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Placebo (PBO)
Placebo (PBO) is a Small molecule drug developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP. It is currently in Phase 3 development for Control arm in phase 3 clinical trials (specific indication depends on the active comparator).
Placebo has no active pharmacological mechanism; it is an inert substance used as a control in clinical trials.
Placebo has no active pharmacological mechanism; it is an inert substance used as a control in clinical trials. Used for Control arm in phase 3 clinical trials (specific indication depends on the active comparator).
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Baseline phase 3 → approval rate
+58.3pp
Industry-wide phase 3 drugs reach approval ~58.3% of the time (BIO/Informa 2023 industry benchmark across all therapeutic areas).
| Regulator | Country | Likely year | Lag vs FDA |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | US | 2028–2030 | — |
| EMA | EU | 2029–2031 | +0.7 yr |
| MHRA | GB | 2029–2031 | +0.7 yr |
| Health Canada | CA | 2029–2032 | +0.9 yr |
| TGA | AU | 2029–2032 | +1.2 yr |
| PMDA | JP | 2029–2032 | +1.5 yr |
| NMPA | CN | 2030–2033 | +2.3 yr |
| MFDS | KR | 2029–2032 | +1.4 yr |
| CDSCO | IN | 2029–2033 | +1.8 yr |
| ANVISA | BR | 2030–2033 | +2.3 yr |
Hover any row for the lag rationale. Lag estimates are reduced when the drug has FDA Breakthrough or EMA PRIME designation (sponsors file globally in parallel).
Estimate based on the BIO/Informa industry phase transition rates plus per-drug modifiers for therapeutic area, sponsor type, FDA designations, mechanism, and trial design. Per-jurisdiction lags from Tufts CSDD international approval studies. Not investment, clinical or regulatory advice. Methodology: /methodology#likelihood.
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo (PBO) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Placebo is a non-therapeutic control agent administered in blinded clinical trials to establish baseline efficacy and safety profiles of investigational drugs. Any observed effects are attributable to the placebo effect—psychological and physiological responses to the expectation of treatment rather than pharmacological action. Placebos are essential for determining whether observed clinical benefits exceed those from natural disease progression or psychological factors.
Approved indications
- Control arm in phase 3 clinical trials (specific indication depends on the active comparator)
Common side effects
Key clinical trials
- A Study With a Initial Treatment Period Followed by a Randomized-withdrawal Period to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bimekizumab in Adult Subjects With Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Veverimer for the Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rozanolixizumab in Adult Participants With Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Antibody-associated Disease (MOG-AD) (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Brivaracetam as Monotherapy in Patients 2 to 25 Years of Age With Childhood Absence Epilepsy or Juvenile Absence Epilepsy (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Dapirolizumab Pegol in Study Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (PHASE3)
- Study of Cannabidiol in Sanfilippo Syndrome (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Memantine Augmentation of Targeted Cognitive Training in Schizophrenia (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Wayne State Warriors Marijuana Clinical Research Program: Cannabinoid Adjunct to Prolonged Exposure & Recovery (PHASE1)
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 (PBO) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo (PBO) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Placebo (PBO)
What is Placebo (PBO)?
How does Placebo (PBO) work?
What is Placebo (PBO) used for?
Who makes Placebo (PBO)?
What development phase is Placebo (PBO) in?
Related
- Manufacturer: Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, LP — full pipeline
- Indication: Drugs for Control arm in phase 3 clinical trials (specific indication depends on the active comparator)
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing