Tiziana Life Sciences Announces First Patient with Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Dosed with Intranasal Foralumab

Rhea-AI Summary

Tiziana Life Sciences (NASDAQ: TLSA) has achieved a significant milestone by dosing the first patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease using intranasal foralumab at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The treatment, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, aims to reduce brain inflammation through a unique mechanism that stimulates T regulatory cells to cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce neuroinflammation of glial cells.

This approach differs from traditional beta amyloid removal or tau protein reduction methods. The study is part of a broader development program that received a $4 Million NIH grant in September 2024. Dr. Howard Weiner, the Principal Investigator, notes that there are currently no approved drugs for moderate Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the potential significance of this novel treatment approach.

Positive

• First patient successfully dosed in moderate Alzheimer's disease trial
• Secured $4 Million NIH grant for research
• Novel treatment approach targeting an unmet medical need with no current approved drugs
• Unique mechanism of action different from traditional treatments

Negative

• Early-stage clinical development with uncertain outcomes
• Faces competition from established treatment approaches

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The initiation of intranasal foralumab dosing in moderate Alzheimer's patients represents a significant clinical milestone. The novel mechanism targeting neuroinflammation through T regulatory cell stimulation differentiates it from traditional amyloid/tau approaches. The $4 million NIH grant validates the scientific merit and potential of this innovative treatment pathway. The focus on moderate Alzheimer's is particularly noteworthy as this patient population currently lacks approved treatment options. The blood-brain barrier penetration capability and the unique immunomodulatory approach could potentially address the underlying inflammatory mechanisms of disease progression. However, early-stage clinical trials carry significant execution risks and the path to potential approval remains long.

Financial Analyst

This development marks a strategic advancement for Tiziana in the lucrative Alzheimer's market. The NIH backing provides non-dilutive funding support and credibility to the program. With a relatively small market cap of $94 million, successful progression in Alzheimer's could significantly impact valuation. The company's expansion plans to include mild Alzheimer's patients broadens the potential market opportunity. However, investors should note that Alzheimer's drug development has historically high failure rates and the company will likely need additional funding for larger trials. The collaboration with prestigious Brigham and Women's Hospital adds institutional validation but doesn't guarantee clinical success.

12/17/2024 - 07:00 AM

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiziana Life Sciences, Ltd. (Nasdaq: TLSA) (“Tiziana” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company developing breakthrough immunomodulation therapies with its lead development candidate, intranasal foralumab, a fully human, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, today announced a significant milestone in its clinical development program for Alzheimer’s disease. The Company has successfully dosed the first patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease using intranasal foralumab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts following on from their baseline PET scan.

Alzheimer’s disease represents an almost insurmountable global health challenge, affecting millions worldwide with few treatment options available. Tiziana’s novel approach focuses on reducing inflammation in the brain by addressing one of the major underlying inflammatory mechanisms believed to contribute to disease progression.

Foralumab delivered intranasally, offers a unique mechanism of action by reducing brain microglial inflammation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This treatment strategy differs from beta amyloid removal or tau protein reductions and relies on the stimulation of T regulatory cells. The activated regulatory T cells cross the blood brain barrier where they reduce neuroinflammation of glial cells.

Dr. Howard Weiner, Principal Investigator, Chairman of Tiziana’s Scientific Advisory Board and co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham healthcare system, commented, "We are excited to initiate this study with Tiziana's innovative intranasal Foralumab in this first patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease. There are no approved drugs to treat this stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting neuroinflammation represents a promising approach in the pursuit of disease-modifying therapies."

Tiziana’s CEO, Ivor Elrifi, added, "Dosing the first patient with intranasal Foralumab marks a significant milestone for Tiziana and underscores our commitment to advancing novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease. We look forward to the continued progress of this study and also plan a study of Foralumab in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Foralumab has the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients and their families."

The study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is part of Tiziana's broader development program for Foralumab, which includes other inflammatory and autoimmune indications. The company remains dedicated to advancing scientific innovation to address unmet medical needs across diverse therapeutic areas.

In September 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging awarded a $4 Million grant to Dr. Howard Weiner as principal investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to be the key research site to study nasal anti-CD3 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This significant grant is funding a key research study over the next several years, advancing preclinical and ultimately, clinical studies of intranasal anti-CD3 as a potential treatment for this devastating neurodegenerative condition.

About Foralumab

Foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, is a biological drug candidate that has been shown to stimulate T regulatory cells when dosed intranasally. At present, 10 patients with Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (na-SPMS) have been dosed in an open-label intermediate sized Expanded Access (EA) Program with either an improvement or stability of disease seen within 6 months in all patients. The FDA has recently allowed an additional 20 patients to be enrolled in this EA program. In addition, intranasal foralumab is currently being studied in a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-ranging trial in patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (NCT06292923).

Activated T cells play an important role in the inflammatory process. Foralumab, the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) currently in clinical development, binds to the T cell receptor and dampens inflammation by modulating T cell function, thereby suppressing effector features in multiple immune cell subsets. This effect has been observed in patients with COVID and with multiple sclerosis, as well as in healthy normal subjects. The non-active SPMS intranasal foralumab Phase 2 trial (NCT06292923) began screening patients in November of 2023. Immunomodulation by nasal anti-CD3 mAb represents a novel avenue for treatment of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative human diseases.^[1],[2]

About Tiziana Life Sciences

Tiziana Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing breakthrough therapies using transformational drug delivery technologies to enable alternative routes of immunotherapy. Tiziana’s innovative nasal approach has the potential to provide an improvement in efficacy as well as safety and tolerability compared to intravenous (IV) delivery. Tiziana’s lead candidate, intranasal foralumab, which is the only fully human anti-CD3 mAb currently in clinical development, has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and clinical response in patients in studies to date. Tiziana’s technology for alternative routes of immunotherapy has been patented with several applications pending and is expected to allow for broad pipeline applications.

For more information about Tiziana Life Sciences and its innovative pipeline of therapies, please visit www.tizianalifesciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry, its beliefs, and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors described more fully in the section entitled ‘Risk Factors’ in Tiziana’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

For further inquiries:

Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd
Paul Spencer, Business Development, and Investor Relations
+44 (0) 207 495 2379
email: info@tizianalifesciences.com

[1] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220272120

[2] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309221120

FAQ

What is the significance of Tiziana's (TLSA) first patient dosing in Alzheimer's trial?

It marks a significant milestone in testing intranasal foralumab for moderate Alzheimer's disease, representing a novel approach to treatment through inflammation reduction, in an area with no currently approved drugs.

How does TLSA's intranasal foralumab work differently from other Alzheimer's treatments?

Unlike traditional treatments focusing on beta amyloid removal or tau protein reduction, foralumab reduces brain inflammation by stimulating T regulatory cells that cross the blood-brain barrier to reduce neuroinflammation.

What is the value of the NIH grant received by TLSA for Alzheimer's research in September 2024?

The National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging awarded a $4 Million grant to support research on nasal anti-CD3 for Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Where is TLSA conducting its Alzheimer's disease clinical trial?

The trial is being conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Dr. Howard Weiner.