Where essential tremor treatment is heading
Essential tremor · Updated Nov 13, 2026
Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder, causing shaking of the hands, head or voice, and affects millions of US adults. Propranolol and primidone help about half of people. For severe tremor, deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound work well, and the first new pill in decades is under FDA review.
- 79studies open or running
- 1phase 3 trial
- 380papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
First new tremor pill succeedsHappened 4.3 points vs placebo
Ulixacaltamide improved daily-living scores 4.3 points over placebo; under FDA review.
4.3: point better daily-living score than placebo at 8 weeks.
Wrist nerve stimulation worksHappened
A wearable device reduced tremor more than sham in 125 people.
Second-side Gamma KnifeHappened 74.4% tremor improvement
29 of 33 people improved 74.4% after treating the second side.
74.4%: average tremor improvement in responders.
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6 months
by May 2027
FDA decision on ulixacaltamidePossible 4.3 points vs placebo
Praxis has said it expects a decision around early 2027.
4.3: point better daily-living score than placebo at 8 weeks.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
New pill from BioprojetLong shot
A 50-person proof-of-concept trial of BP1.4979 finishes December 2026.
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3 years
by late 2029
AbbVie injection trialLong shot
A 94-person placebo-controlled trial of AGN-151607 for tremor runs to November 2028.
Smarter deep brain stimulationLong shot
Minnesota researchers test "coordinated reset" stimulation that may keep working after the device is switched off.
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5 years
by late 2031
Low-intensity ultrasound without lesionsLong shot
Early trials test focused ultrasound that calms tremor circuits without burning tissue.
The research paths
New pills
4.3 points vs placeboDetails and 2 trialsHide
Drugs that target the calcium channels and circuits behind tremor.
WatchFDA decision; Bioprojet results.
Procedures
74.4% tremor improvementDetails and 1 trialsHide
Treating both sides more safely with ultrasound, radiosurgery or stimulation.
WatchBilateral procedures.
Wearables and non-invasive stimulation
DetailsHide
Wrist devices, magnetic stimulation and low-intensity ultrasound.
WatchLonger-term use.
Open to join now
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Upper-limb tremor
AGN-151607 injection
Locations and eligibility → -
Essential tremor
BP1.4979 pill
Locations and eligibility → -
Severe tremor, Poland
Stereotactic radiosurgery
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Essential tremor trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Causes Mapping the brain changes behind essential tremorColumbia University · NIH Funded through 2026 News likely 2027
- Drugs Optimizing new drugs for essential tremorBrigham and Women's Hospital · NIH Funded through Jul 2027 News likely 2027–2028
What just happened
Second-side Gamma Knife safe and effective
Brain, 33 people.
Wrist nerve stimulation beats sham
JAMA Neurology.
Standard treatment today
- MildNo treatment, or propranolol before events; weighted utensils.
- Daily life affectedPropranolol or primidone; topiramate or gabapentin as alternatives; wrist stimulation devices.
- Severe, pills not enoughDeep brain stimulation, focused ultrasound or Gamma Knife.
- Head or voice tremorBotulinum toxin injections.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Ulixacaltamide is not yet approved; check the latest FDA status.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Essential tremor trials recruiting now →