In 2026 there are many exciting clinical trials on the horizon that have the potential to advance research and improve patient care. From new approaches to cancer treatment, to first-in-class treatments for cardiovascular disease and promising drugs for treating long COVID, this year we hope to see study results that indicate progress in personalized medicine and accessibility of care.
Targeted Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common and aggressive types of pancreatic cancer. PDAC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and Europe. The 5-year survival rate is 12.8%.1
Daraxonrasib (RMC-6236), a novel RAS(ON) inhibitor, is a promising new approach to treatment that performed well in early phase trials and is progressing to a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 study in 2026.
The trial primarily will measure progression-free survival and overall survival in the RAS G12-mutant population.2 Daraxonrasib may usher in a promising new era of non-cytotoxic therapies. Findings from this trial may offer insights into how RAS(ON) inhibitors could be used to treat other cancers.3
Existing Drugs for the Treatment of Long COVID
Long COVID is a serious public health concern, affecting millions of adults and children in the United States.4 Chronic fatigue and brain fog are common symptoms as well as respiratory and neurological problems.5
Common over the counter drugs, like loratidine and famotidine, and other existing drugs like colchicine are being studied by the University College of London in an open label, adaptive platform trial as treatments for long COVID.6 These drugs may expedite recovery from COVID-19, or may ease common long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, helping people return to some of their everyday activities.
A More Accessible Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
Many cell-based therapies for cancer can be costly and slow to deliver, requiring the harvesting of the patient’s immune cells. Bria-IMT is a readily available cell-based immunotherapy that doubled progression-free-survival (PFS) in a Phase 2 trial for metastatic breast cancer. Recruitment is in process for a Phase 3 trial that will test the mechanism of action – specifically the production of antigens that work directly and indirectly to support the body’s immune response and kill tumor cells.7
A New Treatment for People Genetically Predisposed to Cardiovascular Disease
For people with a genetic predisposition for cardiovascular disease, such as high levels of lipoprotein(a), a condition that cannot be changed through diet or exercise, there currently are no approved pharmacological therapies. A Phase 3 trial sponsored by Novartis for Pelacarsen, a drug that may inhibit the production of apolipoprotein(a) to minimize lipoprotein(a) in the liver, has completed enrollment.8
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856716/
- https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06625320#study-plan
- https://oncodaily.com/oncolibrary/dr-shiraj-sen-rasolute-303-trial
- https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/about/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/signs-symptoms/index.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04083-x
- https://briacell.com/briaimt/
- https://ir.ionis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ionis-announces-enrollment-completion-phase-3-lpa-horizon
