Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) has announced the publication of a new study in Nature Neuroscience that demonstrates promising results for its nasal anti-CD3 therapy in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The study revealed that nasal administration of Tiziana's anti-CD3 therapy significantly modulated neuroinflammatory responses, resulting in improved neurological outcomes.
Tiziana's approach leveraging intranasal foralumab, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, shows potential for reducing neuroinflammation and improving recovery in preclinical models of TBI, a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
The key benefits observed included reduced anxiety, less cognitive decline, and enhanced motor skills, Tiziana said.
Role of immune modulation
The therapy works by inducing IL-10 producing regulatory T cells (Tregs) that migrate to the brain, where they play a crucial role in regulating microglial activity. This reduction in chronic microglial inflammation contributes to mitigating central nervous system damage and improving recovery from TBI.
Notably, the study also confirmed the important role of IL-10 in the therapeutic effect, as blocking its receptor negated the benefits of the nasal anti-CD3 therapy. This was further validated by the adoptive transfer of IL-10 producing Tregs, which restored the therapeutic outcomes, reinforcing the mechanism of action.
Dr Saef Izzy, lead author and neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said the study emphasized the key role of immune modulation in improving outcomes for TBI patients.
“We found that nasal anti-CD3 therapy effectively harnesses the body’s own immune system to counteract the damaging effects of neuroinflammation while enhancing the brain’s reparative mechanisms,” Dr Izzy said.
“These findings offer exciting potential for developing a much-needed therapeutic approach for TBI patients.”
Other conditions explored
Tiziana highlighted that its findings could extend to other conditions, such as intracerebral hemorrhage and stroke.
“We believe nasal foralumab has the potential to be a game-changer in the treatment of traumatic brain injury and other acute brain injuries, addressing a critical unmet need in medicine,” Tiziana Life Sciences CEO Ivor Elrifi said.
“The company’s proprietary nasal anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody platform has already demonstrated potential in multiple neuroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These results further validate the mechanism of action of foralumab and Tiziana’s commitment to further develop transformative therapies for neuroinflammatory conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and ALS.”
The update was welcomed by investors who sent shares of Tiziana more than 12% higher to US$1.10 in early trade on Thursday.