Placebos

Experimental cholesterol drug failed to prevent cardiovascular events

Phase III trial halted early as treatment did not reduce rate of vascular events in patients with high-risk disease.…

Cannabis drug cuts seizures in childhood epilepsy

Cannabidiol shows promise in reducing the frequency of convulsive seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy.…

Chondroitin sulfate alleviates symptoms in knee osteoarthritis

Study shows positive effects of medicine in managing pain and improving mobility in patients with osteoarthritis.…

Tamoxifen prevents high fat diet-induced obesity in mice

The oestrogen-receptor modulator widely used to treat and prevent breast cancer could help to protect against weight gain and insulin resistance, researchers find.…

Common oral contraceptive pill has negative effect on general well-being

An estimated 100 million women use the contraceptive pill, but surprisingly little is known about its effect on overall health.…

FDA approves first drug for tardive dyskinesia

The US Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has given the green light to valbenazine (Ingrezza), the first drug to be approved for treating adults with tardive dyskinesia.…

Doxycycline could offer new treatment option for post-traumatic stress disorder

The widely used antibiotic reduces fear retention in healthy people and could be used to support psychological therapy, study suggests.…

Vitamin D supplements did not significantly reduce cancer risk in trial of older women

Of 2,303 women with high vitamin D levels, 45 women taking vitamin D3 and calcium supplements were diagnosed with cancer within four years, compared with 64 women taking placebo.…

FDA approves first monoclonal antibody injection for atopic dermatitis

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has approved the use of dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults with atopic dermatitis. Dupilumab is the first monoclonal antibody t…

Brain scans predict placebo responses in chronic pain patients

Researchers studying patients with chronic pain have shown they can predict those who will respond to placebo using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).…