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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Find a Trial Near You

The official registry for all U.S. clinical trials is ClinicalTrials.gov, maintained by the National Institutes of Health. You can search by condition, location, age, and eligibility. Additional patient-friendly search tools include:

• TrialFinderData.org — plain-English eligibility summaries
• Hipa.ai — search by condition, location, and eligibility

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