Tiziana Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:TLSA) CEO Ivor Elrifi talked with Proactive about the company’s latest milestone: dosing the first patient in its Phase 2a clinical trial targeting multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative condition with no approved treatment.
Elrifi explained the trial involves the company's investigational monoclonal antibody, Foralumab, which is administered intranasally and aims to reduce neuroinflammation. “We’re trying to convert activated microglia into suppressed microglia,” he said, noting that these immune cells are linked to brain inflammation seen in several diseases, including MSA.
The initial study will target five patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, led by Dr. Vik Khurana and Dr. Howard Weiner of Harvard, with patients receiving the drug three times per week over a six-month period.
This marks the company’s fourth clinical trial, with others underway or planned in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), mild Alzheimer’s disease, and ALS. Elrifi mentioned that readouts from these studies are expected by the first half of 2026.
The company has also released patient experiences on its website, including a news segment highlighting brain imaging results.