-002) in patients with severe asthma. This study seeks 512 participants.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is conducting NCT07507643, a Phase 3 study of Methylprednisolone in people undergoing liver surgery, with the goal of reducing side effects like infections and longer hospital stays. It plans to enroll 750 participants.
• RTI International is sponsoring NCT07527988, the "Safer Drinking Spaces Study," which evaluates bystander training provided by Safe Bars, Inc. to staff at alcohol-serving establishments. This large-scale behavioral study aims for 3,180 participants.
• The Institute for Medical Research, Inc. is leading NCT07534501, the "'Eat Well' Produce Prescription Randomized Controlled Trial," studying how a produce prescription program affects Veterans' health and healthcare usage. This trial plans for 1,500 participants.
• The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is sponsoring NCT07526584, "Comparing the Effects of Front-of-Package Labeling Schemes in Indonesia," an experiment to determine the most effective label type for discouraging consumption of products high in nutrients of concern. This study seeks 1,000 participants.
• Wake Forest University Health Sciences is conducting NCT07515794, the "System Interventions to Achieve Early and Equitable Transplants Study - Long-Term" (STEPS-LT), an extension of a previous study to evaluate sustained behavioral activation and transplant-related milestones. This trial will follow 793 participants.

New trials are exploring a range of conditions, from common ailments to more specialized areas. This month's new studies are targeting:

• Adult obesity
• Analgesic efficacy
• Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
• Bystander intervention
• Cardiovascular disease and lipoprotein(a)
• Chronic kidney diseases
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Congenital anomaly
• Digital nerve injury
• Failure of fontan type circulation

The types of interventions being studied are varied, with drug trials leading the way, accounting for 10 of the new trials. Behavioral interventions represent 7 new trials, devices 3, and dietary supplements 1, with 4 classified as 'Other' types of studies.

North Carolina's Research Footprint: Opportunities Across the State

North Carolina continues to be a hub for clinical research, with a total of 2,554 clinical trials currently recruiting across 95 cities and 1,584 research sites. This broad distribution ensures accessibility for many residents.

This month, new trial openings show a concentration in the state's major research centers. Leading the way are:

• Chapel Hill (7 new trials)
• Durham (6 new trials)
• Winston-Salem (4 new trials)
• Charlotte (2 new trials)

Beyond these primary locations, single new trials opened in Hendersonville, Morehead City, Greenville, Statesville, Wilmington, and Raleigh, indicating that research opportunities are not exclusively confined to the largest metropolitan areas.

Participation for All: Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

Clinical trials welcome a diverse range of participants. This month, 9 of the 25 new trials are actively seeking healthy volunteers, providing a significant opportunity for individuals without specific medical conditions to contribute to scientific advancement. Statewide, a total of 304 trials are currently recruiting healthy participants.

Eligibility for new trials also includes specific demographics:

• 21 new trials include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science.
• 2 new trials are open to children.
• 2 studies are specifically designed for female participants.

Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in North Carolina's research ecosystem, with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill sponsoring 5 of the new trials and Wake Forest University Health Sciences sponsoring 3. Industry sponsors, including Incyte Corporation, Kinaset Therapeutics Inc, Eccogene, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company Limited, are also driving significant research efforts, accounting for 9 of the new studies this month.

As we move further into spring, the focus will likely remain on the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2 and 3 trials, while researchers prepare for the next wave of innovative studies to address a broad spectrum of health challenges across North Carolina.