North Dakota Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For North Dakotans considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 brings a critical reminder: several important studies are nearing their enrollment deadlines. If you or someone you know is managing specific health conditions, now is the time to explore these opportunities before they close. A total of 9 clinical trials across the state are scheduled to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days. It's important to note that none of these rapidly closing studies are currently accepting healthy volunteers.

Patients with certain cancer diagnoses are particularly affected by these upcoming deadlines. The conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Stage IV lung cancer AJCC v8
• Anatomic stage II breast cancer AJCC v8
• Anatomic stage III breast cancer AJCC v8
• Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
• HER2-negative breast carcinoma
• Hormone receptor-positive breast carcinoma
• Lung cancer diagnosis
• Metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma
• Metastatic small intestinal adenocarcinoma
• Metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

These trials represent focused efforts to advance treatments for complex diseases, and the window for participation is quickly narrowing.

New Opportunities Emerge for Weight Management and Sleep Health

This month, North Dakota welcomes 2 significant new clinical trials, both sponsored by the renowned pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S. These Phase 3 drug trials are focused on addressing prevalent health challenges related to weight management and sleep disorders, offering substantial opportunities for eligible participants.

• Novo Nordisk A/S is sponsoring NCT07564414, a Phase 3 study titled "A Research Study to Look at How Two Different Doses of CagriSema and One Dose of Semaglutide Help People Living With Obesity With or Without Type 2 Diabetes Lose Weight." This large-scale trial aims to enroll approximately 2,500 participants globally, with sites now open in North Dakota. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CagriSema, a new investigational medicine, for body weight loss in individuals living with obesity, regardless of whether they also have type 2 diabetes. Participants will receive either CagriSema or Semaglutide through injections.
• Another notable Phase 3 trial from Novo Nordisk A/S is NCT07571109, "AMAZE 4: A Research Study Investigating How Well the Medicine NNC0487-0111 Helps People With Excess Body Weight and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Treated With Positive Airway Pressure Lose Weight and Improve Sleep Apnoea." This study seeks to enroll around 300 participants and focuses on individuals who are overweight or have obesity and also suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The trial will assess the efficacy and safety of NNC0487-0111, administered as once-weekly injections, in helping participants lose weight and improve their sleep apnoea symptoms while continuing positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.

Both of these new trials are industry-sponsored, highlighting the commitment of major pharmaceutical companies to addressing widespread health concerns in North Dakota.

Participation Options: Where and For Whom?

All 2 of the new trials that opened this month are located in Fargo, consolidating new research opportunities within the state's largest city. While new trials are concentrated there, North Dakota currently has a total of 209 clinical trials actively recruiting across 7 cities and 85 research sites. This broad distribution ensures that research opportunities are available beyond metropolitan areas, though Fargo often serves as a hub for new study launches.

For individuals without specific medical conditions, opportunities to participate as healthy volunteers are more limited this month. Neither of the new trials opening in May 2026 are accepting healthy volunteers. However, there are still 14 clinical trials statewide that are actively seeking healthy participants. These studies play a crucial role in establishing baseline data and understanding how new treatments affect individuals without pre-existing conditions.

Regarding specific demographics, both new trials are open to older adults, ensuring that this population group has access to cutting-edge research. No new trials this month are exclusively for children, nor are there any gender-specific studies. This indicates a focus on broader adult populations for these particular investigations.

North Dakota's Evolving Research Landscape

North Dakota's clinical trial landscape continues to evolve. This month saw the opening of 2 new trials, matching the number of new trials that opened in April 2026. Looking at the trend over the past six months, the number of new trials has fluctuated:

• December 2025: 5 new trials
• February 2026: 2 new trials
• March 2026: 1 new trial
• April 2026: 2 new trials
• May 2026: 2 new trials

This consistent, albeit modest, influx of new studies ensures ongoing opportunities for North Dakotans to contribute to medical science. The focus of this month's new trials on obesity, overweight, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnoea reflects significant public health priorities.

As we move further into 2026, the continued presence of major sponsors like Novo Nordisk A/S and the availability of trials across various conditions and locations underscore North Dakota's role in advancing global health research. We encourage all interested individuals to explore these opportunities, particularly those with impending enrollment deadlines, to help shape the future of medicine.