placebo + ketoconazole

This is a combination of a placebo (an inactive substance with no therapeutic effect) and ketoconazole, an imidazole-class antifungal agent. Ketoconazole works by inhibiting the fungal enzyme lanosterol 14-α-demethylase, which is necessary for ergosterol synthesis in fungal cell membranes. This leads to increased membrane permeability and impaired cellular function, ultimately inhibiting fungal growth or killing the fungus. Placebo is used as a control in clinical trials and has no pharmacological activity. The combination may be used in research settings to compare the effects of ketoconazole against an inactive comparator.