Eleven clinical trials that will shape medicine in 2026

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Source: Nature Medicine

Original: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04083-x...

Published: 2025-12-15

An article in Nature Medicine published on December 15, 2025 celebrates eleven clinical trials that leading researchers say will shape medicine in 2026.[1] They include long-awaited vaccines against infectious diseases, such as a longer-acting tuberculosis vaccine and testing of long-acting HIV antibodies.[1] Other studies are focusing on new treatments for advanced forms of cancer and long-lasting COVID.[1] The researchers selected these trials for their potential to influence future treatments.[1] An example is the IARC randomized trial of a web-based AI chatbot tool supporting disadvantaged women to participate in cervical cancer screening using a home HPV test.[2] Others include accurate breast cancer screening with a polygenic risk score, personalized nutrition diets, and CBD treatment of high-risk psychoses in three phase III STEP trials.[3][4] Studies cover areas from gene therapy to mental health and nutrition.[3]