Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) announced that it has dosed the first patient with moderate Alzheimer’s disease with its lead investigational drug candidate intranasal foralumab.
The milestone took place at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as part of a study aimed at addressing neuroinflammation, a key factor in Alzheimer’s progression.
Shares of Tiziana rose on the news, adding 6.4% at US$1 mid-morning on Tuesday.
Intranasal foralumab, a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, activates regulatory T cells that cross the blood-brain barrier to reduce microglial inflammation.
Unlike traditional therapies focused on beta-amyloid or tau protein, this strategy targets underlying inflammation, a potential breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment, Tiziana believes.
"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,” Tiziana CEO Ivor Elrifi said in a statement.
“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.”
Dr Howard Weiner, the principal investigator and co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, emphasized the need for treatments addressing moderate Alzheimer’s, an area with no approved therapies.
"We are excited to initiate this study with Tiziana's innovative intranasal Foralumab in this first patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease,” Dr Weiner said.
“Targeting neuroinflammation represents a promising approach in the pursuit of disease-modifying therapies."
- Updated with share price movement -