Mohamad-Ali Salloum is a Pharmacist and science writer. He loves simplifying science to the general public and healthcare students through words and illustrations. When he's not working, you can usually find him in the gym, reading a book, or learning a new skill.
A new COVID-19 medication so good that it allowed scientists to stop trials early!
Mohamad Ali Salloum, PharmD • April 13, 2022
Share
The molecule is called “Sabizabulin”, and the manufacturer is called “Veru”, an oncology biopharmaceutical company that is based in USA.
This medication was being tested in moderate and severe COVID-19 cases, and it worked! The results show that it has the potential to cut the virus’s mortality rate by more than 50%.
Note that the Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a particular population per unit of time.
Usually in clinical trials, the study team perform an interim analysis, which is a statistical analysis done on the data at some point during the study to see if they continue with the trial or put it down. If the results are positive, the clinical trial continues recruiting more patients to reach its target. If the results are negative, the clinical trial may be terminated if it is clear that the study drug is not superior to the standard therapy/placebo.
This study was randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase 3 Covid-19 clinical trial. Patients in both treatment groups were allowed to receive standard of care including remdesivir, dexamethasone, anti-IL6 receptor antibodies, and JAK inhibitors. Placebo group (n=52) had a 45% mortality rate compared to the sabizabulin-treated group (n=98) which had a 20% mortality rate. The interim analysis results were so good that it was unethical to continue giving the patients a placebo.
An Independent Data Management Committee (IDMC) recommended the study to be stopped early due to overwhelming evidence of efficacy. The article published stated that Sabizabulin showed statistically and clinically meaningful 55% reduction in deaths compared to Placebo in Moderate-Severe hospitalized patients (p=0.0029).
Regarding its safety profile, the medication was well tolerated, and no safety concerns were identified.
The next steps is that Veru will meet with FDA to seek Emergency Use Authorization. This means that the medication may be available in the market in the next few months.
Gary Barnette, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Very has stated that “What makes these findings more relevant is that the pharmacological activity of sabizabulin is independent of COVID-19 variant type.”
As a summary:
| Drug Class | Bis-Indole |
| Mechanism of Action | It binds to the "Colchicine binding site" of Alpha and Beta tubulin and inhibits tubulin polymerization at low nanomolar concentrations. |
| Used as | Anti-Viral, Anti-Inflammatory |
| Route of Administration | Oral |
| Dose | 9 mg |
| Safety Profile | Well tolerated |
List of Services
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mohamad-Ali Salloum, PharmD
Share
Recent articles:
References: Qiang S, Wu J, Zheng D, et al. The effect of stress mindset on psychological pain: the chain mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and self-identity. Front Psychol. 2025;16. 1 Bosshard M, Gomez P. Effectiveness of stress arousal reappraisal and stressisenhancing mindset interventions on task performance outcomes: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2024. 2 Zhao S, Chen P, Jin L, et al. Unlocking Emotional Well-Being: Evaluation of a Stress Mindset Intervention With a Metacognitive Approach. Emotion. 2025;25(5):1169–1184. 4 Meyer HH, Stutts LA. The Effect of Mindset Interventions on Stress and Academic Motivation in College Students. Innov High Educ. 2024;49:783–798. 7 Crum AJ, Santoro E, Handley-Miner I, et al. Evaluation of the “Rethink Stress” Mindset Intervention: A Metacognitive Approach to Changing Mindsets. J Exp Psychol Gen. 2023. 3 Laferton JAC, Fischer S, Ebert DD, et al. The Effects of Stress Beliefs on Daily Affective Stress Responses. Ann Behav Med. 2020;54(4):258–267. 5 UCSF Stress Measurement Network. Beliefs about Stress . 2026. 6
References: Qiang S, Wu J, Zheng D, et al. The effect of stress mindset on psychological pain: the chain mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and self-identity. Front Psychol. 2025;16. 1 Bosshard M, Gomez P. Effectiveness of stress arousal reappraisal and stressisenhancing mindset interventions on task performance outcomes: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2024. 2 Zhao S, Chen P, Jin L, et al. Unlocking Emotional Well-Being: Evaluation of a Stress Mindset Intervention With a Metacognitive Approach. Emotion. 2025;25(5):1169–1184. 4 Meyer HH, Stutts LA. The Effect of Mindset Interventions on Stress and Academic Motivation in College Students. Innov High Educ. 2024;49:783–798. 7 Crum AJ, Santoro E, Handley-Miner I, et al. Evaluation of the “Rethink Stress” Mindset Intervention: A Metacognitive Approach to Changing Mindsets. J Exp Psychol Gen. 2023. 3 Laferton JAC, Fischer S, Ebert DD, et al. The Effects of Stress Beliefs on Daily Affective Stress Responses. Ann Behav Med. 2020;54(4):258–267. 5 UCSF Stress Measurement Network. Beliefs about Stress . 2026. 6
A clear, evidence‑based guide to Ramadan fasting, explaining its metabolic, mental, and cardiometabolic benefits, plus practical nutrition, hydration, sleep, and medication strategies for healthy adults and high‑risk patients.
