Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) shares jumped 21% in early trading Tuesday after the company reported positive early-stage data for its experimental multiple sclerosis treatment, nasal foralumab.
The open-label study involved 10 patients with non-active secondary progressive MS, a form of the disease where disability progresses despite the absence of relapses and few treatment options exist.
Tiziana said all patients showed disease stabilisation after six months of treatment, with no serious adverse events or new MRI lesions.
Three of four patients treated for a full year showed improvement on the standard disability scale.
Six patients also reported less fatigue, a key symptom in MS, which the company said correlated with lower brain inflammation.
Imaging showed statistically significant reductions in microglial activation, a marker of central nervous system inflammation. Single-cell RNA data indicated increased regulatory T cells, supporting the drug’s proposed mechanism.
Tiziana called the results a significant step for patients. A Phase 2 trial by year-end is already underway, with a top-line data read-out expected by the year-end. The drug is the only fully human anti-CD3 antibody delivered intranasally.
The stock was up 26 cents at $1.48.