South Carolina Clinical Trials Report — June 2026

For South Carolinians considering a role in advancing medical science, June 2026 presents a dynamic landscape of clinical research. While new opportunities are emerging across the state, a critical window is closing for many studies. A total of 76 clinical trials are slated to conclude enrollment within the next 90 days, meaning interested participants should act quickly to explore these options.

Among these urgent opportunities, 6 trials are still seeking healthy volunteers, offering a chance to contribute to research without a specific health condition. For individuals living with certain health challenges, time is also running out to join studies focused on conditions such as:

• Substance use disorders (3 trials)
• Depression (3 trials)
• Stroke (2 trials)
• Substance use (2 trials)
• Cannabis use (2 trials)
• Lupus nephritis (2 trials)
• Cancer (2 trials)

New Research Horizons Emerge Across South Carolina

This month, South Carolina welcomes a significant expansion in clinical research, with 33 new trials opening their doors for enrollment. This marks a notable increase from the 24 new trials that launched in May 2026, signaling a growing commitment to medical discovery in the state. These new studies span a wide range of health areas, from chronic conditions to vaccine development, and include several major initiatives from leading pharmaceutical companies.

The most common conditions targeted by these new studies reflect pressing public health needs, with a strong focus on metabolic health and neurological disorders:

• Obesity (4 trials)
• Overweight (4 trials)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (3 trials)
• Pneumococcal disease (2 trials)
• Migraine (2 trials)
• Depression (2 trials)
• Chronic weight management (2 trials)

The majority of these new investigations are drug trials, accounting for 20 of the new studies, alongside behavioral interventions and other research types.

Major Trials from Global Sponsors

Several prominent pharmaceutical companies are launching large-scale Phase 3 trials in South Carolina this month, bringing cutting-edge research opportunities to residents. These studies represent significant advancements in areas such as weight management, diabetes, vaccine development, and migraine treatment:

• 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 and type 2 diabetes.
• 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 for weight management.
• Pfizer is leading two important Phase 3 vaccine trials. 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. Additionally, NCT07660198, "Study to Learn About Safety, Tolerability, and Immune Response of a Catch-up Pneumococcal Vaccine in Children and Adolescents," will enroll 1,200 participants to assess a new pneumococcal vaccine in older children and adolescents.
• For individuals living with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, Gasherbrum Bio, Inc. is also sponsoring NCT07654374, "A Study of Aleniglipron in Adults With Obesity or Overweight and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (ACCOMPLISH-2)." This Phase 3 study plans for 1,100 participants to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aleniglipron.
• Those with type 2 diabetes and impaired renal function may be interested in NCT07662135, a Phase 3 study from AstraZeneca investigating "The Efficacy and Safety of Elecoglipron Compared With Placebo in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Renal Function on Background Dapagliflozin." This trial aims for 900 participants.
• Individuals experiencing migraines may find opportunities in two Phase 3 trials sponsored by Kallyope Inc.: NCT07645924, "A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine," targeting 1,800 participants, and NCT07674654, "A Long-Term Safety Study of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of Migraine," which seeks 1,000 participants to evaluate long-term safety.

Geographic Reach: Opportunities Across the Palmetto State

South Carolina's clinical research footprint is substantial, with 1,178 clinical trials currently recruiting across 50 cities and 661 research sites statewide. This broad distribution ensures that residents in various regions have access to cutting-edge research.

This month, new trial opportunities are particularly concentrated in several key metropolitan areas:

• Charleston (12 new trials)
• North Charleston (4 new trials)
• Columbia (4 new trials)
• Greenville (3 new trials)
• Simpsonville (3 new trials)
• Greer (3 new trials)

Other cities like Gaffney, Anderson, Spartanburg, and West Columbia also saw new trials open, indicating a healthy spread of research activity beyond the largest urban centers.

Participation: Healthy Volunteers and Diverse Demographics

For individuals without a specific medical condition, there are valuable opportunities to contribute to medical science. Of the 33 new trials launched this month, 8 are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Statewide, a total of 96 clinical trials are currently recruiting healthy participants, providing numerous avenues for those interested in supporting medical research.

Clinical trials in South Carolina are designed to be inclusive, with a broad range of eligibility criteria. Of the new trials, 3 include children as participants, and 28 include older adults, ensuring that research benefits diverse age groups. Industry sponsors are driving a significant portion of the research efforts, with 23 new trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer, Kallyope Inc., and Gasherbrum Bio, Inc. Academic institutions like the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina also continue to play a vital role, sponsoring 5 new trials combined.

As we move further into the summer, the ongoing enrollment in these significant Phase 3 trials and the exploration of new treatments, diagnostics, and preventive measures will continue to shape the future of healthcare for South Carolinians and beyond.