veru-111

Description: Sabizabulin (VERU-111) is a novel and orally bioavailable tubulin inhibitor that has the potential to treat cancer. It is being developed by Veru Pharm in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. VERU-111 is also being evaluated for treating COVID-19 in another phase 3 study, as it targets microtubules thattransport viruses. The idea is that the drug could disrupt themicrotubule 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.

References: J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 13; 61(17):7877-7891; J Med Chem. 2012 Aug 23; 55(16):7285-9.