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Placebo (PLA)
Placebo produces therapeutic effects through the patient's expectation and belief in treatment, activating endogenous healing mechanisms independent of pharmacological action.
Placebo produces therapeutic effects through the patient's expectation and belief in treatment, activating endogenous healing mechanisms independent of pharmacological action. Used for Control arm in randomized controlled trials across multiple therapeutic areas.
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo (PLA) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Placebo effects arise from psychological and neurobiological processes including expectation, conditioning, and activation of endogenous neurotransmitter systems. These effects can modulate pain perception, immune function, and symptom severity in conditions where subjective experience is a primary outcome measure. Placebo is not a drug with a molecular mechanism but rather a control intervention used in clinical trials to isolate true pharmacological effects from expectation-driven responses.
Approved indications
- Control arm in randomized controlled trials across multiple therapeutic areas
Common side effects
- Nocebo effects (adverse events attributed to placebo expectation)
Key clinical trials
- Coffee Increases Physical and Cognitive Performance Both in Men and Women (NA)
- Beetroot Beverage and Repeated Sprint Power Output During RAST (NA)
- L-serine and Strength Training in the Elderly (NA)
- Low-Dose Caffeine and Taurine Effects on Performance (NA)
- Pregabalin Plus Lofexidine for the Outpatient Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal (PHASE2)
- Beta Caryophyllene & Apnea Performance (NA)
- Effect of a Short-term Multi-strain Probiotic Supplementation in Endurance Athletes (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Effect of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Vertical Jump Performance in Female Volleyball Players (NA)
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 (PLA) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo (PLA) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Eli Lilly and Company portfolio CI