The journal Nature Medicine chose the most promising clinical studies for 2026. I selected five of them:
1) Long-acting tuberculosis vaccine
In 2023, there were almost 11 million cases and 1.25 million deaths from tuberculosis in the world.
The current vaccine protects children, but the effect decreases after adolescence and early adulthood. As these are the age groups most at risk of acquiring and transmitting the bacillus, the search for a more effective long-term preparation has been intense.
A phase 3 study to test a new vaccine (M72/AS01) included 20,000 participants in South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Indonesia, in communities with high rates of the disease. Results should be available within three years.
This appears to be the most promising tuberculosis vaccine in nearly a century.
2) Long-lasting antibodies against HIV
The highly effective antivirals that entered the market in 1995 prevent HIV from multiplying, but are ineffective in eliminating it, which is why treatment must be continued for the rest of your life.
Three universities (Rockefeller, Imperial and Oxford) are conducting the RIO study, to assess whether a “cocktail” of antibodies that remains in the body for six months can keep the viral load under control when antivirals are suspended.
Preliminary results show that, after five months of interruption, 75% of participants maintain undetectable viral loads. Some remain in this condition for around two years. In comparison, in the placebo group only 11% achieved this goal.
3) Treatment of long Covid
Most people with Covid-19 return to normal within a week or two after their symptoms disappear. There are, however, those who develop the long form of the disease, characterized by a parade of symptoms ranging from intense fatigue to cognitive difficulties.
In 2021, the UK’s National Institute for Health invested £6.8 million to test new treatments for this condition.
The study focused on changes present in patients’ small blood vessels. Medicines are being tested to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, alongside anticoagulants to prevent intravascular clots from forming, one of the problems involved in the pathophysiology of Covid. The data will be published in 2026.
4) O trial Nest
It is a clinical study to explore the role of stem cells, harvested from the patient’s own bone marrow, in improving neurological function. Stem cells are harvested, isolated and reintroduced through the blood vessels that irrigate the nasal cavities, causing them to penetrate the brain to repair neurological damage.
The idea arose after work published in 2010 in which stem cells were introduced into the retina of patients with visual impairments. It was a surprise to note that several of them showed improvement in speech and execution of movements.
Since then, around 200 people have received this treatment. Preliminary results show significant improvements in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and traumatic encephalopathy, diseases in which therapeutic resources are scarce and benefits are limited. The procedure is safe, simple and takes less than an hour.
5) New treatments for cholesterol
The Lp(a)Horizon trial targets the lipoprotein Lp(a), a type of cholesterol particle that carries apolipoprotein (a). High levels of Lp(a) are genetically linked to heart attacks and strokes.
Lp(a)Horizon is the first to test a new drug, pelacarsen, to reduce levels of apolipoprotein (a) with the aim of reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes. 7,000 participants from all over the world have already been included, evaluated by international teams. The results will be published in 2026.
In addition to analyzing events such as death from coronary disease, strokes and the need for revascularization, the study also evaluates deaths from other causes. The medication typically reduces LP(a) levels by 80%.
It is possible that an additional drug will emerge to reduce the leading cause of death in the world today.
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