Pennsylvania Clinical Trials Report — July 2026

Pennsylvania residents considering a clinical trial should check eligibility soon: 180 recruiting studies are projected to close within the next 90 days, including 41 that accept healthy volunteers. Enrollment dates can change, and screening may take time, so people who match a closing study should contact the research site now rather than waiting for the final weeks.

The state still offers a broad range of choices, with 3,193 trials recruiting across 168 cities and 1,700 research sites. However, only 43 new studies opened in July, down from 70 in May and 69 in June. The slowdown makes the closing-soon list especially important for patients who are already searching for a specific condition or treatment area.

Time-sensitive opportunities span cancer, heart disease, and stroke

Cancer-related studies make up much of the near-term opportunity. Prostate cancer and cancer overall each have 5 studies approaching closure. Cardiovascular diseases and stroke follow with 4 each. Other prominent categories include non-small cell lung cancer, endometrial cancer, ischemic stroke, hypertension, and osteoarthritis.

• Prostate cancer and cancer overall — 5 closing-soon trials each
• Cardiovascular diseases and stroke — 4 each
• Non-small cell lung cancer, endometrial cancer, ischemic stroke, hypertension, and osteoarthritis — 3 each
• Heavy drinking — 2 trials

Healthy volunteers also face a limited window. Of the 180 studies closing within 90 days, 41 accept healthy participants. Statewide, 367 recruiting trials currently include healthy volunteers, and 7 of July’s 43 new studies accept people without a diagnosed condition. Healthy adults should review requirements promptly because these studies may have age, sex, health-history, or visit-schedule restrictions.

July’s new pipeline emphasizes breast cancer, children, and drug research

Breast cancer led Pennsylvania’s new-trial categories with 4 studies, followed by cancer overall with 3. Other new areas include acute otitis media, adolescent relationship abuse, adult cancer patients, acute myeloid leukemia, anxiety and depression, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bed rest, and behavioral changes.

• Breast cancer — 4 new trials
• Cancer overall — 3
• Acute otitis media, adolescent relationship abuse, adult cancer patients, acute myeloid leukemia, anxiety and depression, ALS, bed rest, and behavioral changes — 1 each

Drug trials were the largest category, with 18 new studies. Behavioral and other interventions accounted for 9 each, while biological studies accounted for 5. Four new trials involved devices and four involved procedures; two evaluated dietary supplements, one involved a diagnostic test, and one used radiation. This mix gives participants alternatives to traditional medication studies, including behavioral programs, social-support interventions, and procedure comparisons.

Major sponsors bring vaccine, lung-cancer, and COPD studies

Sanofi opened a notable Phase 1/2 vaccine study, NCT07734649, for adults age 60 and older. The randomized, observer-blind, active- and placebo-controlled study plans to enroll 2,400 participants at multiple centers. It will evaluate the immune response and safety of an RSV and human metapneumovirus vaccine candidate. Older adults who meet the health and age requirements may want to investigate this opportunity while sites are actively enrolling.

A major Phase 3 lung-cancer study from Bristol-Myers Squibb is also among the new arrivals. NCT07680790 compares izalontamab brengitecan, also called BMS-986507, combined with osimertinib against osimertinib alone or osimertinib plus platinum-based chemotherapy in people with previously untreated, locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. The study plans to enroll 850 participants.

• NCT07734649 — Sanofi’s Phase 1/2 RSV and human metapneumovirus vaccine study for adults age 60 and older; planned enrollment of 2,400.
• NCT07680790 — Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Phase 3 comparison for previously untreated EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer; planned enrollment of 850.
• NCT07684820 — Expedition Therapeutics’ Phase 2 study of EXPD-101/FXS7553 versus placebo for COPD over 52 weeks; planned enrollment of 600.
• NCT07714252 — VA Office of Research and Development study of a virtual nurse and social-worker palliative-care team for Veterans with heart failure or COPD; planned enrollment of 420.
• NCT07687238 — University of California, San Francisco study testing active assistance with social and economic support services for hospitalized children and their families; planned enrollment of 1,880.

Families may also find two large pediatric or family-focused studies from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Nader Shaikh. NCT07718802 compares observation with upfront surgery for asymptomatic kidney stones in children and adults, with planned enrollment of 1,658. NCT07730814 evaluates available treatments for acute otitis media in children, while NCT07732699 studies treatment approaches for acute sinusitis; each plans to enroll 1,100 participants.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh dominate new openings

July’s new trials are concentrated in Pennsylvania’s two largest research centers. Philadelphia recorded 21 new studies, while Pittsburgh recorded 13. DuBois added 2, and Elkins Park, Gordonville, Hershey, Lebanon, Sayre, Bryn Mawr, and a separately listed “Pittburgh” location each recorded 1.

• Philadelphia — 21 new trials
• Pittsburgh — 13
• DuBois — 2
• Elkins Park, Gordonville, Hershey, Lebanon, Sayre, Bryn Mawr, and “Pittburgh” — 1 each

The pattern points to a strong metropolitan and academic-medical-center concentration, particularly around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Still, Pennsylvania has recruiting studies across 168 cities, so patients outside the two major metros should search statewide and ask whether remote prescreening, satellite visits, or a nearby affiliated site is available.

Children, older adults, and healthy volunteers have new options

14 July trials include children, creating opportunities for families in areas such as ear and sinus infections, kidney stones, hospitalized-child support, and behavioral health. Five new studies are female-only and two are male-only. Older adults appear in 34 new-trial eligibility criteria, including Sanofi’s vaccine study.

University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Singer Research Institute each sponsored 3 new studies. Nader Shaikh, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine each sponsored 2. Sanofi also opened 2 studies. Overall, 29 new trials were classified as other-sponsored, 13 were industry-sponsored, and 1 had a federal sponsor.

With July’s opening pace below the spring and early-summer levels, prospective participants should not assume that an equivalent study will appear later. Patients with prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, or COPD—and healthy adults willing to contribute to vaccine or other research—have the clearest reason to act now. New sites and revised enrollment opportunities may continue to reshape Pennsylvania’s trial options as the second half of 2026 unfolds.