The glioblastoma clinical trial landscape in 2026
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most challenging cancers, median overall survival of 14–16 months from diagnosis has barely moved in 20 years despite enormous research investment. This treatment gap, combined with the high emotional urgency of brain cancer, drives patients, families, and clinicians to actively seek clinical trials. It also means the GBM trial landscape remains active with new mechanisms constantly entering Phase 1.
For neuro-oncology pharma teams, the GBM space is characterized by high trial activity, difficult CNS delivery challenges, and a pattern of Phase 2 results that don't replicate in Phase 3. Monitoring new trial registrations helps CI teams catch emerging mechanisms before they reach pivotal studies.
Get daily GBM trial digest
New EGFRvIII, IDH, CAR-T, and immunotherapy programs, delivered every morning.
Sign Up FreeA primary completion date pushed out, enrollment cut, or a primary endpoint changed in the last 90 days. Active trials only.
| Trial | Warning signs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot IntraOperative Neuronal Electrophysiology in Tumor rElatEd suRgery NCT06617208 | Primary completion moved at least 7 months later Primary endpoint reworded | Recruiting |
43 more on the Trials at Risk page. See which trials →
Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials with a primary completion date in the next 180 days, as ClinicalTrials.gov estimates it today. Active trials only.
| Trial | Scheduled | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| A Study of Cobolimab Plus Dostarlimab in Pediatric and Young Adult Participants… NCT06521567 | Oct 13, 2026 · Estimated | Phase 1/2 |
45 more on the Completions page. See the calendar →
Active Phase 3 glioblastoma trials (2026)
Key Phase 3 and pivotal GBM studies currently recruiting or in startup:
| NCT ID | Trial / Agent | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06556563 | Optune (TTFields) + temozolomide + pembrolizumab in newly diagnosed GBM (EF-41/KEYNOTE D58) | NovoCure | Recruiting |
| NCT07100730 | TLX101-Tx (targeted radiotherapy) + standard of care in newly diagnosed GBM | Telix Pharmaceuticals | Recruiting |
| NCT06388733 | Niraparib vs temozolomide in newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated GBM | Ivy Brain Tumor Center | Active, Not Recruiting |
| NCT07195591 | GammaTile (brachytherapy) immediately at resection vs standard RT in GBM | GT Medical Technologies | Recruiting |
| NCT05904119 | Lomustine with/without reirradiation at first GBM progression (EORTC) | EORTC | Recruiting |
| NCT07349693 | Cerebraca Wafer + temozolomide vs temozolomide alone in recurrent GBM | Everfront Biotech | Not Yet Recruiting |
| NCT07452458 | Temporally-modulated pulsed RT vs standard RT in GBM (NRG) | NRG Oncology | Not Yet Recruiting |
| NCT05095376 | Adding lomustine to standard temozolomide + RT in newly diagnosed GBM (NRG) | NRG Oncology | Active, Not Recruiting |
Key mechanisms generating new GBM trials
EGFR and EGFRvIII targeting
EGFR amplification and EGFRvIII mutation are among the most common genetic alterations in GBM, making them attractive targets. Multiple generations of EGFR-targeting approaches are in trials:
- EGFRvIII-targeted CAR-T: multiple programs testing locoregional and systemic delivery
- Bispecific antibodies targeting EGFRvIII × CD3 for T cell engagement
- EGFR-targeted ADCs with improved CNS penetration
- Third-generation EGFR TKIs with better blood-brain barrier penetration
- Vaccine approaches: EGFRvIII peptide vaccines and mRNA vaccines
IDH1/IDH2 mutations in lower-grade glioma
IDH-mutant gliomas (WHO Grade 2–3) are biologically distinct from IDH-wildtype GBM. Vorasidenib, approved for IDH-mutant Grade 2 glioma, has opened a new treatment era:
- Vorasidenib combinations with temozolomide or radiation
- Next-generation IDH inhibitors with improved CNS penetration
- IDH-mutant specific immunotherapy approaches (IDH mutation as neoantigen)
- Treatment-naive IDH-mutant Grade 3 glioma: new frontline approaches
Immunotherapy: overcoming the immunosuppressive GBM microenvironment
GBM is notoriously immunosuppressed, multiple Phase 3 checkpoint inhibitor trials have failed. The new wave of immunotherapy trials takes different approaches:
- Locoregional delivery of immunotherapy agents (intratumoral or intracavitary injection)
- CAR-T with armored constructs overcoming TGF-β and IL-10 suppression
- Oncolytic viruses: DNX-2401, G207, and next-generation engineered viruses
- CAR-T + checkpoint inhibitor combinations delivered locally
- B7-H3 targeted therapies (highly expressed in GBM)
Tumor treating fields (TTFields) combinations
Optune (TTFields) is standard of care in newly diagnosed GBM per NCCN guidelines. Active trial areas include:
- TTFields + chemotherapy backbones beyond temozolomide
- TTFields + immunotherapy (pembrolizumab, ipilimumab/nivolumab)
- TTFields in recurrent GBM with novel systemic combinations
- Wearable array optimization: increased frequency, new placement protocols
Anti-VEGF approaches and anti-angiogenesis
Bevacizumab improves progression-free survival in GBM without OS benefit. New approaches try to overcome resistance:
- Anti-VEGF + immunotherapy: hypothesis that VEGF blockade normalizes tumor vasculature to improve T cell infiltration
- Dual VEGF/ANG2 targeting (vanucizumab follow-ons)
- Small molecule VEGFR inhibitors with CNS penetration
MGMT methylation: the predictive biomarker driving stratification
MGMT promoter methylation predicts benefit from temozolomide and is now a standard stratification factor. Trials increasingly design separate arms or specific programs for MGMT-methylated vs. unmethylated GBM.
