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Sugar pill (placebo)
A placebo produces therapeutic effects through patient expectation and the psychobiological placebo response, rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism.
A placebo produces therapeutic effects through patient expectation and the psychobiological placebo response, rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism. Used for Used as control in clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas.
At a glance
| Generic name | Sugar pill (placebo) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Placebo, Sugar Pill, Vehicle, sugar pill, placebo comparator |
| Sponsor | Rambam Health Care Campus |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Placebos work via psychological and neurobiological pathways including expectation, conditioning, and activation of endogenous pain-relief and reward systems. The placebo effect is well-documented across numerous conditions, particularly those with subjective symptom components such as pain, nausea, and fatigue. While placebos contain no active pharmaceutical ingredient, they can produce measurable clinical improvements in certain patient populations.
Approved indications
- Used as control in clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas
Common side effects
- Nocebo effects (adverse events attributed to placebo)
Key clinical trials
- Diclofenac as a KMO Inhibitor (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Curcumin to Improve Inflammation and Symptoms in Patients With Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance, Low Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome, and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (PHASE2)
- Polygenic Risk-based Detection of Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis and Intervention With Statin and Colchicine (PHASE4)
- Effects of Pioglitazone on Exogenous Carbohydrate Oxidation During Steady-State Exercise at High Altitude (PHASE4)
- Adjuvant Curcumin to Assess Recurrence Free Survival in Patients Who Have Had a Radical Prostatectomy (PHASE3)
- Open-label Placebo (COLP) for Pain in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Surgery+Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis (NA)
- Drug Therapy Induced Weight Loss to Improve Blood Vessel Function in Subjects With Obesity (PHASE2)
- Enhancing Parasympathetic Activity to Improve Endothelial Dysfunction, Vascular Oxidative Stress in African Americans (PHASE1, 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 |