What does it mean that START is a controlled study?
A controlled study means that some patients will receive the study drug (Thymoglobulin), while others will receive an inactive form (or “placebo”). Patients that receive the drug are in the “treatment” group; patients that receive the placebo are in the “control” group. By comparing the results in the treatment group with results in the placebo group allows doctors to better determine how effective the study drug is. In START, 2/3 of participants (the treatment group) will receive Thymoglobulin, while the other 1/3 (the control group) will receive a placebo.
