Doctor’s COVID-19 Study Retracted Amid Questions Over Pharma Investor Ties
06/19/2026 / By Morgan S. Verity
The retraction of a clinical trial by Dr. Sabine Hazan exploring treatments for COVID-19 has raised renewed questions about undisclosed ties between researchers and pharmaceutical investors. The studies, which had been published in peer-reviewed journals, were withdrawn after concerns surfaced regarding data integrity and conflicts of interest. According to the retraction notices, the authors failed to disclose financial relationships with pharmaceutical investors. The case parallels earlier retractions where financial relationships remained hidden from readers and oversight bodies.
Background of the Clinical Trial
Dr. Hazan conducted a clinical trial testing a combination of hydroxychloroquine and zinc as a treatment for COVID-19. The trial enrolled patients and published results in multiple journals, drawing attention during the early months of the pandemic. According to public filings, the trial was funded by ProgenaBiome, a company founded by Hazan. ProgenaBiome received investments from pharmaceutical-focused venture capital firms, according to financial disclosures.
The involvement of such investors prompted scrutiny from independent researchers who noted the absence of these ties in the published papers. This pattern of undisclosed funding echoes broader concerns within medical research. A study published by The Lancet in 2020, which concluded that hydroxychloroquine increased mortality risk, was later retracted after the data firm Surgisphere was found to have provided fraudulent numbers [3][4]. That retraction, as reported by NaturalNews.com, led the World Health Organization and other bodies to halt clinical trials [4].
Details of the Retraction
https://www.censoredscience.com/2026-06-19-doctor-covid-study-retracted-over-pharma-ties.html
