Virginia Clinical Trials Report — May 2026

For Virginians considering participation in clinical research, May 2026 presents a critical window of opportunity, particularly for those looking to join studies that are nearing their enrollment deadlines. Across the Commonwealth, 126 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days. This urgency extends to healthy volunteers, with 13 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 specific types of cancer, heart conditions, and neurological health are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Advanced solid tumor
• Heart failure
• Ovarian cancer
• Mental health issue
• Kidney transplant; complications
• Obesity
• Dementia
• Breast cancer
• Asthma
• Cholangiocarcinoma

Significant New Research Initiatives Across Virginia

This month brings several high-profile new trials to Virginia, including substantial Phase 2 and 3 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 infectious diseases and orthopedic 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.
• Pfizer is leading NCT07573462, "A Study to Learn About the Safety of an Expanded Pneumococcal Vaccine in Healthy Infants." This Phase 3 study will involve 2,400 participants and aims to learn about the safety of a new pneumococcal vaccine and how it helps fight against germs that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media in infants when compared to existing vaccines. This study specifically includes children.
• The Orion Corporation, Orion Pharma is sponsoring NCT07563738, "A 2-part Phase 1/2 Open-label Trial on ODM-212." This multi-site, multi-cohort Phase 1/2 trial will be conducted in 2 parts (dose escalation and dose expansion/optimization) and plans to enroll 229 participants.

Virginia's Evolving Research Landscape

This month, Virginia saw the opening of 7 new clinical trials, a notable decrease compared to the 35 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 1,864 clinical trials currently recruiting across 68 cities and 1,069 research sites.

The majority of new research initiatives this month are spread across several key areas. Cities with new trial openings include:

• Richmond (2 new trials)
• Newport News (2 new trials)
• Fairfax (2 new trials)
• Manassas (1 new trial)
• Norfolk (1 new trial)
• Virginia Beach (1 new trial)
• Arlington (1 new trial)
• Winchester (1 new trial)
• Charlottesville (1 new trial)
• Gordonsville (1 new trial)

This distribution indicates a continued effort to make research accessible beyond the largest urban centers, reaching communities across the state.

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

• Obesity
• Heart failure
• Mesothelioma
• Metastatic malignant neoplasm
• Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Overweight
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pneumococcal disease
• Type 1 diabetes
• Hallux valgus (bunions)

The types of interventions being studied are varied, with drug trials leading the way, accounting for 4 of the new trials. Other new studies include biological treatments and other types of research.

Diverse Participation: Healthy Volunteers and Specific Demographics

Participation in clinical trials is open to a wide range of individuals. Of the 7 new trials launched this month, 5 include older adults, ensuring that senior populations have ample opportunity to contribute to medical science. Additionally, 1 new trial is open to children, offering opportunities for younger participants to engage in research that could benefit their age group.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute. 2 of the new trials this month are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Across Virginia, a total of 134 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 Virginia, accounting for 6 of the new studies this month, including those from Novo Nordisk A/S, DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., NextPoint Therapeutics, Inc., Orion Corporation, Orion Pharma, and Pfizer. The University of Virginia also contributed to the state's research landscape with one new trial.

As we move through May, the focus will likely shift towards 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 Virginia.