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Placebo suppository
A placebo suppository produces therapeutic effects through the patient's expectation and belief in treatment rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism.
A placebo suppository produces therapeutic effects through the patient's expectation and belief in treatment rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism. Used for Control comparator in clinical trials (non-therapeutic use).
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo suppository |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hydrogenated palm kernel oil suppositories |
| Sponsor | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Research/Control Agent |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Placebo effects operate through psychological and neurobiological pathways, including expectation, conditioning, and activation of endogenous pain-relief and reward systems. In clinical research contexts, placebos serve as control comparators to distinguish true drug effects from natural disease progression, spontaneous remission, and placebo response. The placebo suppository formulation is inert and contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Approved indications
- Control comparator in clinical trials (non-therapeutic use)
Common side effects
- Adverse events attributable to placebo response or natural disease progression
Key clinical trials
- A Trial of Pessary and Progesterone for Preterm Prevention in Twin Gestation With a Short Cervix (PHASE3)
- Feasibility of Intravaginal Artesunate as Adjuvant HPV & Cervical Precancer Treatment in Kenya (PHASE2)
- Artesunate Vaginal Inserts for the Treatment of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN2/3) (PHASE2)
- Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppositories (PHASE3)
- Rectal Indomethacin as Early Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis (INDOMAP Trial) (PHASE4)
- Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess Overall User Experience of a Synbiotic Vaginal Suppository (NA)
- Artesunate Suppositories for the Treatment of HIV-negative Patients With Intra-anal HSIL (PHASE2)
- Vaginal Baclofen Suppositories in Chronic Pelvic Pain (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 suppository CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Placebo suppository updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) portfolio CI