Inactive Interventions in Place of Potentially Effective Therapy

Ethical Concerns

"Inactive interventions" include placebos, treatment interruptions (“washout periods”), treatment withdrawals and sham procedures. It is unacceptable to use an inactive control in place of potentially effective treatment if harm will come to subjects as a result. As such, the use of inactive interventions can pose a serious ethical concern for the protection of human subjects.

When an inactive intervention is proposed to be used in place of an effective therapy — or any time a research protocol calls for the absence, withdrawal or interruption of active treatment —  the rationale for the study design must be carefully explained in the IRB Application. In addition, the risks and the steps taken to minimize those risks must be articulated carefully. Serious delays in the IRB review process result when these issues are inadequately explained or unexplained.

Unfortunately, these issues often are not addressed in the multicenter protocols and sample consent forms provided by study sponsors, even when the protocol and sample consent form have been reviewed by the FDA. Local investigators must then have to provide the additional information. (The FDA conducts its scientific review of research with the understanding that there will be local review focused on the protection of human subjects.)

Note: This guidance is not intended as a comprehensive overview of controlled clinical trials. The IRB has no policy for or against particular study designs and raises concerns about study design when the risks to subjects do not appear to be reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits.

Issues to Address: IRB Application

When an inactive intervention is used in place of potentially effective treatment (e.g., giving a placebo), the IRB Application Form should address the following questions:

Consent Form Wording

If the IRB finds that the use of an inactive intervention in place of potentially effective treatment is safe and ethical, the procedures and risks related to the control group must be fully described in the consent form. Specifically, the consent form must describe the following issues:

Section Info to include Sample Wording
Purpose and Background
  • Describe that the study involves an inactive intervention,
  • the chances of receiving an inactive intervention and
  • what a placebo is (if applicable). 
Note: These three points can be addressed in a single sentence.

Half the subjects in this study will receive a placebo (an inactive pill).

 Procedures
  • Describe how subjects are assigned to treatment and control groups;
  • the chances of being assigned to each group;
  • how long subjects will continue to receive the inactive intervention; 
  • an explanation of blinding (see example below), if applicable; and how subjects will be monitored and followed during the study.

You will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. This means that you have a 50/50 chance (like flipping a coin) of being in either group and that neither the researchers nor you will make the choice of which group you are in. The two groups are Group A (Drug XXX) or Group B (placebo, an inactive substance).

You will not be told whether you are given the study drug or placebo unless you experience a serious side effect and the study doctors need to find out this information to recommend treatment.

 

Risks 
  • Include a straightforward description of the risks associated with the control group (statements such as “you will not receive active treatment for your condition” do not describe the risk); and 
  • the possible consequences of not receiving active treatment.
If you are assigned to Group B, you will be receiving a placebo in place of active treatment for your condition for 4 weeks. Your symptoms may get worse or become more frequent during this time. You will be closely monitored during the study and if you appear to be getting worse, or even if you think you are getting worse, you will be withdrawn from the study immediately and be given active treatment.
Benefits  State that subjects assigned to the inactive intervention will not benefit from being in the study. If you are assigned to Group B (placebo), you will not benefit from being in the study.

Last updated: September 27, 2023