Experimental drug aims to tame severe COVID-19 inflammation

NCT ID NCT04483973

First seen Jun 29, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests an experimental drug called SPI-1005 (ebselen) in adults hospitalized with severe COVID-19. Participants receive either the drug or a placebo to see if the drug is safe and helps improve recovery. The trial is randomized and double-blind, meaning neither patients nor doctors know who gets the real drug.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

ebselen (SPI-1005)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for severe COVID-19 that reduces inflammation and speeds recovery.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial, so results may not apply broadly. The drug may cause side effects or prove no better than placebo.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Coronavinae infectious disease COVID-19 Orthocoronavirinae infectious disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Kansas University Medical Center

    Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

  • St. Luke's Cystic Fibrosis Center of Idaho

    Boise, Idaho, 83702, United States

  • University of Texas Southwestern

    Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

  • Wake Forest University

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109, United States

  • Washington University in St. Louis

    St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States

  • Yale University

    New Haven, Connecticut, 96510, United States