New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects roughly 50 million American adults and has few curative treatments. Most people rely on a mix of medications, physical therapy, and behavioral approaches. The opioid crisis pushed research toward non-addictive drugs, nerve-targeted therapies, and understanding why pain persists even after injuries heal.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing nerve growth factor blockers that may relieve osteoarthritis pain without opioids, cannabinoid medications for neuropathic pain, neuromodulation devices that interrupt pain signals, and drugs targeting specific sodium channels in pain nerves. Researchers are also studying why chronic pain affects some people more than others, looking at genetic factors and changes in how the brain processes pain.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on pain location, duration (usually at least three to six months), current treatments tried, and pain severity scores.

What types of trials are currently open

• Medication trials — Testing new oral or injected drugs for specific pain types like neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, or osteoarthritis. Many focus on alternatives to opioids.
• Device trials — Testing stimulation devices that attach to the skin, implant near nerves, or target the spinal cord to interrupt pain signals.
• Behavioral intervention trials — Testing programs that combine cognitive therapy, mindfulness, movement, and self-management skills. Some compare in-person versus app-based delivery.
• Combination therapy trials — Testing whether combining medications, physical therapy, and behavioral approaches works better than single treatments.
• Mechanism studies — Using imaging and biomarker tests to understand how chronic pain changes the nervous system and why some treatments work for some people but not others.