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Placebo (saline water)
Placebo saline water has no active pharmacological mechanism; therapeutic effects arise from the placebo effect and patient expectation.
Placebo saline water has no active pharmacological mechanism; therapeutic effects arise from the placebo effect and patient expectation. Used for Control/comparator agent in clinical trials (not a therapeutic indication).
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo (saline water) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | NaCl water |
| Sponsor | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Modality | Biologic |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Saline water is a physiologically inert solution containing sodium chloride and water. Any observed clinical benefit in placebo-controlled trials results from psychological and neurobiological responses to the expectation of treatment rather than from direct molecular action. It serves as a control comparator in clinical trials to distinguish true drug efficacy from placebo response.
Approved indications
- Control/comparator agent in clinical trials (not a therapeutic indication)
Common side effects
- Injection site reactions (if administered parenterally)
- Minimal systemic adverse events expected
Key clinical trials
- Femoral Peri-arterial Local Anesthetic Injection Via Peri-arterial Perineural Catheter Reverses Tourniquet Associated Ischemic Hypertension (PHASE4)
- The Impact of Perioperative Lidocaine Infusions on Enhanced Recovery After Non-Cardiac Surgery (PHASE4)
- The Role of GIP in Postprandial Splanchnic Blood Flow Distribution and Metabolism in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (NA)
- Bezlotoxumab Yielded Outcomes by Addressing Personalized Needs in Clostridioides Difficile Infection (PHASE2)
- Add-on Intravenous Immunoglobulins in Early Myositis (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Anthrax AV7909 Boost Evaluation Study (PHASE2)
- Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Inclisiran in Children With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (PHASE3)
- RECOVER-AUTONOMIC Platform Protocol (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 (saline water) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo (saline water) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- GlaxoSmithKline portfolio CI