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 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.
PolicyRSSYesterday
The FDA and Medicare (CMS) created a new fast-track pathway called RAPID that helps patients get access to breakthrough medical devices more quickly. This pathway applies to certain advanced devices that treat serious conditions. The goal is to reduce the time between when a device is approved and when Medicare patients can actually use it.
WHY IT MATTERSPatients with rare diseases who rely on breakthrough medical devices may now access life-changing treatments months or years faster than through traditional Medicare coverage processes.
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.
ResearchRSSYesterday
A large study found that children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who started taking corticosteroids—a type of anti-inflammatory medicine—earlier in life had better muscle strength and movement than children who started the medicine about a year later. This shows that starting treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis helps preserve how well kids can walk, run, and use their muscles.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have a young child with DMD, this research provides strong evidence to discuss with your doctor about starting corticosteroid treatment immediately after diagnosis rather than waiting, as earlier treatment may significantly slow muscle weakness.
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
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 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.
NewsUNITERARE4 days ago
The PAN Foundation's financial assistance program for phenylketonuria (PKU) — a rare genetic condition where the body can't break down a protein called phenylalanine — is currently closed. This program normally helps patients pay for treatment costs. The fund status changed on April 20, 2026.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have PKU and were relying on PAN Foundation assistance to afford your medical care or special diet, you need to find alternative financial resources immediately since this program is no longer accepting applications.
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.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 17
Researchers are testing a new gene therapy called SPK-10001 to treat Huntington's disease, a rare brain disorder that causes movement problems and cognitive decline. This early-stage study will check if the treatment is safe and whether it helps patients. About 53 people with Huntington's disease will participate in this trial, which is being run by Roche, a major pharmaceutical company.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is one of the first human trials of SPK-10001, a gene therapy specifically designed to target the genetic cause of Huntington's disease, offering hope for a disease that currently has no cure.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 17
Researchers are testing a new gene therapy called BBP-812 to treat Canavan disease, a rare brain disorder that affects children. The therapy uses a modified virus to deliver a healthy copy of a gene that's missing or broken in people with this disease. This early-stage trial will check if the treatment is safe and whether it helps patients.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial is now actively recruiting children with Canavan disease — if your child has been diagnosed, you may be eligible to participate in one of the first human tests of this gene therapy approach.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 17
Researchers are testing a new treatment called IFx-Hu2.0 combined with a cancer drug called pembrolizumab for people with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer. In this study, some patients will receive the new treatment while others receive a placebo (fake treatment) to see which works better. The trial is looking for 118 adults to participate and is currently accepting new patients.
WHY IT MATTERSThis is the first Phase 2/3 trial testing IFx-Hu2.0 as an add-on therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma, offering checkpoint inhibitor-naïve patients a potential new treatment option beyond standard pembrolizumab alone.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 15
Researchers are testing a new AI-powered tool called IntelliWell that can find sperm cells in testicular tissue samples that appeared to have no sperm when checked the traditional way. If the tool successfully finds sperm, those cells could be used to help men with infertility have biological children through a procedure called ICSI. The study is enrolling 20 participants at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
WHY IT MATTERSFor men with azoospermia (no sperm in ejaculate) who were told their testicular tissue had no usable sperm, this AI tool could recover sperm that was missed by standard testing, potentially making fertility treatment possible when it seemed impossible before.
Clinical trialCLINICALTRIALSApr 15
Researchers are looking for 300 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to join a study about a medicine called givinostat. The study will track how safe the medicine is and how well it works for patients who are just starting to take it or have been taking it for less than 6 months. Patients will be followed for at least 2 years, with some being tracked for up to 5 years total.
WHY IT MATTERSThis real-world study will show how givinostat actually performs in everyday clinical practice for DMD patients in the US, providing practical safety and effectiveness data beyond what controlled trials reveal.