This Week in Research: Clinical trials are making headlines, and at PatientWing, we’re breaking down what matters most. From a major policy shift affecting how clinical trial research is tracked to a new study testing a nasal spray for cold and flu prevention, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s explore what this means for clinical studies.
If you’ve ever searched to explore clinical trials you know how valuable it is to have one centralized place where research is registered and results are shared. That transparency plays an important role in building trust with patients and the broader research community.
In late January, the National Institutes of Health announced a change to how certain clinical studies are classified. A category known as Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans, or BESH, will no longer be considered a clinical trial under NIH policy.
BESH studies are exploratory. They may examine how the brain responds to sound or how behavior changes under certain conditions. While they involve human participants, they are not testing drugs or treatments intended to directly change health outcomes.
In 2014, NIH expanded its definition of clinical trial to include these studies in an effort to improve transparency. Over time, researchers argued that basic science and interventional clinical trials serve different purposes and should not follow identical reporting rules.
Starting May 25, 2026, BESH studies will no longer be required to register or report results on ClinicalTrials.gov. Supporters say the change reduces administrative burden. Others note that it may make some human research harder to track publicly.
The policy shift streamlines reporting requirements, but it also changes how patients and researchers explore clinical trials moving forward.
📰 Read more: NIH BESH Policy Update
A new clinical study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine is testing a nasal spray called INNA-051 in one of the formal clinical trial phases.
Unlike the annual flu shot, this spray does not target a single virus. Instead, it aims to strengthen the immune system at the point where most respiratory viruses enter the body: the nose. Researchers describe it as “virus-agnostic,” meaning it could potentially offer broad protection against flu, colds, COVID, and RSV.
The Phase 2 POSITS trial is enrolling up to 1,100 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 who may have higher exposure risk, including parents, childcare workers, students, and military personnel.
Participants will use the spray weekly during cold and flu season. Researchers will track how often participants get sick and how severe symptoms become. As with many clinical studies in early clinical trial phases, results are not yet available.
If successful, this approach could represent a new preventive strategy beyond traditional vaccines, offering broader seasonal protection through immune activation at the source.
📰 Read more: University of Maryland School of Medicine, February 2026
If you like keeping an eye on what's coming, here's a quick look at a few high-stakes studies expected to share results this year:
Heart disease: Novartis is waiting on results from the Lp(a)HORIZON study, testing a drug called pelacarsen that targets a protein linked to heart attacks and strokes. A positive result could open the door to a new category of heart disease treatment.
Alzheimer's disease: Eli Lilly's Phase 3 trial of donanemab — a drug targeting amyloid plaques in the brain — is expected to report data in Q2. This is a big one for the Alzheimer's community.
IgA nephropathy (a rare kidney disease): Vertex Pharmaceuticals is hoping for a positive readout from its RAINER study of povetacicept. If the results hold up, the drug could be approved for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) by the end of 2026.
Vision: Ocular Therapeutix's Phase 3 trial of Axpaxli for wet macular degeneration could change how this common eye disease is treated — right now patients need monthly injections, but this drug would only need to be given every six months.
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for clinical trial results. We'll keep you posted as they come in.
📰 Read more: BioSpace, January 2026
Clinical research moves fast, and understanding it shouldn’t require a medical degree. That’s what The Weekly Wing is here for. If you’d like deeper insights into clinical trials, clinical studies, or upcoming research developments, contact us. Our team is here to help you stay informed.
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