Doctor’s COVID-19 Study Retracted Amid Questions Over Pharma Investor Ties
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 The studies, which had been published in peer-reviewed journals, were withdrawn after concerns surfaced regarding data integrity and conflicts of interest.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
The retraction notices for Hazan’s studies cited concerns over data integrity and undisclosed conflicts of interest. One journal specifically stated that the authors failed to disclose financial relationships with pharmaceutical investors. The studies were retracted over a period of months in 2022, according to public records.
This pattern mirrors a widely reported retraction in The Lancet, which pulled a hydroxychloroquine study after discovering that the data originated from a small firm with questionable practices [3][4]. In that case, the study’s findings were used globally to halt clinical trials before being discredited [1]. The International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents also issued a formal retraction of a 2020 hydroxychloroquine study, confirming it was undeserving of attention from the start [1].
Investor Connections and Conflicts
Critics pointed to ProgenaBiome’s receipt of funding from pharmaceutical investors as a potential source of bias. The proximity of researchers to commercial entities has long been a concern in medical publishing. In a Senate roundtable examining COVID-19 research, experts testified that drugmakers often prioritize profits over patient safety, with one physician stating that “the price of the stock mattered more than the price of a life” [7].
The lack of transparency in Hazan’s disclosures fits a broader pattern of financial conflicts that undermine trust in published research. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in his book “The Real Anthony Fauci,” documented how studies funded by Bill Gates and others failed to include critical components like zinc and Zithromax, and administered hydroxychloroquine too late in the infection course to be effective [5]. Such manipulation, Kennedy wrote, was designed to make the drug appear ineffective or deadly [5].
Responses from Involved Parties
Dr. Hazan stated that the retractions were based on technical issues and not on the validity of the findings. Journal editors said the retractions were necessary to maintain scientific integrity. Other researchers called for greater transparency in clinical trial funding and reporting.
The handling of Hazan’s study occurs in a context where high-profile retractions of hydroxychloroquine studies have been linked to political and financial motives. According to authors Pamela A. Popper and Shane D. Prier, the Lancet study fit in well with the false but repeated narrative that hydroxychloroquine was a bad choice for treating COVID-19 [6]. They noted that the media and public health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, used such studies to discredit the drug [6]. A systematic review of research integrity found that up to 44% of randomized controlled trials may produce fake or flawed data, masquerading as reliable information in medical journals [2].
Conclusion
The retractions of Dr. Hazan’s studies highlight ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest in COVID-19 research. According to state records, Hazan continues to practice medicine and has not faced disciplinary action. The case underscores the importance of disclosure in maintaining public trust in scientific studies, especially when treatments are promoted with high stakes. As independent media outlets continue to report on pharmaceutical corruption, the public is urged to scrutinize the funding behind clinical research.
References
- NaturalNews.com. “The un merry go round of media pharma and government”. January 23, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. “Up to 44 of randomized controlled trials produce fake or flawed data masquerading as reliable information in med”. July 25, 2023.
- Mercola.com. “The Lancet Gets Lanced With Hydroxychloroquin”. July 08, 2020.
- NaturalNews.com. “Dodgy data firm behind retracted hydroxychloroquine study raises questions over haphazard decisions”. June 11, 2020.
- Robert F Kennedy Jr. “The Real Anthony Fauci Bill Gates Big Pharma and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health”.
- Pamela A Popper, Shane D Prier. “COVID OPERATION What Happened Why It Happened and Whats Next”.
- Children’s Health Defense. “Pharma Stock ‘Mattered More Than the Price of a Life,’ Physician Tells Senate Roundtable”.
