Clinical trialRSSToday
A grandmother shares how a small change in how her grandson's condition was measured helped him qualify for a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treatment trial. Researchers adjusted the scoring system by 19 points, which gave him a second chance to participate in the study. This story highlights how trial eligibility rules can sometimes be adjusted to help more patients access new treatments.
WHY IT MATTERSIf your child with DMD has been told they don't qualify for a trial, this story shows that eligibility criteria can sometimes be reconsidered or adjusted—it's worth asking your doctor whether similar flexibility might apply to your situation.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSToday
Researchers are testing a new cancer drug called sutetinib maleate in people with advanced lung cancer that has specific uncommon genetic mutations. This is a Phase 2 trial, meaning the drug has already been tested in a small group and now researchers want to see if it works better and remains safe in a larger group of 66 patients. The study is currently accepting new participants.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with uncommon EGFR mutations, this trial offers access to a potentially new treatment option that may not yet be available outside of clinical research.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSToday
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are testing a smartphone app designed to help breast cancer and rare cancer survivors deal with the fear that their cancer might come back. The app uses a technique called Attention and Interpretation Modification (AIM) to help people change how they think about cancer recurrence. The study has enrolled 252 people and is no longer recruiting new participants, but the results could help many cancer survivors in the future.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial addresses a common but often overlooked mental health challenge for cancer survivors—fear of recurrence—by testing a personalized, accessible mobile app intervention that could be widely available if proven effective.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSToday
Researchers are testing a new drug called BH-30643 for advanced lung cancer patients whose tumors have specific genetic mutations (EGFR or HER2). The study will first figure out the right dose and watch for side effects, then test how well the drug works against the cancer. About 266 patients will participate across multiple hospitals.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial is now actively recruiting patients with EGFR and/or HER2-mutated advanced NSCLC — if you have this genetic profile and have exhausted standard treatments, you may be eligible to access a potentially new treatment option.
Clinical trialRSSToday
A new experimental drug called tavapadon from AbbVie helped people with early Parkinson's disease delay or avoid starting levodopa, which is the standard treatment for this condition. In a completed Phase 3 trial called TEMPO-4, most people taking tavapadon long-term did not need to start levodopa, and those already taking it didn't need to increase their dose. This suggests tavapadon could be a helpful new option for managing early Parkinson's symptoms.
WHY IT MATTERSIf approved, tavapadon could allow people with early Parkinson's to delay levodopa therapy, potentially postponing side effects that come with long-term use of this standard medication.
Clinical trialRSSToday
A new treatment called Roctavian was given as a single injection to men with severe hemophilia A (a bleeding disorder). Seven years later, most patients had fewer bleeding episodes and needed less preventive medicine. This suggests the treatment's benefits can last for many years.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have severe hemophilia A, Roctavian could mean switching from frequent infusions or injections to a single treatment that protects you from bleeds for years.
Clinical trialRSSYesterday
Scientists tested a new pill called VQ-101 that can enter the brain and increase levels of a protective protein in people with Parkinson's disease. In early testing, the drug worked in patients both with and without a specific genetic change (GBA mutation). This is an important first step toward potentially helping different groups of Parkinson's patients.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is one of the first oral drugs shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and activate neuroprotective pathways in genetically diverse Parkinson's patients, potentially expanding treatment options beyond GBA-mutation carriers.
Clinical trialRSS2 days ago
A company called BlueRock Therapeutics tested a new cell therapy called bemdaneprocel for Parkinson's disease. In a small early-stage trial, patients who received one dose of this therapy showed improvement in their movement symptoms, and these improvements lasted for up to three years. This is promising because it suggests a single treatment might help Parkinson's patients for a long time.
WHY IT MATTERSIf bemdaneprocel continues to show sustained benefits in larger trials, it could offer Parkinson's patients a one-time treatment option instead of daily medications, potentially improving quality of life and treatment adherence.
Clinical trialRSS2 days ago
Scientists are testing a new vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that may trigger multiple sclerosis (MS). Early research suggests that preventing EBV infection could help prevent or reduce MS development. This vaccine could be a major breakthrough for people at risk of developing MS or those already living with the disease.
WHY IT MATTERSIf successful, an EBV vaccine could prevent MS from developing in the first place, offering a potential cure-like approach rather than just managing symptoms after diagnosis.
