Colorado Clinical Trials Report — July 2026

Coloradans considering a clinical trial should act now if they match a study approaching enrollment closure: 82 recruiting trials are expected to close within the next 90 days. 15 of those studies accept healthy volunteers, creating a limited window for people without a diagnosed condition. Colorado currently has 1,764 recruiting trials across 56 cities and 990 research sites.

The state added 34 new trials in July, slightly fewer than the 36 that opened in June and below May’s 46. Even with that modest slowdown, the pipeline remains active, particularly in Aurora and Denver. People interested in a closing study should contact the site soon: screening, medical-record review, and required visits can take time before enrollment is complete.

Closing studies create the most immediate opportunities

Several conditions appear repeatedly among Colorado trials nearing closure. Endothelial dysfunction leads with 3 closing-soon studies. Lupus nephritis, cancer, major depressive disorder, vascular stiffness, vascular diseases, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and transgender health each account for 2. Alcohol use disorder appears in 1 study nearing its projected closing date.

• Endothelial dysfunction — 3 closing-soon trials
• Lupus nephritis — 2
• Cancer — 2
• Major depressive disorder — 2
• Vascular stiffness, vascular diseases, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and transgender health — 2 each
• Alcohol use disorder — 1

Healthy adults have 15 closing-soon opportunities, while 197 healthy-volunteer trials are recruiting statewide overall. Because the number of eligible studies can change quickly, healthy volunteers should check requirements such as age, medications, tobacco or alcohol use, prior diagnoses, and travel expectations before applying.

New studies emphasize cancer, heart failure, and eating disorders

July’s new-trial mix is broad. Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and heart failure each account for 2 new studies. Other new areas include advanced or metastatic solid tumors, allergic reaction, acute myeloid leukemia, adolescent anorexia, chronic medical illness, anorexia nervosa restricting type, anorexia nervosa with significantly low body weight, and atypical anorexia nervosa.

• Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma — 2 new trials
• Heart failure — 2
• Advanced or metastatic solid tumors, allergic reaction, AML, and several anorexia-related conditions — 1 each

Drug studies were the most common type of new trial, with 17 openings. Behavioral studies accounted for 6, other study types for 6, devices for 4, and biological and combination-product studies for 1 each. This gives prospective participants choices ranging from experimental medicines to pharmacist-led care, behavioral interventions, and medical devices.

Large Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies offer high-profile options

Several newly opened studies stand out because of their phase, planned enrollment, or sponsor. Novo Nordisk’s Phase 3 AMAZE 9 study, NCT07720271, is evaluating daily zenagamtide tablets for people with excess body weight. The study plans to enroll 950 participants and compares zenagamtide with placebo.

People with previously untreated, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal-junction cancer may want to review NCT07700979. This Phase 3 study, sponsored by Akeso, compares cadonilimab plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy combinations with or without nivolumab and plans to enroll 900 participants.

• NCT07720271 — Novo Nordisk’s Phase 3 study of daily zenagamtide tablets for excess body weight, with 950 planned participants.
• NCT07700979 — Akeso’s Phase 3 study of cadonilimab-based treatment for previously untreated HER2-negative gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma.
• NCT07680790 — Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Phase 3 IZABRIGHT-Lung02 study for previously untreated EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer, with 850 planned participants.
• NCT07684820 — Expedition Therapeutics’ Phase 2 study of EXPD-101 for COPD over 52 weeks, targeting 600 participants.
• NCT07728188 — AbbVie’s Phase 3 study of injected etentamig plus oral pomalidomide for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, with 520 planned participants.
• NCT07714239 — A VA Office of Research and Development study testing pharmacist-assisted medication titration after hospitalization for heart failure, involving 585 participants.

Families may be especially interested in NCT07730814 and NCT07732699, two Phase 4 comparative-effectiveness studies sponsored by Nader Shaikh. Each plans to enroll 1,100 children and examines treatment approaches for acute ear infections or acute sinusitis. Children are randomly assigned to treatment groups so researchers can better understand whether antibiotics help children recover more quickly.

Aurora and Denver dominate new-site activity

New trial activity is concentrated along Colorado’s Front Range. Aurora leads with 18 new trials, followed by Denver with 10. Other cities opening new studies include Carbondale, Edwards, Englewood, Fort Collins, Louisville, Pueblo, and Boulder, with 1 new trial each.

• Aurora — 18 new trials
• Denver — 10
• Carbondale, Edwards, Englewood, Fort Collins, Louisville, Pueblo, and Boulder — 1 each

The pattern shows a strong metro-area concentration, especially around the Denver-Aurora medical corridor, but opportunities are not limited to those two cities. Residents elsewhere in the state should search by condition and travel distance, since some studies may have only one Colorado location even when the overall trial is national or international.

Children, older adults, and healthy volunteers can find openings

Eligibility patterns point to several groups that should review July’s new studies. 10 new trials include children, including the large acute ear infection and sinusitis studies. 25 include older adults. Two are female-only, while no new trials are listed as male-only.

Healthy volunteers have 7 opportunities among the 34 new July trials and 197 recruiting studies statewide overall. These participants should not assume that “healthy” means every adult qualifies; trial teams may apply detailed health, age, medication, and lifestyle requirements.

Colorado’s sponsor landscape also includes major academic, federal, and industry participants. The University of Colorado, Denver opened 6 new trials, the VA Office of Research and Development opened 3, and Nader Shaikh sponsored 2. Colorado State University, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Aquestive Therapeutics, and Charles Raison each appear among the month’s sponsors. By sponsor category, 16 new trials were classified as other, 14 as industry-sponsored, and 4 as federally sponsored.

The monthly trend has fluctuated, moving from 40 new trials in February to 39 in March, 33 in April, 46 in May, 36 in June, and 34 in July. As summer progresses, closing dates may shift and additional studies may open, making July a timely point to check both urgent enrollment opportunities and new trials in the Denver-Aurora corridor and beyond.