New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis causes clumps of immune cells to form in organs, most often the lungs and lymph nodes. About half of cases resolve on their own within a few years. For persistent disease, steroids remain the main treatment, but they cause significant side effects during long-term use, so researchers are testing targeted drugs that might control inflammation with fewer problems.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing drugs that block specific immune signals — including JAK inhibitors, drugs targeting TNF-alpha like infliximab, and agents that interfere with interleukin pathways. Researchers are also studying antifibrotic drugs for lung scarring, treatments for cardiac sarcoidosis, and ways to predict which patients will have progressive disease versus spontaneous resolution.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on which organs are affected, disease severity on imaging or pulmonary function tests, current steroid use, and whether standard treatments have failed or caused intolerable side effects.

What types of trials are currently open

• Inflammation trials — Testing drugs that target specific immune pathways to control sarcoidosis without long-term steroids. These often involve pills taken daily or infusions every few weeks.
• Organ-specific trials — Studies focused on cardiac sarcoidosis, neurologic sarcoidosis, or skin involvement, where standard treatments may not work well.
• Antifibrotic trials — Testing drugs that may prevent or slow lung scarring in people with advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis.
• Steroid-sparing trials — Comparing new treatments to steroids or testing combinations that allow lower steroid doses while maintaining disease control.
• Natural history studies — Following people over time to understand disease progression patterns and identify markers that predict who will need treatment versus who will recover spontaneously.