Who monitors glioblastoma clinical trials?
- Neuro-oncology pharma and biotech teams tracking competitor programs in a notoriously difficult oncology indication
- Clinical development leaders designing new Phase 1/2 GBM trials who need a comprehensive view of current mechanism and delivery approach diversity
- Academic neuro-oncology centers (MD Anderson, UCSF, Dana-Farber) reviewing what trials are active for patient referral and site participation decisions
- Healthcare investors following GBM biotech, a space where Phase 2 data frequently misleads, making competitive landscape awareness critical
- Patient advocacy organizations (National Brain Tumor Society) tracking the pipeline for patient communication
Track new glioblastoma trials
Filter by GBM, lower-grade glioma, IDH status, or all brain tumors. A free daily digest.
Get Started FreeRelated oncology and neurology clinical trial monitors
- ALS clinical trials: related CNS drug delivery challenges and neurological disease research
- Melanoma clinical trials: overlapping immunotherapy approaches and brain metastasis programs
- NSCLC clinical trials: shared brain metastasis treatment programs and checkpoint inhibitor CNS activity data
560 active trials, 302 recruiting.
Industry sponsors run 108 of these trials. The rest are run by universities, hospitals, government bodies and other non-commercial sponsors. The table below lists the 5 largest of 94.
| Top industry sponsor | Active trials |
|---|---|
| GT Medical Technologies, Inc. | 3 |
| Novartis Pharmaceuticals | 3 |
| Alpheus Medical, Inc. | 2 |
| BPGbio | 2 |
| Beijing Biotech | 2 |
| Trial | Status | Latest tracked change | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Radiation Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma. NCT07439172 | Recruiting | Recruitment opened | 2026-10-10 |
| Tear Fluid for the Detection of Tumor-associated Extracellular Vesicles in… NCT07775534 | Recruiting | Completion pushed from Sep 19, 2027 to Feb 1, 2029 | 2026-10-09 |
| Veliparib, Radiation Therapy, and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Newly… NCT03581292 | Active, Not Recruiting | Completion pushed from Oct 16, 2026 to Aug 20, 2027 | 2026-10-07 |
| RNA-Lipid Particle (RNA-LP) Vaccines for Recurrent Adult Glioblastoma (GBM) NCT06389591 | Active, Not Recruiting | Enrollment closed, study ongoing | 2026-10-07 |
| Efineptakin Alfa and Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma NCT05465954 | Active, Not Recruiting | Completion pushed from Oct 15, 2028 to Sep 2, 2031 | 2026-10-06 |
Each trial page shows every change DataLookout has recorded for that trial.
DataLookout checks ClinicalTrials.gov every day and records what changed on each trial: status, enrollment, phase, primary endpoint, completion dates, sites, sponsor, and the stated reason a trial stopped. Add a sponsor or a disease to your watchlist, or save any search, and the changes arrive in a daily or weekly email digest.
Free, $0 forever: 1 sponsor + 1 disease watchlist, 1 saved search in your email digest, track up to 5 individual trials, daily change detection, Trials at Risk (top 2 trials), the weekly report (top 3 trials). No credit card.
Pro, $49/month or $490/year: 10 sponsor + 10 disease watchlists, 10 saved searches in your email digest, track up to 25 individual trials, full Trials at Risk list, Completions calendar, the full weekly report, landscape reports, CSV export.