North Carolina Clinical Trials Report — June 2026

For North Carolinians considering participation in clinical research, June 2026 presents a crucial window of opportunity, particularly for those interested in trials nearing their conclusion. Across the Tar Heel State, 179 clinical trials are slated to close within the next 90 days, meaning time is running out to enroll. This includes 33 studies actively seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance to contribute to medical science without a specific health condition.

Groundbreaking Research Launches Across North Carolina

This month, North Carolina welcomes 43 new clinical trials, a slight decrease from the 49 trials that opened in May 2026, but still a robust offering of new research opportunities. These new studies include several significant Phase 3 drug trials from major pharmaceutical companies, offering participants access to cutting-edge treatments for widespread health challenges like obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as crucial vaccine development.

• AstraZeneca is sponsoring NCT07667803, a Phase 3 "Master Protocol to Investigate Efficacy and Safety of Elecoglipron in Participants With Obesity or Overweight With or Without T2DM." This substantial global study aims to enroll 4,500 participants, evaluating a new treatment for weight management.
• Another major Phase 3 trial, NCT07654361, is "Efficacy and Safety of Aleniglipron in Participants With Obesity or Overweight With a Weight-Related Comorbidity (ACCOMPLISH-1)," sponsored by Gasherbrum Bio, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Structure Therapeutics. This global study seeks 3,600 participants to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of aleniglipron.
• Pfizer is leading an important Phase 3 vaccine trial: NCT07629440, "A Study to Learn About How a New Pneumococcal Vaccine Works in Infants," aims for 3,230 participants to evaluate the safety and immune response of a new vaccine against pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media in infants.
• For those with type 2 diabetes, AstraZeneca is also sponsoring NCT07662109, a Phase 3 study investigating "The Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Elecoglipron and Dapagliflozin in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus." This trial plans for 2,000 participants. Another AstraZeneca Phase 3 study, NCT07662213, will compare elecoglipron with oral semaglutide in 1,200 adults with type 2 diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk.
• Individuals experiencing migraines may be interested in NCT07645924, "A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine," a Phase 3 trial sponsored by Kallyope Inc., targeting 1,800 participants.
• Wake Forest University Health Sciences is sponsoring NCT07661355, "Comparing Two Acute Care Transition Programs for Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers," which plans to enroll 2,560 participants to investigate better ways to help people after they leave the hospital and how to involve their families in this process.
• RTI International is sponsoring NCT07625579, "Collaboration for Down Syndrome Progress (CDP)," a long-term study that follows people with Down syndrome of all ages. This study aims to enroll 1,400 participants to better understand their health, development, and everyday experiences over time.

New Research Opportunities Across Conditions and Interventions

The 43 new trials opening this month in North Carolina cover a diverse range of health conditions, with a strong focus on metabolic health and cancer research. The most common conditions addressed by these new studies include:

• Obesity (5 trials)
• Overweight (4 trials)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (4 trials)
• Migraine (2 trials)
• Head and neck cancer (2 trials)
• Chronic weight management (2 trials)
• Lung cancer (2 trials)

In terms of intervention types, drug trials lead the way, accounting for 25 of the new studies. Behavioral interventions are also well-represented with 6 new trials, alongside other types of research including device studies and procedures.

Geographic Reach: Research Hubs and Expanding Access

North Carolina's clinical research landscape continues to be robust, with 2,572 clinical trials currently recruiting across 98 cities and 1,556 research sites statewide. This month, the majority of new research initiatives are concentrated in the state's major academic and metropolitan areas. The cities with the most new trials include:

• Durham (12 new trials)
• Chapel Hill (10 new trials)
• Winston-Salem (9 new trials)
• Charlotte (8 new trials)
• Raleigh (7 new trials)
• Wilmington (6 new trials)
• Greensboro (6 new trials)
• Morehead City (4 new trials)

This distribution ensures that residents in various regions of North Carolina have access to cutting-edge research, with significant activity in both established research centers and growing communities.

Act Now: Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers and Specific Conditions

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are significant opportunities to contribute to medical science. Of the 43 new trials launched this month, 4 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Statewide, a total of 296 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Eligibility for new trials is broad, with 7 studies including children and 39 including older adults, ensuring that research benefits diverse age groups. Additionally, 5 new trials are specifically for female participants. Academic institutions continue to play a vital role in the state's research ecosystem, with Wake Forest University Health Sciences sponsoring 7 of the new trials, and Duke University and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center each sponsoring 4. Industry sponsors are also driving significant research efforts, with 20 new trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer, Kallyope Inc., and Gasherbrum Bio, Inc.

Individuals living with certain health conditions should also act quickly to explore trials with impending deadlines. Research focusing on various cancers, neurological conditions, and infectious diseases are among those with limited time remaining for enrollment. Conditions with trials closing soon include:

• Cancer (5 trials)
• Breast cancer (5 trials)
• Dementia (3 trials)
• Depression (3 trials)
• Cystic fibrosis in children (2 trials)
• HIV infections (2 trials)
• Atopic dermatitis (2 trials)
• Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2 trials)
• AML (2 trials)

As we move through June, the focus will remain on the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 3 trials and the exploration of new treatments, diagnostics, and preventive measures for a broad spectrum of health challenges across North Carolina.