Last reviewed 2026-05-15 · How we verify

Avicel (placebo)

Avicel is an inert cellulose-based placebo with no active pharmacological mechanism.

Avicel is an inert cellulose-based placebo with no active pharmacological mechanism. Used for Clinical trial control / placebo comparator (not a therapeutic indication).

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose) is a pharmaceutical excipient commonly used as an inert placebo in clinical trials. It has no therapeutic mechanism of action and serves as a control comparator to assess the efficacy of active pharmaceutical agents. Its use is limited to research and clinical trial settings where a placebo control is required.

Approved indications

• Clinical trial control / placebo comparator (not a therapeutic indication)

Common side effects

• No expected adverse events (inert substance)

Key clinical trials

• The Effect of NP-2006 on Sleep Quality and Health (NA)
• Adenosine 2A Receptor Antagonism and AIH in ALS (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• IRELAnD: Investigating the Role of Early Low-dose Aspirin in Diabetes (PHASE3)
• Magnesium Supplementation in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
• Effect of Oral Microbiota on MDRO Decolonization (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• Bisnorcymserine in Healthy Adult Volunteers (PHASE1)
• Low-dose Naltrexone for Post-COVID Fatigue Syndrome (PHASE2)
• First-in-Human Study of VNT-101: Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics (PHASE1)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• Avicel (placebo) CI brief — competitive landscape report
• Avicel (placebo) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• University of Missouri, Kansas City portfolio CI