Notable Clinical Trials Currently Recruiting in 2026

With more than 22,000 clinical trials actively recruiting participants across the United States right now, 2026 is one of the most active years in modern medical research. Below is a curated list of high-profile trials currently open for enrollment — covering cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and more.

1. RASolute 302 — Daraxonrasib for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Status: Active / Recruiting
Sponsor: Revolution Medicines
Phase: Phase 3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates of any cancer — around 3% at 5 years for metastatic disease. Nearly 90% of cases are driven by RAS mutations, long considered “undruggable.” Daraxonrasib (RMC-6236) is an oral RAS inhibitor that uses a novel tri-complex mechanism to lock the RAS protein in an inactive state. In Phase 1b trials, it showed an overall response rate of up to 35% — dramatically higher than the 3–10% typically seen with chemotherapy. The FDA awarded it Breakthrough Therapy Designation. The RASolute 302 Phase 3 trial is comparing daraxonrasib head-to-head against standard chemotherapy in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with KRAS G12X mutations. Early interim data show a median overall survival of 13.2 months vs. 6.7 months for chemotherapy.

🔗 View on ClinicalTrials.gov → NCT06625320

2. ZEUS Trial — Ziltivekimab for Cardiovascular Disease & Chronic Kidney Disease

Status: Active / Recruiting
Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
Phase: Phase 3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

Chronic, low-level inflammation dramatically raises the risk of heart attack and stroke — even in people whose cholesterol is well-controlled. The ZEUS trial is evaluating ziltivekimab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key inflammatory protein. In an earlier Phase 2 study (RESCUE), ziltivekimab reduced levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) — the main inflammation biomarker — by around 80–90%. The ZEUS Phase 3 trial is now testing whether this translates into fewer actual cardiovascular events (heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular death) in patients who have both established cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. The trial involves monthly self-injections and is expected to run up to 4 years.

🔗 View on ClinicalTrials.gov → NCT05021835

3. TRIUMPH-5 — Retatrutide vs. Tirzepatide for Obesity

Status: Active / Recruiting
Sponsor: Eli Lilly
Phase: Phase 3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

The obesity drug landscape has exploded in recent years, with Ozempic and Zepbound (tirzepatide) becoming household names. Now Eli Lilly is testing the next generation: retatrutide, a triple agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously. Early Phase 2 data showed retatrutide achieved up to 24.2% mean weight loss after 48 weeks — potentially surpassing anything currently on the market. The TRIUMPH-5 trial is the first head-to-head comparison of retatrutide versus tirzepatide in adults with obesity, and will run for approximately 89 weeks. FDA approval for retatrutide is anticipated later in 2026, making this trial a critical milestone.

🔗 View on ClinicalTrials.gov → NCT06662383

4. TRIUMPH-Outcomes — Retatrutide for Cardiovascular & Kidney Outcomes in Obesity

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Eli Lilly
Phase: Phase 3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

While TRIUMPH-5 focuses on weight loss, this companion trial examines whether retatrutide also reduces hard cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in people living with obesity. Given that GLP-1-class drugs like semaglutide have already demonstrated cardiovascular benefit, researchers are testing whether a more powerful triple agonist can push those benefits even further. This long-term outcomes trial is one of the largest currently recruiting in the obesity space.

🔗 View on ClinicalTrials.gov → NCT06383390

5. TROPION-Lung17 — Datopotamab Deruxtecan for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Status: Active / Recruiting
Sponsor: Daiichi Sankyo / AstraZeneca
Phase: Phase 3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. TROPION-Lung17 is a global Phase 3 trial evaluating datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ADCs work by delivering a chemotherapy payload directly into cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue. The trial enrolled its first patient in early 2026 and is open at sites worldwide. This builds on earlier TROPION trial data showing strong results in previously treated NSCLC.

🔗 Search TROPION-Lung17 on ClinicalTrials.gov

6. Alzheimer’s Disease Pipeline Trials — 158 Drugs in Development

Status: Multiple trials actively recruiting
Sponsor: Various (NIH, pharma, academic)
Phase: Phases 1–3
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov

As of January 2026, there are 158 drugs in the Alzheimer’s disease development pipeline across active clinical trials. Key directions include anti-amyloid therapies, tau-targeting drugs, and neuroprotective agents. Biomarkers like blood-based tests for amyloid now allow earlier enrollment of patients before significant symptoms appear. Approximately 55,000 participants are needed to populate all currently active Alzheimer’s trials — making volunteer recruitment a critical need. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s, many trials are specifically seeking participants in this category.