A practical guide to shifting from blaming “human error” to applying ICH GCP E6(R3) system‑level quality, Quality by Design, and risk‑based oversight to prevent repeat deviations in clinical trials.
Learn 5 Whys and Fishbone (Ishikawa) for Root Cause Analysis in clinical research, with practical examples and an interactive quiz—no fluff, just clarity.
A clear, practical guide to CAPA for Clinical Research Associates—covering corrective and preventive actions, real‑world scenarios, and an interactive quiz to reinforce learning.
Boost your health with a simple 30‑minute morning walk backed by science—better heart health, mood, sleep, and energy.
References: Gunes IB, Gunes A. Association Between Eyelid Twitching and Digital Screen Time, Uncorrected Refractive Error, Intraocular Pressure, and Blood Electrolyte Imbalances. Cureus . 2024;16(9):e69249. Available from: https://www.cureus.com/articles/291035-association-between-eyelid-twitching-and-digital-screen-time-uncorrected-refractive-error-intraocular-pressure-and-blood-electrolyte-imbalances Banik R, Miller NR. Chronic myokymia limited to the eyelid is a benign condition. J Neuroophthalmol . 2004;24(4):290–2. Available from: https://scholars.mssm.edu/en/publications/chronic-myokymia-limited-to-the-eyelid-is-a-benign-condition-2 Hallett M. Blepharospasm: recent advances. Neurology . 2002;59(11):1759–60. Available from: https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12434791 Defazio G, Livrea P. Epidemiology of primary blepharospasm. Mov Disord . 2002;17(1):7–12. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/11835433 Zeppieri M, Ameer MA, Jahngir MU, Patel BC. Meige Syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/30020730 Zhang Y, Adamec I, Habek M. Superior oblique myokymia: a meta-analysis. J Ophthalmol . 2018;2018:7290547. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7290547 Costa J, Espírito-Santo C, Borges A, et al. Botulinum toxin type A therapy for blepharospasm. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2020;11:CD004900. Available from: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004900.pub2/abstract Khalkhali M. Topiramate-induced persistent eyelid myokymia. Case Rep Psychiatry . 2016;2016:7901085. Available from: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4886081/
References: Sen A, Tai XY. Sleep duration and executive function in adults. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2023;23:801–813. [link.springer.com] Nature Research Intelligence. Sleep deprivation and cognitive performance. Nature Portfolio. 2023. Available from: https://www.nature.com/… [nature.com] Skourti E, Simos P, Zampetakis A, et al. Long-term associations between objective sleep and verbal memory performance. Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1265016. [frontiersin.org] Hauglund NL, Andersen M, Tokarska K, et al. Norepinephrine‑mediated slow vasomotion drives glymphatic clearance during sleep. Cell. 2025;188(3):606‑622.e17. [cell.com] Shirolapov IV, Zakharov AV, Smirnova DA, et al. The role of the glymphatic clearance system in sleep–wake interactions and neurodegeneration. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2024;54:199–204. [link.springer.com] Kong Y, Yu B, Guan G, et al. Effects of sleep deprivation on sports performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1544286. [frontiersin.org] Gong M, Sun M, Sun Y, et al. Effects of acute sleep deprivation on sporting performance in athletes. Nat Sci Sleep. 2024;16:—. [tandfonline.com] Dean B, Hartmann T, Wingfield G, et al. Sleep restriction between consecutive days of exercise impairs cycling performance. J Sleep Res. 2023;32(3):e13857. [onlinelibr....wiley.com] Mah CD, Mah KE, Kezirian EJ, Dement WC. The effects of sleep extension on athletic performance in collegiate basketball players. Sleep. 2011;34(7):943–950. [psycnet.apa.org] Cunha LA, Costa JA, Marques EA, et al. Impact of sleep interventions on athletic performance: a systematic review. Sports Med Open. 2023;9:58. [link.springer.com] Teece AR, Beaven CM, Argus CK, et al. Daytime naps improve afternoon power and perceptual measures in elite rugby union athletes. Sleep. 2023;46(12):zsad133. [academic.oup.com] Mesas AE, Núñez de Arenas-Arroyo S, Martinez-Vizcaino V, et al. Daytime napping and cognitive/physical sport performance: meta-analysis of RCTs. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(7):417–27. [bjsm.bmj.com] Haines Roberts SS, Teo WP, Warmington SA. Effects of training and competition on the sleep of elite athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(8):513–522. [bjsm.bmj.com] Walsh NP, Halson SL, Sargent C, et al. Sleep and the athlete: 2021 expert consensus recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2021;55(7):356–368. [bjsm.bmj.com] Janse van Rensburg DC, Fowler PM, Racinais S. Practical tips to manage travel fatigue and jet lag in athletes. Br J Sports Med. 2021;55(15):821–822. [bjsm.bmj.com] Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: AASM/SRS consensus statement. Sleep. 2015;38(6):843–844. [aasm.org] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FastStats: Sleep in adults. CDC. 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/… [cdc.gov]