Virginia Clinical Trials Report — July 2026

Virginia residents considering a clinical trial should act now if they match a study nearing enrollment closure: 101 recruiting trials are expected to close within the next 90 days. Thirteen of these accept healthy volunteers. Cancer studies make up much of the time-sensitive group, including ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, advanced solid tumors, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Virginia currently has 1,856 recruiting trials across 65 cities and 1,006 research sites. July brought 31 new studies, down from 38 in June and 36 in May. Although the number of new openings has declined from earlier in 2026, the state continues to offer opportunities across major university and medical centers, with especially strong activity in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fairfax.

Closing-soon trials create the most immediate opportunity

People with cancer should review eligibility promptly because screening, medical-record review, and required testing can take time. Ovarian cancer leads Virginia’s closing-soon categories with 4 trials. Prostate cancer, cancer overall, endometrial cancer, advanced solid tumor, and NSCLC each account for 3 studies. Lung cancer, healthy subjects, metastatic cancer, and cigarette smoking each appear in 2 closing trials.

• Ovarian cancer — 4 closing-soon trials
• Prostate cancer, cancer, endometrial cancer, advanced solid tumor, and NSCLC — 3 each
• Lung cancer, healthy subjects, metastatic cancer, and cigarette smoking — 2 each

The closing group includes 13 trials that accept healthy volunteers, while 140 healthy-volunteer trials are recruiting statewide overall. Healthy adults should not assume that a study will remain open simply because it does not involve a disease: enrollment can end once recruitment targets are reached. Prospective participants should confirm current status and site availability directly before arranging travel or medical appointments.

Obesity, tobacco cessation, and chronic disease shape July openings

July’s new trials cover a broad set of conditions, with weight-related and tobacco-related research standing out. Tobacco-use cessation, overweight, and obesity each account for 2 new studies. Other new areas include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pain, cerebral edema, Crohn disease, cystic fibrosis, depression, and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

• Tobacco-use cessation — 2 new trials
• Overweight and obesity — 2 each
• B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, COPD, chronic pain, cerebral edema, Crohn disease, cystic fibrosis, and depression — 1 each

Drug research dominates the month’s openings: 19 new studies are drug trials. Devices account for 4, behavioral studies for 3, and other research categories for 3. Biological interventions account for 2 studies, while dietary supplements account for 1. This mix gives patients options that range from investigational medicines to behavioral programs and device-based approaches.

Large Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies from major sponsors

Several July openings stand out because of their late-stage design, planned enrollment, or well-known sponsors. Amgen’s Phase 3 MARITIME-1-EXTENSION study, NCT07684235, plans to enroll 3,200 participants with obesity or overweight. The study evaluates the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of maridebart cafraglutide and extends an earlier trial.

Sanofi is sponsoring NCT07734649, a Phase 1/2 vaccine study for adults age 60 and older. With planned enrollment of 2,400 participants, it will evaluate the immune response and safety of a vaccine candidate targeting respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus.

• NCT07684235 — Amgen’s Phase 3 extension study of maridebart cafraglutide for people with obesity or overweight; planned enrollment of 3,200.
• NCT07734649 — Sanofi’s Phase 1/2 RSV and human metapneumovirus vaccine study for adults 60 and older; planned enrollment of 2,400.
• NCT07720271 — Novo Nordisk’s Phase 3 AMAZE 9 study of once-daily zenagamtide tablets for people with excess body weight; planned enrollment of 950.
• NCT07720284 — AstraZeneca’s Phase 3 study comparing Dato-DXd plus rilvegostomig with standard care for high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial cancer; planned enrollment of 915.
• NCT07680790 — Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Phase 3 IZABRIGHT-Lung02 study for previously untreated EGFR-mutant NSCLC; planned enrollment of 850.
• NCT07684820 — Expedition Therapeutics’ Phase 2 COPD study evaluating EXPD-101/FXS7553 over 52 weeks; planned enrollment of 600.

Virginia institutions are also opening significant research programs. Virginia Commonwealth University is sponsoring NCT07700225, an extension study focused on biomarkers and clinical endpoints in myotonic dystrophy type 1, with planned enrollment of 1,000. The University of Virginia is sponsoring NCT07721064, which evaluates digital behavioral interventions for insomnia and depression in breast cancer survivors, with 747 participants planned.

Richmond and Charlottesville lead a statewide network

New trial activity is concentrated in Virginia’s largest research and medical hubs, but opportunities extend beyond the major metros. Richmond leads July’s new openings with 10 trials, followed by Charlottesville with 6 and Fairfax with 5. Roanoke has 3 new studies, while Winchester, Falls Church, and Newport News each have 2.

• Richmond — 10 new trials
• Charlottesville — 6
• Fairfax — 5
• Roanoke — 3
• Winchester, Falls Church, and Newport News — 2 each
• Virginia Beach, Annandale, and Norfolk — 1 each

The pattern points to a strong concentration around Richmond, Charlottesville, and Northern Virginia, where major academic and health systems support research. At the same time, sites in Roanoke, Winchester, Hampton Roads, and other communities give residents more options than a single central corridor. Searching by both condition and city can help identify studies within a practical travel distance.

Who should review Virginia trials this month?

Healthy adults have a clear reason to search now: 3 of the 31 new July trials accept healthy volunteers, and 140 healthy-volunteer studies are recruiting statewide. People who smoke or are seeking tobacco cessation support may find new openings, while adults with obesity, COPD, chronic pain, depression, cystic fibrosis, or cancer-related conditions should review the relevant eligibility requirements.

Age and sex requirements also shape access. Three new trials include children, two are female-only, and one is male-only. Older adults appear in 29 new-trial eligibility criteria, making age-inclusive research one of the month’s broadest participation opportunities. The Sanofi vaccine study specifically focuses on adults age 60 and older.

Virginia’s new-trial sponsors include Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, VelaVigo Bio, Dren Bio, Expedition Therapeutics, Flare Therapeutics, and Gilead Sciences. Industry sponsors account for 17 new studies, while other sponsors account for 11, networks for 2, and NIH for 1.

Enrollment is likely to keep shifting through the summer. Patients with cancer, healthy adults, older residents, and people near Virginia’s leading research centers should check eligibility soon, while the state’s expanding obesity, vaccine, respiratory, and digital behavioral studies may create additional options as 2026 progresses.