Pennsylvania Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Pennsylvanians considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 presents a crucial period, especially for those looking to join studies that are nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the state, 262 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 57 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 pain, and metabolic disorders are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Advanced solid tumor
• Opioid use disorder
• Breast cancer
• Chronic pain
• Type 2 diabetes
• Colorectal cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Endometriosis

Groundbreaking Research Launches Across Pennsylvania

This month brings several high-profile new trials to Pennsylvania, including significant Phase 2, 3, and 4 studies from major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions. These trials offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tools, addressing a range of health challenges from metabolic disorders to vision impairments and acute medical conditions.

• 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.
• Another significant Phase 3 study from Novo Nordisk A/S is NCT07564414, "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 trial seeks to enroll 2,500 participants to assess the safety and effectiveness of CagriSema for body weight loss in people with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes.
• The European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery is leading NCT07568080, "SnapChole: An International, Time-Bound Prospective Platform Study of Management Strategies and Outcomes in Acute Calculous Cholecystitis." This study, aiming for 1,500 participants, seeks to understand how different treatment approaches for acute gallbladder inflammation affect patient outcomes in real-world hospital settings.
• Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is sponsoring NCT07562087, a Phase 2 study titled "A Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of TP-05 in Healthy Participants With Tick Exposure." This trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of TP05 administered orally to healthy adult participants, with a target of 700 participants. This is a notable opportunity for healthy volunteers.
• Ohio State University is leading NCT07567040, a Phase 4 study named "Delaying the Onset of Nearsightedness Until Treatment (DONUT) Clinical Trial." This trial will involve 664 participants and test whether the onset of nearsightedness (myopia) is delayed in a group of children randomized to nightly drops of 0.05% atropine compared to a placebo. This study includes children as participants.
• Novo Nordisk A/S has two more Phase 3 studies focused on obstructive sleep apnoea: NCT07571005, "AMAZE 3: A Research Study Investigating How Well the Medicine NNC0487-0111 Helps People With Excess Body Weight and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Not Treated With Positive Airway Pressure Lose Weight and Improve Sleep Apnoea," and 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." Each of these trials aims to enroll 300 participants to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NNC0487-0111.
• NeurOptics Inc is sponsoring NCT07573150, "Pupillometry in Identifying Risk of Postoperative Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy." This study will evaluate whether quantitative pupillometry measurements can be used to identify children at risk for postoperative opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) following tonsillectomy, involving 300 participants. This trial also includes children.

Pennsylvania's Dynamic Research Landscape

This month, Pennsylvania saw the opening of 15 new clinical trials, a notable decrease compared to the 37 trials that launched in March 2026. Despite this dip in new openings, the state continues to offer a broad array of research opportunities, with a total of 3,207 clinical trials currently recruiting across 168 cities and 1,731 research sites. This robust infrastructure ensures that residents across the state have access to cutting-edge medical research.

The majority of new research initiatives this month are concentrated in Pennsylvania's major metropolitan areas. Philadelphia leads with 7 new trials, followed closely by Pittsburgh with 6. However, research opportunities are not limited to these urban centers. Other cities across the state also saw new trial launches, including:

• Hatboro
• DuBois
• Elkins Park
• Erie
• Lancaster
• Pottstown
• Beaver
• West Chester

This distribution indicates a continued effort to make research accessible beyond the largest cities, reaching communities throughout Pennsylvania.

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

• Obesity
• Overweight
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Adrenalectomy; status
• Caregivers
• Catatonia
• Cholecystitis, acute
• Depression - major depressive disorder
• Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)

The types of interventions being studied are varied, with drug trials leading the way, accounting for 8 of the new trials. Other new studies include behavioral interventions, procedures, medical devices, and radiation therapies.

Diverse Participation: Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

Participation in clinical trials is open to a wide range of individuals. Of the 15 new trials launched this month, 5 include children, ensuring that younger populations have opportunities to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 12 new trials are open to older adults, offering opportunities for senior participants to engage in research that could benefit their age group.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 5 of the new trials this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Pennsylvania, a total of 372 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Industry sponsors continue to drive significant research efforts in Pennsylvania, accounting for 7 of the new studies this month. Notably, Novo Nordisk A/S is a major contributor, sponsoring 4 of these new trials. Academic institutions and other organizations are also playing a vital role, with sponsors like Ohio State University, Columbia University, and Duquesne University contributing to the state's research landscape.

As we move through May, the focus will likely remain on the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 2, 3, and 4 trials, while researchers prepare for the next wave of innovative studies to address a broad spectrum of health challenges across Pennsylvania.