Covid19Phase 2NCT04483973
SPI-1005 Treatment in Severe COVID-19 Patients
A Phase 2 study testing Ebselen in people with Covid19 and Coronavirus, run by Sound Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated at 7 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation, multi-center clinical trial (RCT) of SPI-1005 in adult subjects with positive PCR test for novel SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV2) and severe symptoms of COVID-19 disease. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Covid19, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infection
- What is being tested?
- Ebselen
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 7 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 27 Aug 2021to 6 Jun 2023
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults ≥18 years of age
- Positive nCoV2 PCR test by nasopharyngeal, oral, saliva, or respiratory sample
- Clinical signs, symptoms, and respiratory status consistent with severe COVID-19
- Score of 5-7 on the WHO Ordinal Scale
- Onset of severe COVID-19 symptoms ≤7 days of study enrollment
- Subject is in-patient at time of randomization to study treatment
- Subject or legally authorized representative is willing and able to provide informed consent, and agrees for subject to comply with planned study procedures including reproductive requirements
Who cannot join
- Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Participation in another interventional investigational drug or device study concurrently or within 30 days prior to study consent.
- Patients with impaired hepatic or renal function.
- Subject has any other illness or condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prohibit the subject from participating.
Trial locations and contacts
7 sites in 1 country.
7 sites in 1 country
United States7 sites
St. Luke's Cystic Fibrosis Center of Idaho
Boise, Idaho, 83702
University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, 75390
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, 27710
Kansas University Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, 96510
Washington University in St. Louis
St Louis, Missouri, 63130
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109
About this study
Official title: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of SPI-1005 in Severe COVID-19 Patients
The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation, multi-center clinical trial (RCT) of SPI-1005 in adult subjects with positive PCR test for novel SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV2) and severe symptoms of COVID-19 disease.
- Conditions
- Covid19, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infection, Corona Virus Infection
- Being tested
- Ebselen, Placebo
- Keywords
- ebselen, SPI-1005, COVID-19, Covid, SARS-COV-2, Mpro, main protease, PLpro, papain-like protease
- Medical subject headings
- COVID-19, Coronavirus Infections
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
EbselenDrug
Also called SPI-1005
Glutathione peroxidase mimetic
PlaceboDrug
Matching placebo containing excipients
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Oral administration of matching placebo BID for 14 days, with 30-day follow-up Receives: Drug: Placebo |
| SPI-1005 400 mg BID | Active comparator | Oral administration of SPI-1005 400 mg BID for 14 days, with 30-day follow-up Receives: Drug: Ebselen |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events
Number of participants with adverse events, categorized by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading for severity.
Measured: 30 days
Secondary outcomes (1)
WHO Ordinal Scale
Clinical outcome assessed by WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement. Scale is 0-8 where higher score is worse outcome.
Measured: 30 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jul 2020
- Study start27 Aug 2021
- Primary completion5 May 2023
- Study completion6 Jun 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Covid19Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sound Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Miriam Treggiari, MD, Principal investigator, Yale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04483973
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SPI-1005-292
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Jul 2020
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Jin Z, Du X, Xu Y, Deng Y, Liu M, Zhao Y, Zhang B, Li X, Zhang L, Peng C, Duan Y, Yu J, Wang L, Yang K, Liu F, Jiang R, Yang X, You T, Liu X, Yang X, Bai F, Liu H, Liu X, Guddat LW, Xu W, Xiao G, Qin C, Shi Z, Jiang H, Rao Z, Yang H. Structure of Mpro from SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of its inhibitors. Nature. 2020 Jun;582(7811):289-293. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2223-y. Epub 2020 Apr 9.
PubMed 32272481Menendez CA, Bylehn F, Perez-Lemus GR, Alvarado W, de Pablo JJ. Molecular characterization of ebselen binding activity to SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Sci Adv. 2020 Sep 11;6(37):eabd0345. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd0345. Print 2020 Sep.
PubMed 32917717Weglarz-Tomczak E, Tomczak JM, Talma M, Burda-Grabowska M, Giurg M, Brul S. Identification of ebselen and its analogues as potent covalent inhibitors of papain-like protease from SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 11;11(1):3640. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83229-6.
PubMed 33574416Brown AS, Ackerley DF, Calcott MJ. High-Throughput Screening for Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Protease Using a FRET-Biosensor. Molecules. 2020 Oct 13;25(20):4666. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204666.
PubMed 33066278Haritha CV, Sharun K, Jose B. Ebselen, a new candidate therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2. Int J Surg. 2020 Dec;84:53-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.10.018. Epub 2020 Oct 23. No abstract available.
