Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) said its investigational drug, intranasal foralumab, is gaining attention for its potential to address Alzheimer’s disease, a condition with limited treatment options.
The company’s expanded access program for moderate Alzheimer's has allowed the first patient to receive the therapy, offering hope for those battling the disease.
“Foralumab, administered via a novel intranasal delivery method, aims to target immune system dysregulation associated with Alzheimer's disease, potentially slowing disease progression and improving cognitive function,” said Dr Howard Weiner, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
A recent news segment featuring Dr Weiner and a patient named Joe and his wife, Karen, who shared their personal journey with Alzheimer's. Joe is the first patient with Alzheimer’s to try foralumab, according to a news report from WCVB Channel 5 Boston.
Intranasal foralumab is a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody that works by modulating the immune system to reduce inflammation, a key factor in neurodegeneration. It is part of an expanded access program, allowing patients not eligible for clinical trials to receive the treatment on a compassionate use basis.
The drug’s mechanism of action involves modulating microglial activation, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease. In Alzheimer’s, microglial activation contributes to cognitive dysfunction alongside elevated levels of beta-amyloid and tau proteins. This makes foralumab particularly promising as an adjunctive therapy addressing a major component of Alzheimer’s that remains untouched by current anti-amyloid treatments.
Nasal foralumab has already shown efficacy in reducing microglial activation in animal models and patients with secondary progressive MS. The ongoing expanded access program continues to bring hope to individuals with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, with the potential to change the course of treatment for these challenging conditions.