🔗 Browse Recruiting Alzheimer’s Trials on ClinicalTrials.gov

Beyond ClinicalTrials.gov: Trials From International & Specialist Registries

ClinicalTrials.gov is the largest single registry, but it’s not the only one. Thousands of trials — particularly those based in the UK, Europe, and Australia — are registered exclusively through other WHO-recognized registries. Here are notable trials and programs currently recruiting from those sources.

7. RECOVER-TLC — Long COVID Treatment Trials

Status: Actively recruiting / opening summer 2026
Sponsor: NIH / Foundation for the NIH (FNIH)
Registry: RecoverCOVID.org (NIH program site)

An estimated 7–23 million Americans continue to experience persistent symptoms from Long COVID. The NIH’s RECOVER initiative — the world’s largest Long COVID research program — is now in its treatment phase. The RECOVER-TLC (Treating Long COVID) program is testing multiple therapies simultaneously across five symptom areas. Currently recruiting or opening in summer 2026:

• Baricitinib (REVERSE-LC): A JAK inhibitor already approved for rheumatoid arthritis, being tested for Long COVID cognitive impairment and fatigue.
• Semaglutide: The GLP-1 drug (brand name Ozempic/Wegovy) is being evaluated for its anti-inflammatory effects in Long COVID — enrollment begins summer 2026.
• Low-dose naltrexone (LDN): Being tested specifically in children and young adults (ages 6–25) with Long COVID fatigue — enrollment begins summer 2026.
• Stellate ganglion block: A nerve block procedure being evaluated for autonomic dysfunction symptoms.

🔗 Learn more at RecoverCOVID.org
🔗 View RECOVER-TLC trials at FNIH.org

8. AFFECT Trial — Amlodipine for Vascular Dementia (ISRCTN31208535)

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Bristol / Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit
Registry: ISRCTN (UK Clinical Study Registry)

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia, affecting around 7 million people worldwide — yet unlike Alzheimer’s disease, there are currently no licensed drugs for its treatment. The AFFECT trial is testing whether amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker already approved for high blood pressure, can improve outcomes for people with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD). Because amlodipine is already a licensed medication, if this trial succeeds it could be made available to patients very quickly. The trial aims to recruit 588 patients aged 50 and over across multiple UK sites.

🔗 View on ISRCTN → ISRCTN31208535

9. GUSTO Trial — Gene Expression-Guided Treatment for Bladder Cancer (ISRCTN17378733)

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: UK academic consortium
Registry: ISRCTN (UK Clinical Study Registry)

Bladder cancer treatment has changed little in decades. The GUSTO trial is a groundbreaking adaptive study testing whether a molecular gene expression subtype test can be used to personalise treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, GUSTO assigns patients to different treatments based on the genetic profile of their tumour. The multi-stage trial design first confirms feasibility, then assesses whether the gene subtyping approach improves complete response rates after surgery. Results will be published in leading journals and shared through patient charities.

🔗 View on ISRCTN → ISRCTN17378733

10. HERMES Trial — Ziltivekimab for Heart Failure (NCT05636176)

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov + EU CTIS

While the ZEUS trial (listed above) focuses on patients with kidney disease, the HERMES trial tests the same anti-inflammatory drug — ziltivekimab — in a different heart condition: heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HFmrEF). This form of heart failure, where the heart muscle stiffens rather than weakens, affects millions and has very limited treatment options. Monthly subcutaneous injections of ziltivekimab are being compared against placebo, with the primary endpoints being cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalisation, and urgent clinical visits. This trial is registered in both the US and EU systems, making it accessible to a broad patient population internationally.

🔗 View on ClinicalTrials.gov → NCT05636176
🔗 Search EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS)

11. CTIS EU Trial Map — Search Thousands of European Trials

Status: Ongoing database, updated in real time
Registry: EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) — European Medicines Agency

The EU’s Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) is the official registry for all new clinical trials of medicines in the European Union and European Economic Area. As of 2025, all new EU trials must be registered here. CTIS now contains over 11,000 trial records and launched an interactive patient-facing trial map in 2025, allowing anyone to search for trials by medical condition and geographic area in plain language. For patients based in Europe or willing to travel for access to cutting-edge treatments, CTIS is the go-to search portal alongside ClinicalTrials.gov.

🔗 Search the EU Clinical Trials Information System

Always speak with your doctor before enrolling in any clinical trial. Participation is always voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time.