Description: Sabizabulin (VERU-111; ABI-231) is a novel and orally bioavailable tubulin inhibitor that has the potential to treat cancer. It is being developed by Veru Pharm in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. VERU-111 is also being evaluated for treating COVID-19 in another phase III study, as it targets microtubules that transport viruses. The idea is that the drug could disrupt the microtubule traffic that the novel coronavirus uses to cause infection. VERU-111 binds to a different site from taxanes on tubulin called the 'colchicine binding site.' VERU-111 has high oral bioavailability and does not interact with multiple drug resistance proteins so it cannot be pumped out of the cancer cell; minimal drug to drug interactions especially not metabolized by CYP3A4 and has high activity against many tumor types including prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. Furthermore, it has activity against cancers that have become resistant to taxanes, vinca alkaloids and doxorubicin. In preclinical studies, VERU-111 has less neurotoxicity and leucopenia compared to other tubulin targeting agents. On April 11, 2022, Veru Pharm announced that sabizabulin demonstrated in a Phase III clinical trial a clinically and statistically meaningful reduction in deaths (55%) in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.