West Virginia Clinical Trials Report — April 2026

For West Virginians considering participation in medical research, April 2026 brings both urgent opportunities and significant new studies. Across the state, 16 clinical trials are slated to close their enrollment within the next 90 days. This means time is running out to join these important studies, especially for those interested in contributing to medical advancements in specific health areas.

Among these rapidly closing trials, there is a unique opportunity for healthy volunteers, with 1 study still accepting participants without specific health conditions. This is a chance to contribute to medical science without a pre-existing diagnosis. For patients, several conditions are targeted by these closing studies, emphasizing the need for prompt action if you or a loved one are considering participation. Conditions with trials nearing their enrollment deadlines include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
• Stage IV lung cancer AJCC V8
• Anatomic stage II breast cancer AJCC V8
• Cancer harboring BRAF alterations
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cervical carcinoma
• Endocrine system diseases
• Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
• Exophthalmos
• Eye diseases

If any of these conditions are relevant to your health journey, we encourage you to explore these options immediately before they are no longer available.

New Horizons in Health: April's Notable Research Launches

This month, West Virginia welcomes 2 new clinical trials, matching the number of new studies that opened in March 2026. While the total number of new trials is modest, both represent significant advancements, particularly in drug development, and are sponsored by major pharmaceutical companies. These studies offer participants the chance to engage with cutting-edge treatments for serious health challenges.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals is sponsoring a notable Phase 3 study, NCT07517263, titled "An Open Label Extension (OLE) Study (Following Completion of CTQJ230A12301) to Evaluate Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Pelacarsen (TQJ230)." This trial is designed for individuals who have already completed a previous double-blind study involving pelacarsen. It's an open-label extension, meaning all participants will receive the study drug, allowing for long-term safety and tolerability assessment. This trial is substantial, aiming to enroll 5,700 participants globally, with sites in West Virginia contributing to this vital research.
• Alto Neuroscience is launching NCT07553637, a Phase 2 study investigating "ALTO-207 in Adults With Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD)." This important research seeks to measure the effectiveness of ALTO-207 in reducing depressive symptoms compared to a placebo for individuals whose depression has not responded to prior treatments. The study plans to enroll 178 participants, offering a new potential pathway for those struggling with TRD.

Both of these new studies are drug trials, reflecting a focus on pharmaceutical interventions to address complex health issues. They are exclusively sponsored by industry, indicating significant private sector investment in medical innovation within the state.

West Virginia's Research Footprint: Where to Find Trials

West Virginia currently hosts a robust research landscape with 328 clinical trials actively recruiting participants. These opportunities are spread across 23 cities and 158 research sites throughout the state, ensuring broad accessibility for residents interested in participating.

This month's new trials have opened in key locations:

• Morgantown
• South Charleston

While new trial openings this month are concentrated in these two cities, the overall distribution of recruiting trials across West Virginia means that individuals in various regions may find opportunities closer to home. The presence of research sites in 23 cities highlights a commitment to making clinical research accessible beyond major metropolitan areas.

A Closer Look at Participation: Who Can Join?

Clinical trials rely on diverse participation to ensure new treatments are effective for a wide range of people. Of the 2 new trials launched this month, both are designed to include older adults, ensuring that this demographic has opportunities to contribute to and benefit from medical research. There are no new trials this month specifically for children, or exclusively for female or male participants.

For individuals without a specific medical condition, the options among new trials are limited this month, with 0 of the new studies accepting healthy volunteers. However, it's important to remember that across West Virginia, a total of 24 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants. These trials play a crucial role in establishing baseline data and understanding drug effects in individuals without pre-existing conditions, making their contribution invaluable.

The conditions targeted by this month's new trials are significant: cardiovascular disease and lipoprotein(a), and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These areas represent major public health challenges, and the research being conducted aims to bring forward new solutions.

Looking ahead, the continued enrollment in these important Phase 2 and 3 studies, alongside the search for participants in the rapidly closing trials, will shape West Virginia's contribution to medical science in the coming months. We encourage all interested individuals to explore these opportunities and consider how their participation could make a difference.