PubMed 33120196Chen T, Fei CY, Chen YP, Sargsyan K, Chang CP, Yuan HS, Lim C. Synergistic Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Replication Using Disulfiram/Ebselen and Remdesivir. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2021 Mar 26;4(2):898-907. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00022. eCollection 2021 Apr 9.
PubMed 33855277Sies H, Parnham MJ. Potential therapeutic use of ebselen for COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections. Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 Aug 20;156:107-112. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.06.032. Epub 2020 Jun 26.
PubMed 32598985
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of SPI-1005 in Severe COVID-19 Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04483973
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPI-1005-292
- Conditions
- Covid19, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infection, Corona Virus Infection
- Keywords
- ebselen, SPI-1005, COVID-19, Covid, SARS-COV-2, Mpro, main protease, PLpro
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sound Pharmaceuticals, IncorporatedIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 27 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 Jun 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Jul 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 29 Jun 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation, multi-center clinical trial (RCT) of SPI-1005 in adult subjects with positive PCR test for novel SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV2) and severe symptoms of COVID-19 disease.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboOral administration of matching placebo BID for 14 days, with 30-day follow-up |
| SPI-1005 400 mg BID | Active comparator | Drug: EbselenOral administration of SPI-1005 400 mg BID for 14 days, with 30-day follow-up |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Adults ≥18 years of age
- Positive nCoV2 PCR test by nasopharyngeal, oral, saliva, or respiratory sample
- Clinical signs, symptoms, and respiratory status consistent with severe COVID-19
- Score of 5-7 on the WHO Ordinal Scale
- Onset of severe COVID-19 symptoms ≤7 days of study enrollment
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Participation in another interventional investigational drug or device study concurrently or within 30 days prior to study consent.
- Patients with impaired hepatic or renal function.
- Subject has any other illness or condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prohibit the subject from participating.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| EbselenAlso: SPI-1005Glutathione peroxidase mimetic | Drug | SPI-1005 400 mg BID |
| PlaceboMatching placebo containing excipients | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events
Time frame: 30 days
Number of participants with adverse events, categorized by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading for severity.
1 secondary outcome
WHO Ordinal Scale
Time frame: 30 days
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jun 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 32272481Jin Z, Du X, Xu Y, Deng Y, Liu M, Zhao Y, Zhang B, Li X, Zhang L, Peng C, Duan Y, Yu J, Wang L, Yang K, Liu F, Jiang R, Yang X, You T, Liu X, Yang X, Bai F, Liu H, Liu X, Guddat LW, Xu W, Xiao G, Qin C, Shi Z, Jiang H, Rao Z, Yang H. Structure of Mpro from SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of its inhibitors. Nature. 2020 Jun;582(7811):289-293. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2223-y. Epub 2020 Apr 9.
- Background: PubMed 32917717Menendez CA, Bylehn F, Perez-Lemus GR, Alvarado W, de Pablo JJ. Molecular characterization of ebselen binding activity to SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Sci Adv. 2020 Sep 11;6(37):eabd0345. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd0345. Print 2020 Sep.
- Background: PubMed 33574416Weglarz-Tomczak E, Tomczak JM, Talma M, Burda-Grabowska M, Giurg M, Brul S. Identification of ebselen and its analogues as potent covalent inhibitors of papain-like protease from SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 11;11(1):3640. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83229-6.
- Background: PubMed 33066278Brown AS, Ackerley DF, Calcott MJ. High-Throughput Screening for Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Protease Using a FRET-Biosensor. Molecules. 2020 Oct 13;25(20):4666. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204666.
- Background: PubMed 33120196Haritha CV, Sharun K, Jose B. Ebselen, a new candidate therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2. Int J Surg. 2020 Dec;84:53-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.10.018. Epub 2020 Oct 23. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 33855277Chen T, Fei CY, Chen YP, Sargsyan K, Chang CP, Yuan HS, Lim C. Synergistic Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Replication Using Disulfiram/Ebselen and Remdesivir. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2021 Mar 26;4(2):898-907. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00022. eCollection 2021 Apr 9.
- Background: PubMed 32598985Sies H, Parnham MJ. Potential therapeutic use of ebselen for COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections. Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 Aug 20;156:107-112. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.06.032. Epub 2020 Jun 26.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Miriam Treggiari, MD principal investigator
Yale University
7 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Ebselen in people with Covid19 and Coronavirus, run by Sound Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated at 7 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 7 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 29 Jun 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events (time frame: 30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04483973, which also lists 7 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jun 2026.