Last reviewed · How we verify
Placebo medication, No counseling
Placebo has no active pharmacological mechanism; therapeutic effects arise solely from the placebo effect and patient expectations.
Placebo has no active pharmacological mechanism; therapeutic effects arise solely from the placebo effect and patient expectations. Used for Clinical trial control arm (non-therapeutic use).
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo medication, No counseling |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Placebo is an inert substance with no molecular target or biological activity. Any observed clinical benefit results from psychological and neurobiological processes triggered by the expectation of treatment, including activation of endogenous pain-relief pathways, reduced anxiety, and improved symptom perception. It is commonly used as a control in clinical trials to isolate the true pharmacological effects of active drugs.
Approved indications
- Clinical trial control arm (non-therapeutic use)
Common side effects
- Nocebo effects (adverse events attributed to placebo expectation)
Key clinical trials
- Cardiac and Metabolic Effects of Semaglutide in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (PHASE2)
- An Avatar-based Mobile Phone Intervention to Promote Health in African American MSM (NA)
- Electroacupuncture on Treating Cancer-related Depression (NA)
- Comparing the Effects of Oral Contraceptive Pills Versus Metformin (PHASE3)
- SMART Use of Medication for the Treatment of Adolescent Severe Obesity (PHASE2)
- DEMETRA - ADVICE-002-2022 (NA)
- Daily Liraglutide for Nicotine Dependence (PHASE2)
- Developing Adaptive Interventions for Cocaine Cessation and Relapse Prevention (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Placebo medication, No counseling CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo medication, No counseling updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of Wisconsin, Madison portfolio CI