South Carolina Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For South Carolinians considering participation in clinical research, April 2026 brings a mix of significant new opportunities and a pressing need to act quickly for studies nearing their enrollment deadlines. This month, a major Phase 3 trial from a leading pharmaceutical company offers a chance to contribute to groundbreaking research in metabolic health, while over 100 other studies across the state are closing soon.

Leading the new research landscape is a notable Phase 3 study sponsored by Novo Nordisk A/S, a global leader in diabetes and obesity care. This trial, NCT07533175, titled "AMAZE 2," is investigating a new medicine, NNC0487-0111, for individuals living with excess body weight and Type 2 diabetes. Designed to enroll 630 participants, this study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of a once-weekly injectable treatment. This represents a significant opportunity for patients seeking new treatment options and contributing to a large-scale, impactful study from a highly reputable sponsor.

Act Now: Trials Closing Soon Across South Carolina

Beyond the exciting new launches, time is running out for many other research opportunities. Across South Carolina, 103 clinical trials are scheduled to close their enrollment within the next 90 days. This means interested individuals must explore these options promptly before they are no longer available.

Among these rapidly closing studies, 9 are actively seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance for those without specific health conditions to contribute to medical science. For patients, a range of conditions are represented in these closing trials, including:

• Cancer
• Depression
• Idiopathic hypersomnia
• Stage IV lung cancer
• Stroke
• Asthma
• Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Heart failure
• Major depressive disorder

If you or a loved one are managing one of these conditions, or if you are a healthy individual interested in participating, we encourage you to review these opportunities without delay.

April's New Research: Focus on Cognitive Health and Major Conditions

This month, South Carolina saw the launch of 8 new clinical trials. While this is a decrease from the 12 trials that opened in March 2026, the new studies offer important avenues for research, particularly in cognitive health and significant chronic conditions.

The new trials are exploring a diverse set of conditions, with a notable emphasis on cognitive function:

• Cognitive dysfunction
• Cognitive complaint
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• Mild neurocognitive disorder
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Neurocognitive function
• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity
• Overweight
• Fall prevention education control condition

In addition to the Novo Nordisk trial, another significant Phase 2 study has opened: NCT07532265. Sponsored by Kinaset Therapeutics Inc, this trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of Frevecitinib (KN-002) in patients with severe asthma not controlled by standard treatments. This study aims to enroll 512 participants, offering a new therapeutic avenue for individuals struggling with severe asthma.

The types of interventions being studied this month are balanced, with 3 new trials focusing on medical devices, 3 on new drug therapies, and 2 on behavioral interventions.

Geographic Accessibility: Charleston Leads New Trial Openings

South Carolina continues to offer a broad landscape for clinical research, with a total of 1,173 clinical trials currently recruiting across 52 cities and 658 research sites statewide. This wide distribution ensures that many residents have access to research opportunities close to home.

This month, the majority of new trial openings were concentrated in the Charleston area, with 5 of the 8 new studies launching there. Other cities seeing new research opportunities include:

• Columbia (1 new trial)
• Rock Hill (1 new trial)
• Spartanburg (1 new trial)

While new trial launches show a metropolitan cluster, the overall number of recruiting sites across the state highlights a commitment to making research accessible to a wider population.

Who Can Participate? Opportunities for Diverse Demographics

Clinical trials are designed to include a wide range of participants, ensuring that new treatments are evaluated across different populations. Of the 8 new trials launched in April:

• 7 studies are open to older adults, reflecting the importance of research for an aging population.
• 2 trials include children, providing opportunities for younger participants to contribute to medical advancements.
• There are no new trials exclusively for female or male participants this month.

For individuals without specific health conditions, healthy volunteer opportunities remain a vital part of the research ecosystem. While only 1 of the new trials this month is accepting healthy volunteers, there are currently 95 total trials recruiting healthy participants across South Carolina. These studies are crucial for establishing baseline data and understanding how new interventions affect individuals without existing conditions.

Academic institutions play a significant role in South Carolina's research efforts. The Medical University of South Carolina sponsored 4 of the new trials this month, and the University of South Carolina sponsored 1. These academic contributions complement the efforts of industry sponsors like Novo Nordisk A/S and Kinaset Therapeutics Inc, fostering a robust and diverse research environment.

As we move through spring, the focus will remain on the ongoing enrollment in these critical new studies, particularly those addressing metabolic health and severe asthma, while also encouraging timely participation in the many trials nearing their conclusion across South Carolina.