Can You Join a GLP-1 Clinical Trial? Here’s What to Know and Where to Look

Jennifer Hardy
May 1
8 min read

With demand for GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide soaring, clinical trials have quietly become one of the only ways some people can access treatment, especially if they’re uninsured or can’t afford retail prices.

But before you go signing up for an experimental dose of the next Ozempic or peptide agonist, there are a few important things to understand.

In this article, we'll talk about what clinical trials are, their pros and cons, what to expect, and how to sign up.

What Is a Clinical Trial?

At its core, a clinical trial is a research study where real people test out a medical intervention—like a new drug, device, or therapy—under strict medical oversight. The point? To figure out how safe and effective the treatment is.

GLP-1-related trials right now include everything from obesity and type 2 diabetes to sleep apnea, heart disease, and even alcohol use disorder. Plus, scoring a spot for the next-gen GLP-1 agonists could get you insight into the future of the Peptide Revolution.

There are four main phases:

Phase 1: Small group, focused on safety and dosage.
Phase 2: Larger group, looking for early signs that the drug actually works.
Phase 3: Big group comparisons against standard treatments.
Phase 4: Post-approval monitoring for long-term effects.

These phases exist to gather the kind of data the FDA requires for approval—safety, effectiveness, and how the drug compares to existing options. It’s not guesswork. The agency reviews everything from trial design to side effects before deciding whether a drug moves forward, needs further study, or is shut down.

Who’s a Good Fit for a Trial?

It depends on the trial. Some are super specific—like adults with a BMI over 35 and uncontrolled diabetes. Others might be looking for people with sleep apnea but no prior medication use.

You'll usually go through a screening process that includes a medical history review, lab work, and a consent form that spells out what’s expected of you and what you’re agreeing to.

Don't worry, if you're not a good fit for a trial, you'll usually fill out a few basic questions and be excluded.

Do Clinical Trials Cost Money? Or Do You Get Paid for Taking Part?

Compensation varies. Some trials pay you for your time, travel, or inconvenience. Others cover all medical costs but don’t offer payment. A few may cost you money, especially if you're required to travel frequently or take time off work.

Most people earn between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars for a clinical trial, depending on the time commitment and risk involved. Early-phase trials (which often involve healthy volunteers) can pay the most—sometimes $2,000 to $3,000 or more.

Later-phase studies usually offer less, with some trials paying between $50 and $150 per visit. A few high-risk or intensive studies go higher, but for most folks, it’s not a payday—it’s more like a stipend for your time and effort.

You should never have to pay to join a legitimate trial, but you might still face out-of-pocket costs.

Addressing Privacy Concerns for Clinical Trials

Worried your name will end up in a public report? You’re not alone—but here’s the good news: participant identities are almost always kept confidential.

Your data is typically anonymized in any published findings, and your personal health info is protected under HIPAA and other privacy laws. That said, there are a few things to consider before signing on.

What to ask before you sign:

Will my name or identifying information be shared with anyone outside the study team?
Can I share my experience publicly (social media, blog, interviews)?
Are there restrictions on discussing details like the treatment, timing, or results?
Who has access to my medical records or lab data during and after the trial?

Things you usually can do:

Talk about how the trial feels or how your body is responding (in general terms).
Share that you’re participating in a clinical trial.
Ask for copies of the data collected about you.

Things you may be asked not to do:

Share dosing details, test results, or protocol specifics.
Talk about other participants or anything that could bias the study.
Publicly reveal your treatment group if it’s a blinded trial.

When in doubt, ask the research team. You don’t give up your voice—but you do agree to play by the rules that keep the science legit.

The Perks and Drawbacks of Taking Part in a Clinical Trial

Joining a clinical trial can give you early access to promising treatments, often with close medical supervision and frequent check-ins that many people don’t get with standard care. It’s also a chance to contribute to research that could help others down the line. But it’s not without tradeoffs.

Before you start thinking that a clinical trial is a great way to get free GLP-1s, you should know the flip side. Potential drawbacks include:

You might get a placebo and not know it (especially in blinded studies).
The treatment may not work, or could come with side effects.
You’ll likely have extra appointments, paperwork, or tests.
Some trials have restrictions on other meds, travel, or lifestyle.
Little negotiating room since protocols are tightly regulated and approved by ethics boards.

You might experience side effects, get assigned to a placebo group, or have to follow strict rules about medications, food, or travel. There’s also no guarantee the treatment will work for you. It’s a commitment—of time, flexibility, and some uncertainty—so it’s worth weighing the pros and cons before signing on.

What if You Change Your Mind About a Clinical Trial?

If you change your mind about joining—or continuing—a clinical trial, you can leave at any time. It’s your right, and you don’t need to justify your decision. Whether it’s before the first dose or halfway through, just let the research team know.

Withdrawing won’t affect your ability to receive future care or apply for other trials. That said, if you’re already enrolled, it helps to complete any final check-ins so the researchers can close your participation properly.

Clinical Trial Timelines

The enrollment process usually starts with an online form where you’ll answer basic questions about your health, medications, and eligibility.

If you’re a match, you’ll move to a phone screening, then possibly an in-person visit for lab work or exams. Before anything starts, you'll review and sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF) that outlines the risks, rules, and your rights.

Timelines vary—some trials enroll quickly, others may take weeks or months to start. When filling out forms, be honest and thorough. Look for details about how often you’ll need to show up, what’s required from you, and whether compensation is mentioned.

When browsing clinical trials, always check the status—look for ones marked “recruiting” or “now enrolling.” If it says “not yet recruiting” or “active, not recruiting,” you won’t be able to join yet, but it might be worth checking back later.

How to Find GLP-1 Clinical Trials

Here are links to various options for clinical trials, including GLP-1 agonists for a variety of health conditions.

Talk with your doctor, read the fine print, and make sure it’s a good fit for you. Most importantly, don't lie on your forms just to get considered for the trial. The pre-screening will likely catch you anyway, and that could ban you from clinical trials for life.

What Happens After a Clinical Trial?

Once the trial ends, your active participation usually wraps up—but that’s not always the end of the story. Some trials include a follow-up period, during which researchers check in months or even years later to monitor long-term effects. You might be asked to complete surveys, attend checkups, or report any ongoing symptoms.

What to expect:

You may not get results right away. Trial data often takes months to analyze, and even longer to publish. You can ask if and when results will be shared.
Continued treatment isn’t guaranteed. Just because you responded well doesn’t mean you’ll automatically keep getting the drug—it depends on the sponsor’s policies and whether an extension study is available.
You can request your records. Ask for your lab results or final health summary if that’s helpful for your regular doctor.

Always ask what post-trial care looks like before signing up. Every study handles it a little differently.

Have You Taken Part in a Clinical Trial?

The team at GLP-1 Newsroom would love to hear your experience if you've been in a clinical trial. Feel free to email us and share your story (confidentially).

Clinical Trials FAQ

Can Children Under 18 Take Part in Clinical Trials?

Yes, but with strict protections. Parents or legal guardians must give informed consent, and older children are usually asked to give their own assent, meaning they agree to participate. An ethics board reviews trials involving minors to ensure the risks are low or justified by potential benefits. Not all trials allow minors, but when they do, the goal is to make sure treatments are safe and effective specifically for children, not just scaled-down versions of adult care.