Investment bank B Riley has restated its 'buy' advice and US$8 price target for shares in Tiziana Life Sciences PLC (LON:TILS) (NASDAQ:TLSA) after a flurry of positive news.
It said safety data on key drug Foralumab, signs of its efficacy in COVID-19 patients and its clearance for its use in a patient with MS provided “incremental validation” of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment.
READ: Zacks Small-Cap Research repeats its valuation on Tiziana Life Sciences as company starts nasally administered Foralumab trial for SPMS
“[The] totality of data positions nasal and oral foralumab as a disruptive competitor in difficult to treat autoimmune diseases,” said analyst Mayank Mamtani in a note to clients.
On Thursday, Zacks Small-Cap Research reiterated its US$7.50 valuation of the stock – more than triple the current US$2.40 share price.
Analysts at the research house said they were watching teplizumab, which, like Foralumab, is an anti-CD3 mAb. It has been indicated in Type 1 diabetes and has a target action date of July 2, 2021.
"An approval could establish a positive precedent for the drug class," Zacks said in a note.
Other Foralumab trials are planned, it added.
"Tiziana expects to start a progressive multiple sclerosis (pMS) programme and will evaluate Crohn’s Disease, both in a Phase II study in coming quarters. A Phase II study for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients is scheduled to launch this year."
On May 25, Tiziana said it had begun treating a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) using nasally administered Foralumab.
The drug will be provided under the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) individual patient expanded access protocol overseen by researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Harvard. It is first time a nasally administered antibody has been given to a patient with SPMS.
Tiziana Life Sciences is advancing three candidates for a variety of indications in autoimmune disease, cancer and COVID-19.