South Dakota Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For South Dakotans considering participation in medical research, April 2026 presents a critical window of opportunity, particularly for those looking to join studies that are nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the state, 10 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 2 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, a rare genetic disorder, and common eye conditions are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Stage IV lung cancer
• Advanced lung non-small cell carcinoma
• Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
• Colon cancer
• Developmental delay
• Dry eye disease (DED)
• Lung cancer diagnosis
• Metastatic colon cancer
• Metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma
• Metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

A Major New Opportunity in Cancer Research

This month brings a significant new trial to South Dakota, offering a notable opportunity for patients with a specific type of pancreatic cancer. Only 1 new trial opened in the state this April, a contrast to the 0 new trials that launched in March 2026. While the number of new studies is modest, this particular trial is a substantial Phase 3 investigation from a major industry sponsor.

The new study, NCT07522073, is sponsored by Incyte Corporation. It is a Phase 3 study designed to evaluate chemotherapy with or without an investigational drug, INCB161734, in individuals with previously untreated, KRAS G12D-Mutated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This trial aims to enroll 588 participants globally, with a site now open in Sioux Falls. Pancreatic cancer is a challenging disease, and studies like this are crucial for exploring new treatment avenues. The focus on a specific genetic mutation (KRAS G12D) highlights the growing trend of personalized medicine in oncology.

This new trial represents a drug intervention and is the sole new study to open in South Dakota this month. It is also the only new trial that includes older adults, ensuring that this demographic has access to cutting-edge research opportunities.

South Dakota's Research Landscape: Accessibility and Participation

Despite the single new trial this month, South Dakota continues to offer a broad range of research opportunities. Currently, 315 clinical trials are actively recruiting across the state, spread across 15 cities and involving 130 research sites. This wide distribution ensures that residents in various parts of the state have access to clinical research, rather than opportunities being confined to a single metropolitan area.

Sioux Falls is the location for the new Incyte Corporation trial, reinforcing its role as a key hub for medical research in South Dakota. While this month's new trial activity is concentrated in one city, the overall landscape of ongoing studies remains geographically diverse, with opportunities available in numerous communities.

Looking at the trend of new trial openings over the past six months, April's single new trial follows a period of fluctuating activity:

• November 2025: 5 new trials
• December 2025: 3 new trials
• January 2026: 2 new trials
• February 2026: 5 new trials
• April 2026: 1 new trial

This month's opening, while singular, is significant due to the nature and sponsor of the study.

Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are still valuable ways to contribute to medical science in South Dakota. While none of the new trials launched this month are accepting healthy volunteers, there are currently 17 trials statewide that are actively recruiting healthy participants. As mentioned, 2 of these healthy volunteer opportunities are part of studies that are closing within the next 90 days, making prompt action advisable for those interested.

Healthy volunteers play a vital role in clinical research, helping scientists understand normal biological processes, evaluate the safety of new treatments, and compare investigational therapies against placebos. Their participation is essential for advancing medical knowledge and developing new treatments for a wide range of conditions.

As we move further into spring, the focus will likely remain on the ongoing enrollment in the diverse array of studies already underway, including the significant new Phase 3 oncology trial. Researchers will continue to prepare for future waves of innovative studies, aiming to address a broad spectrum of health challenges and expand research opportunities across South Dakota.