Diabetes CRO
Accelerating breakthrough diabetes clinical trials with specialized expertise
Endocrine and cardiometabolic disorders—including diabetes, dyslipidemia, kidney disease, obesity, neuroendocrine, rare endocrine disorders, and related conditions—represent pressing global public health challenges that require innovative, accelerated therapeutic solutions. Significant unmet medical needs remain, particularly for disease-modifying therapies, even as clinical development pathways and regulatory expectations grow increasingly complex and rigorous.
At Syneos Health we combine specialized therapeutic expertise, regulatory acumen, and operational excellence to help you navigate through every stage of diabetes drug development.
Start your diabetes trial.
We’ll see you at ADA 2026
Meet with us onsite at Booth #2125 to explore how we help sponsors manage complexity and reduce risk to advance cardiometabolic innovation, from lab to life.
Expertise
Demonstrated diabetes clinical trial leadership
Our specialized endocrinology and cardiometabolic disease team of more than 2,400 employees has established itself as an industry leader in conducting metabolic and diabetes clinical trials that advance innovative treatments for patients worldwide.
Since 2020, endocrinology and metabolic clinical trials:
350+
studies
10K+
sites
59K+
patients
In a recent 5-year period, Syneos Health helped to develop or commercialize a significant percentage of novel endocrine/metabolic drugs (2019-2023):
91%
of those approved by the FDA
92%
of those approved by the EMA
Our capabilities encompass the entire continuum of type 1 and type 2 diabetes research—from early-stage development through large, pivotal trials—positioning us as a trusted partner for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies striving for excellence in their clinical trials for diabetes.
Comprehensive diabetes research portfolio
Our diabetes research capabilities include specialized experience in clinical trials focused on investigating:
- Novel insulin formulations and delivery systems
- GLP-1 receptor agonists and novel incretin therapies
- SGLT-2 inhibitors and combination therapies
- Beta-cell preservation and regeneration therapies
- Immunomodulatory treatments for type 1 diabetes
- Digital therapeutics and continuous monitoring solutions
- Diabetes complication prevention and treatment studies
Type 1 diabetes clinical trials
Our expertise in type 1 diabetes clinical trials spans advanced therapeutic strategies, including novel cell-based therapies and immunomodulatory approaches, as well as the capability to manage complex first-in-human studies for type 1 diabetes interventions.
Our global footprint includes state-of-the-art, GCP- and GLP-compliant bioanalytical laboratories, supported by more than 400 scientific and medical experts.
Type 2 diabetes clinical trials
In type 2 diabetes clinical trials, we apply extensive expertise in metabolic syndrome, related pathways, and cardiovascular comorbidities to the design of comprehensive study protocols—supporting rigorous data collection and regulatory compliance throughout every phase of development.
Deep expertise in metabolic diseases —including MASH, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and associated comorbidities—with the capability to design and execute programs across the entire development lifecycle.
Specialized expertise in diabetes-related MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events) outcomes, a critical component of contemporary type 2 diabetes clinical trial design and regulatory approval strategies.
Proven expertise in managing complex patient populations with multiple diabetes-related comorbidities, ensuring rigorous safety oversight and high standards of data integrity.
What distinguishes Syneos Health as a diabetes CRO leader?
Our board-certified Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease team partners with you strategically, applying deep scientific expertise across all facets of diabetes clinical trial design and execution. We help anticipate challenges, mitigate risk, refine protocols, and streamline timelines—driving efficient patient recruitment and sustained retention.
- Diabetes clinical trials across all therapeutic classes and mechanisms of action
- Specialized clinical trials for diabetes complications including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and vascular disease
- Advanced type 1 diabetes clinical trials including cell therapy, immunotherapy, automated insulin delivery (AID) system studies, and next-generation insulin analogs
- Complex type 2 diabetes clinical trials with cardiovascular outcomes assessments and combination therapies, with expertise across:
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)
- Obesity and overweight
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- MASH
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Heart failure (including HFpEF)
- Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction
- Microvascular complications
Recognizing that patient engagement and retention are critical to successful diabetes clinical trials, we have introduced innovative strategies to minimize participant burden. By incorporating decentralized trial components—such as home health services, telemedicine visits, remote patient monitoring, and digital health technologies—we enhance the patient experience, an especially important factor in diabetes studies that require frequent monitoring.
Our technology platforms are purpose-built to address the complexities of diabetes research, including integration of continuous glucose monitoring, digital biomarker capture, and real-time safety surveillance. This advanced infrastructure enables both type 1 diabetes clinical trials and type 2 diabetes clinical trials to generate comprehensive efficacy and safety data while upholding the highest quality standards.
Ready to advance your diabetes program?
Recent advances in type 1 diabetes cure research center on regenerative and immune-modulating strategies. Progress in stem cell–derived islet and beta-cell therapies is showing potential to restore endogenous insulin production and reduce reliance on exogenous insulin, with several promising programs advancing into phase 3 trials. Gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR, are being leveraged to engineer hypoimmune insulin-producing cells designed to evade autoimmune destruction, while emerging immunotherapies seek to recalibrate the immune system to preserve and protect beta-cell function.
Technology is transforming diabetes clinical research by enabling real-time data capture and delivering continuous, individualized insights into patient health. Leveraging tools such as wearables and continuous glucose monitors, researchers can gather high-frequency data that strengthens safety monitoring, enhances adherence, and supports more precise endpoint measurement.
We further advance studies through AI-driven capabilities that facilitate biomarker identification, optimize trial design, and improve patient stratification. Decentralized models—including telemedicine and eConsent—expand access and participation by minimizing site-level burden. Collectively, advanced analytics and cloud-based platforms are driving more efficient, adaptive, and patient-focused diabetes trials.
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