Clinical trialRSS2 days ago
A new drug called masitinib helped ALS patients live longer than expected. In a clinical trial, over 40% of patients treated with masitinib survived for at least 5 years from when their disease started. This is much better than the typical outcome, where fewer than 25% of ALS patients usually live that long.
WHY IT MATTERSIf masitinib gains approval, ALS patients may have access to a treatment that could significantly extend their survival time compared to current standard care.
Clinical trialRSS3 days ago
A new clinical trial has started testing a drug called IKT-001 in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare condition where blood vessels in the lungs become narrowed and make it hard for the heart to pump blood. This is a large Phase 3 trial, which is a late-stage test that happens before a drug might be approved. Nearly 500 adults will participate to see if this drug works better than current treatments.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have PAH and are already on stable treatment, you may be eligible to join the IMPROVE-PAH trial and potentially access IKT-001 before it becomes widely available.
Clinical trialRSS3 days ago
A new medication called Vyalev helped people with Parkinson's disease stop experiencing unwanted, uncontrolled movements (called dyskinesia) when they switched to it from other Parkinson's drugs. In two clinical trials, most people saw these troublesome movements go away within a few months of starting Vyalev. This is good news because dyskinesia is a common side effect that happens after taking Parkinson's medications for a long time.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have Parkinson's disease and experience dyskinesia from your current levodopa treatment, switching to Vyalev could eliminate these involuntary movements within months rather than managing them as a permanent side effect.
Clinical trialRSS3 days ago
A company called Allrock Bio is testing a new oral medication called ROC-101 for pulmonary hypertension (a condition where blood pressure in the lungs becomes dangerously high). This is a Phase 2a trial, which means they're checking if the drug is safe and works well as an add-on treatment. The trial is now enrolling patients across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
WHY IT MATTERSIf ROC-101 proves effective as an add-on therapy, it could offer pulmonary hypertension patients a new oral option to combine with their existing treatments, potentially improving symptom control.
Clinical trialRSS3 days ago
The FDA has approved a clinical trial for a new cell therapy called remestemcel-L-rknd made by Mesoblast. The therapy will be tested in children ages 5-9 who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a serious muscle disease. About 76 children will participate in the trial and receive either the therapy or a placebo while continuing their regular DMD treatments.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial represents a new treatment approach for DMD in young children who are still in a critical window for muscle development, offering families a potential alternative or complement to existing therapies.
Clinical trialRSS3 days ago
AB Science is preparing to test an experimental drug called masitinib for ALS (a disease that affects nerve cells that control muscles). To protect their investment in this large clinical trial, the company bought special insurance that would reimburse them if the trial doesn't go as planned or costs more than expected.
WHY IT MATTERSThis insurance arrangement signals that AB Science is confident enough in masitinib to move forward with Phase 3 testing in ALS patients, which is a critical step toward potentially bringing a new treatment option to people living with this progressive disease.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALS3 days ago
Researchers are looking for patients with advanced lung cancer (stage III) that cannot be removed with surgery and has unusual genetic mutations. The study will test whether giving patients targeted drugs based on their specific genetic mutation, followed by surgery, works better than standard treatment. About 120 patients will participate in this research.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have unresectable stage III NSCLC with a rare mutation, this trial offers access to personalized treatment tailored to your specific genetic profile before surgery—an approach not yet widely available outside research settings.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALS4 days ago
Researchers are looking for adults and children with certain immune system disorders to join a study. The immune system normally helps your body fight infections, but in some people it doesn't work properly, causing frequent infections and other health problems. This study wants to understand why some immune systems fail and how to help people with these conditions. Relatives of affected people may also be able to join.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial is actively recruiting 500 participants with four specific genetic immune disorders (PI3KCD, CTLA4, STAT3GOF, and MAGT1 deficiency) — if you or a family member has one of these diagnoses, you may be eligible to enroll now and contribute to understanding these rare conditions.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALS4 days ago
Williams syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects about 1 in every 8,000 to 12,000 people. It happens when a person is missing a small section of DNA on chromosome 7, which includes the gene that makes elastin (a protein that helps blood vessels stretch). This causes distinctive facial features and heart and blood vessel problems. Researchers are now recruiting 1,099 people with Williams syndrome or a related heart condition called supravalvular aortic stenosis to donate DNA and tissue samples to help scientists better understand these conditions.
WHY IT MATTERSThis actively recruiting biobank offers Williams syndrome and SVAS patients a direct way to contribute DNA and tissue samples to NHLBI-sponsored research that could accelerate understanding of the genetic causes and lead to new treatments.