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 the discovery of new immune biomarkers in patients
with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (na-SPMS)
treated with nasal foralumab. We believe these findings contribute
substantially to our understanding of the immune mechanisms
underlying the effects of nasal foralumab.
The study identified gene expression changes which
were detected beginning three months after intranasal dosing of
foralumab in our ongoing ISPPEA (or expanded access program). Key
findings include modulation of:
- FoxP3 T regulatory cells (Tregs)
- CD4+ and CD8+ central memory T cells
- CD14+ and CD14- monocytes
- Naïve B cells
These pathways are known to be associated with
antigen presentation, interferon responses, and other regulatory
immune mechanisms.
In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing
(scRNAseq) of peripheral blood samples taken before and at three
and six months after drug administration has revealed relevant gene
expression changes associated with nasal foralumab, which has been
associated with a reduction in microglial brain inflammation, as
measured by advanced microglial PET scans in these same
patients.
“We are excited to announce this breakthrough in
understanding how nasal foralumab induces immune modulation in
Secondary Progressive MS patients,” said Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, M.D.,
Principal Investigator and Professor of Neurology at Harvard
Medical School and senior neurologist at Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham Healthcare
System. “These findings highlight the potential of nasal foralumab
in modulating critical immune pathways and offer new insights into
its clinical effects. This discovery represents a pivotal step
toward personalized treatment strategies for MS. We look forward to
submitting these data to a peer reviewed journal.”
“The observed clinical stabilization and microglial
PET findings are supported by these new biomarker discoveries,
providing compelling evidence of nasal foralumab's biological
effects,” said Dr. Howard Weiner, 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. “The
identification of these biomarkers not only strengthens our
understanding of the treatment’s mechanism but also establishes a
framework for monitoring its efficacy in future trials and may
establish a framework for monitoring a patient’s response to
foralumab treatment.”
“This data, and its implications, underscores our
commitment to advancing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative
diseases,” commented Ivor Elrifi, CEO of Tiziana Life Sciences.
“Foralumab, the first fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, is
in a Phase 2 trial as a groundbreaking immunomodulatory therapy
with applications in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
These findings further confirm its potential and set the stage for
broader clinical exploration.”
The FDA defines a biomarker as a defined
characteristic that is measured as an indicator of normal
biological processes, pathogenic processes, or responses to an
exposure or intervention, including therapeutic interventions.
Molecular, histologic, radiographic, or physiologic characteristics
are types of biomarkers. A biomarker is not an assessment of how an
individual feels, functions, or survives.
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 LtdPaul
Spencer, Business Development, and Investor Relations+44 (0) 207
495 2379email: info@tizianalifesciences.com
____________________[1]
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220272120[2] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309221120
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