Tiziana Plans Phase 2 Clinical Study in Moderate to Severe Covid-19 Patients with Nasal Administration of Foralumab, a Fully Human Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody

Rhea-AI Summary

Tiziana Life Sciences (NASDAQ: TLSA) announced plans for a phase 2 clinical trial of Foralumab, a nasally administered anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody targeting Covid-19. Previous studies indicated Foralumab reduced lung inflammation in mild to moderate cases. The new trial will focus on hospitalized patients in Brazil and aims to validate Foralumab's effectiveness and safety as a nasal immunomodulatory therapy. This innovative approach leverages Foralumab's unique nasal delivery system to potentially alleviate severe Covid-19 symptoms, irrespective of viral variants.

Positive

• Foralumab reduced pulmonary and systemic inflammation in mild to moderate Covid-19 patients, as shown in previous studies.
• The upcoming phase 2 trial targets hospitalized moderate to severe Covid-19 patients, expanding the therapeutic evaluation.
• Foralumab is the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody that can be administered nasally or orally, offering a novel delivery method.

Negative

• None.

• Since the anti-inflammatory effect of the nasally administered Foralumab is through the modulation of the immune system and not by directly targeting Covid-19, this therapeutic approach could be useful for newly identified Covid-19 variants in the UK, South Africa and Brazil.
• Foralumab is the first monoclonal antibody that can be dosed nasally or orally, due to its ability to effect systemic immunity via the epithelial lining of the nose, respiratory tract and gut.
• The direct rapid delivery of Foralumab to the nasal passage and respiratory tract was shown in a previous study of mild to moderate Covid-19 patients to suppress lung inflammation, as evident from CT scans and reduced systemic markers of inflammation including interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.
  

NEW YORK and LONDON, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiziana Life Sciences plc (Nasdaq: TLSA / LSE: TILS) (“Tiziana” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company focused on innovative therapeutics for oncology, inflammation, and infectious diseases, reports that it plans further development of Foralumab, its proprietary anti-CD3 human monoclonal antibody in Covid-19. A recent clinical study in mild to moderate Covid-19 patients showed evidence that the nasally administered anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody reduced pulmonary and systemic inflammation and it was well tolerated. That study was completed in collaboration with scientific teams at the Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA), and INTRIALS, a full-service Latin American CRO based in São Paulo, Brazil. Tiziana now plans a phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Brazil for moderate to severe hospitalized Covid-19 patients to test the drug in a more compromised group of patients. All patients will receive standard of care background therapy.

Recent studies suggest that the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation in Covid-19 includes an abnormal host response or overreaction of the immune system in patients. Therefore, nasal treatment with Foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 mAb, to modulate the immune system and to stimulate Tregs is a scientifically logical approach for the treatment of Covid-19. Foralumab is also the only monoclonal antibody that can be dosed nasally or orally due to its ability to effect systemic immunity via the epithelial lining of the nose, respiratory tract and gut.

“I am pleased to see this novel dosing concept for anti-CD3 advance to a phase 2 clinical trial. These types of human trials are important to validate the successful studies we conducted in animal models of several inflammatory diseases,” said Professor Howard Weiner, the Robert L. Kroc Professor of Neurology at the Harvard Medical School, Director and Founder of the Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, and Co-Director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

This study is expected to serve as a further proof of concept for Foralumab’s novel method of nasal delivery, as well as its safety and efficacy as a potent, systemic anti-inflammatory therapeutic in more severe Covid-19 patients.

Covid-19 enters through the nasal and respiratory passage; accordingly, the proprietary nasal formulation and nasal delivery of Foralumab to modulate immunity are expected to delay progression of the disease and to provide immediate relief to Covid-19 patients.

Dr Neil Graham, Chief Medical Officer at Tiziana Life Sciences, commented, “We are excited about this next important step in our goal to validate our drug candidate and our novel delivery system as a promising and innovative approach to immunomodulatory therapy for Covid-19 and other mutant variants. By focusing on moderating the inflammatory consequences of the SARS CoV2 virus, we hope to have a therapy that has efficacy irrespective of local viral variants.”

About Foralumab
Foralumab (formerly NI-0401), the only entirely human anti-CD3 mAb, shows reduced release of cytokines after IV administration in patients with Crohn's disease with decreases in the classic side effects of cytokine release syndrome and improves the overall safety profile of Foralumab. In a humanized mouse model (NOD/SCID IL2γc-/-), it was shown that whilst targeting the T cell receptor, orally administered Foralumab modulates immune responses of the T cells, enhances regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and thus provides therapeutic benefit in treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases without the occurrence of potential adverse events usually associated with parenteral mAb therapy (Ogura M. et al., 2017). Based on animal studies, the nasal and oral administration of Foralumab offers the potential for the immunotherapy of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in a safe manner by the induction of Tregs.

About Tiziana Life Sciences
Tiziana Life Sciences plc is a dual listed (NASDAQ: TLSA & LSE: TILS) biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat human diseases in oncology, inflammation and infectious diseases. In addition to Milciclib, the Company will be shortly initiating Phase 2 studies with orally administered Foralumab for Crohn’s Disease and nasally administered Foralumab for progressive multiple sclerosis. Foralumab is the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (“mAb”) in clinical development in the world. This Phase 2 compound has potential application in a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, type-1 diabetes (“T1D”), inflammatory bowel disease (“IBD”), psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, where modulation of a T-cell response is desirable. The Company is accelerating development of anti-Interleukin 6 receptor (“IL6R”) mAb, a fully human monoclonal antibody for treatment of IL6-induced inflammation, especially for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

For further enquiries:
United Kingdom:
Tiziana Life Sciences plc
Gabriele Cerrone, Chairman and founder
+44 (0)20 7495 2379

United States:
Investors:
Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies Inc.
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

FAQ

What is the purpose of the phase 2 trial for Foralumab by Tiziana Life Sciences?

The phase 2 trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Foralumab in hospitalized moderate to severe Covid-19 patients in Brazil.

What were the results of the previous Foralumab studies?

Previous studies indicated that Foralumab effectively reduced lung inflammation in mild to moderate Covid-19 patients and was well tolerated.

How does Foralumab work against Covid-19?

Foralumab modulates the immune system via nasal administration, potentially alleviating symptoms and delaying disease progression.

What are the next steps in the development of Foralumab?

Tiziana Life Sciences plans to initiate the phase 2 trial to further validate Foralumab's therapeutic potential against severe Covid-19.

How does Foralumab differ from other monoclonal antibodies?

Foralumab is unique as it can be dosed nasally or orally, affecting systemic immunity through the epithelial lining of the nasal and respiratory tract.