<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001454789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CATB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001730615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Violin Jonathan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 HIGH STREET, FLOOR 28</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>543373</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Lazarus Life Sciences I, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>185136</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Viridian, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>341.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Series X Convertible Preferred</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2805</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Viridian, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series X Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8234</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Lazarus Life Sciences I, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 28, 2021, Issuer completed its merger with Quellis Biosciences, Inc. (the &quot;Merger&quot;) in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 28, 2021.  In connection with the Merger, (i) a limited liability company in which the Reporting Person has an indirect interest received shares of Issuer common stock and shares of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for 350,000 shares of Quellis Biosciences, Inc. common stock and (ii) a limited liability company in which the Reporting Person holds a profits interest received warrants to purchase shares of Issuer common stock and shares of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for a warrant to purchase 119,251 shares of Quellis Biosciences, Inc. common stock.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by both limited liability companies, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The warrant is exercisable as to 52.1% of the shares subject thereto as of January 21, 2021 and the remaining shares become exercisable at a rate of 2.0833% each month thereafter until fully exercisable on December 21, 2022, subject to continued services by a specified advisor to Issuer through each vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon stockholder approval of the conversion of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock, each share of Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converts into 1,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Benjamin Harshbarger, attorney-in-fact for Jonathan Violin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
