Tiziana Life Sciences Announces First Patient with Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Dosed with Intranasal Foralumab
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Tiziana Life Sciences, Ltd., 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.
Source: tizianalifesciences.com
